Minister of Development and Sustainability: Kuwait attaches great importance to food security and supports efforts for Gulf integration - Sarmad
(KUNA) – State Minister for Development and Sustainability Dr. Reem Al-Faleh affirmed on Thursday that the State of 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.
This statement was made by Minister Al-Faleh in an interview with the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) following her participation in the 38th meeting of the Agricultural Cooperation and Food Security Committee of the Cooperation Council for Arab States of the Gulf, held in the Kingdom of Bahrain in the presence of the Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Jassem Al-Budaiwi, and the heads of participating delegations.
Minister 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 among GCC member states in the agricultural and food sectors, thereby supporting the achievement of food security and resource sustainability in the Gulf states.
She emphasized 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 GCC states’ capacity to deal with regional and international crises and challenges, and consolidating a sustainable Gulf food security system.
She clarified that the meeting discussed several priority Gulf files, foremost among them the study of establishing strategic Gulf storage zones for food, medicines, and other needs, as well as the food security strategy and the plant genetic assets bank, which enhance the preparedness and capacity of GCC states to confront challenges and changes related to food security and supply chains.
She added that the agenda also included reviewing a number of 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, alongside the unified system regarding organic inputs and products for GCC member states.
She pointed out 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, which contribute to raising the level of Gulf coordination and strengthening the animal and veterinary security system in the GCC states.
She noted that the meeting also discussed unifying the minimum allowable catch lengths for certain fish species traded, as part of joint Gulf efforts aimed at preserving fish stocks, developing the fisheries sector, and ensuring its sustainability.
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-rooted historical and fraternal relations uniting the Gulf states were reaffirmed, along with the importance of continuing to enhance joint cooperation and coordination among the GCC states in various fields, particularly those related to food security.
