Page 862 - MOE ENGLISH PR REPORT - OCTOBER 2024

10/14/24, 9:51 AM Minister of Economy opens Future Food Forum 2024
this momentum to drive the UAE's cluster strategy further. "In line with the UAE

Food & Agricultural Transformation Strategy, we are well on track to increase food

sector contribution to the GDP by US$10 billion and create more than 20,000 jobs.

This growth should not remain a statistic-it represents livelihoods, opportunities,

and a sustainable future for our country. Together, we can innovate for a sustainable

tomorrow and ensure that the UAE remains a global leader in food security," he

concluded.

A high-level ministerial discussion on the Food Cluster strategy saw vital

ministries, including the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology, Ministry

of Economy, and Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, convening to

explore policy reforms, collaboration, and investment in the sector. The strategy

emphasises the inclusion of a diverse range of stakeholders, including government

authorities, industry leaders, universities, and research institutions. One of the

central goals is to foster knowledge transfer, maximise the contributions of all

players, and address industry challenges through innovative ideas and research and

development (R&D).

The meeting focused on ongoing initiatives aimed at driving collaboration and

innovation in the food sector. A key outcome was the proposed governing board for

the food cluster to enable the effective execution of the food cluster strategy. This

board will monitor the implementation of strategic initiatives, align the goals of the

industry with national economic priorities, and play a critical role in integrating

scientific research and innovation into the industry, ensuring that stakeholders are

continuously engaged in developing new approaches. It emphasised the importance

of creating a self-driven initiative led by the industry, with government facilitation,

to ensure its long-term success and scalability.

Opening the meeting, Abdullah Ahmad Al Saleh, Undersecretary of the Ministry of

Economy, said, "The idea behind creating the clusters is to enable dialogues

between all the stakeholders, including universities, scientists, research institutions

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