Al-Faleh: Gulf integration is a gateway to enhancing food security and supply sustainability
State Minister for Development and Sustainability, Dr. Reem Al-Faleh, confirmed on Thursday that Kuwait attaches great importance to the food security file and supports efforts aimed at enhancing Gulf integration in this field, particularly regarding strategic reserves, the sustainability of supply chains, the exchange of expertise and information, and the development of common legislation and regulations.
Following her participation in the 38th meeting of the Agricultural Cooperation and Food Security Committee of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, held in the Kingdom of Bahrain in the presence of GCC Secretary-General Jassem Al-Budaiwi and the heads of participating delegations, Al-Faleh, head of the Kuwaiti delegation to the meeting, stated that the meeting was held as part of continuing joint Gulf efforts to enhance cooperation and integration between GCC member states in the agricultural and food sectors, thereby supporting the achievement of food security and resource sustainability in the Council’s countries.
She stressed the importance of continuing work to transition Gulf cooperation in the agricultural and food sectors to broader levels of integration and coordination, thereby enhancing the ability of GCC member states to deal with regional and international crises and challenges, and consolidating a sustainable Gulf food security system.
She clarified that the meeting discussed a number of priority Gulf files, foremost among them the study on establishing Gulf strategic storage zones for food, medicines, and other needs, the food security strategy, and the plant genetic assets bank, all of which enhance the preparedness and capacity of GCC countries to confront challenges and changes related to food security and supply chains.
She added that the agenda also included the discussion of several common Gulf legislations and regulations in the agricultural field, including lists of prohibited and restricted pesticides, the revised draft law (system) on pesticides, the draft executive regulations for the revised law (system) on fertilizers and soil conditioners, as well as the unified system concerning inputs and organic products for GCC member states.
She noted that the meeting discussed several topics related to health and livestock, foremost among them the draft executive regulations for the revised Animal Quarantine Law, the unified procurement of veterinary medicines and vaccines, and the central registration of veterinary preparations, all of which contribute to raising the level of Gulf coordination and enhancing the animal and veterinary security system in GCC countries.
On the sidelines of the meeting, Minister Al-Faleh met with the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the sister Kingdom of Bahrain, Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa. During the meeting, the deep, historic, and established fraternal relations uniting Gulf countries were reaffirmed, along with the importance of continuing to enhance joint cooperation and coordination among GCC member states in various fields, particularly those related to food security.
