The Ministry of Environment and Water has signed four Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with the Republic of Argentina’s Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries and the National Institute of Industrial Technology to strengthen their cooperation in environmental and agricultural domains as well as in the field of livestock and fisheries. Their collaboration also aims to promote the exchange of technological expertise in food production. The signing of the agreements forms part of the Ministry’s strategic goals to achieve food security in the UAE through strong bilateral trade relations and food trade diversification. Both countries also agreed to work towards preventing the spread of pests and animal diseases and promoting environmental sustainability in line with UAE Vision 2021.
H.E. Dr. Rashid Ahmed Bin Fahad, Minister of Environment and Water, said: “The MoUs are aimed at strengthening the relations and friendly ties between the Ministry and its Argentine counterparts and the National Technological Institute of Argentina. Our cooperation strongly reaffirms the importance of adopting relevant policies to implement best environmental practices, promote trade and open markets, and encourage agricultural research. In addition, the MoUs support joint environmental efforts aligned with both countries’ strong economic development and food security agendas. We also want to emphasize the importance of adopting regulations and appropriate frameworks to ensure safe and flexible trade and achieve economic integration between the two countries.”
The first MoU signed between the Ministry and Argentina’s Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries and it highlights the cooperation and exchange of animal health and production, veterinary, and quarantine experiences, in addition the MoU facilitates trade of live animals and livestock products as well. The agreement covers the prevention of outbreaks of animal epidemics and common animal and human illnesses; the promotion of scientific and technological research; and the exchange of expertise in several areas such as breeding and raising livestock, improving breeds, and fighting animal diseases. It also stipulates exchange visits to scientific centers and participation of expertise from both countries in specialized training programs related veterinary quarantine and livestock.
The second MoU, on the other hand, deals with promoting cooperation on agricultural biotechnology and biosafety by developing regulatory frameworks. This includes the adoption of procedures for genetically modified food, coordination regarding biosafety standards, and exchange of rules and regulations on agricultural biotechnology and trade of genetically modified food.
The third MoU, meanwhile, will be done in collaboration with the National Technological Institute of Argentina. The agreement encourages agricultural research on vital issues related to technologies and animal and plant health. This can be achieved through mutual contributions in the fields of education, research and development, technology transfer and personnel training.
The last agreement aims to enhance the cooperation between the UAE’s Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology and Argentina’s Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries. It strives to unify standards and establish mutual recognition of certificates and labels of conformity according to internationally established technical regulations and requirements in the UAE and Argentina. The agreement also encourages the formation of a joint committee to look into the existing standard specifications, legislation and laws, and food trade regulations. The committee will also work on the exchange of information related to certificates and labels of conformity and requirements in each country including organic certifications and halal products.
Argentina is one of the UAE’s key strategic partners in South America, with their trade value reaching AED 4.2 billion at an annual growth rate of 25 per cent. The UAE also accounts for the largest meat and poultry share of Argentine exports.
Among those who attended the signing ceremony were H.E. Mohammed Saeed Al Kaabi, UAE acting ambassador to the Argentina, several Emirati delegates, and Argentine officials.