Page 490 - MOET ENGLISH PR REPORT - JULY 2025

7/16/25, 4:42 PM H.E. Abdulla bin Touq leads economic delegation to Switzerland to explore best practices in the development of food clusters - Mid…

H.E. said in his speech the event: “The food economic cluster aims to nurture and empower new

generations of highly skilled producers and farmers, equipped with world-class expertise and global
knowledge of food and agricultural practices. Over the next five years, we expect this model to contribute
AED 10 billion to the GDP, increase trade volumes by AED 15 billion, and create 20,000 job opportunities

– all in line with the We the UAE 2031 vision to position the nation among the world’s top ten countries in
the Food Security Index.”

H.E. added: “The UAE’s food sector continues to grow steadily, with the number of registered local and
international food brands reaching 40,486 by the end of the first half of this year. In 2024, the value of the
UAE’s trade in food products rose to AED 148.6 billion, marking a 16.8% increase compared to AED
127.2 billion in 2023. National food exports also grew by 10.9%, reaching AED 24.2 billion in 2024

compared to the previous year.”

His Excellency described the event as a valuable platform to forge new paths of collaboration between

UAE and Swiss food companies, particularly in developing advanced food clusters and cutting-edge
digital solutions. It also provides an opportunity to examine Switzerland’s food innovation ecosystem and
identify its prominent stakeholders, given Uzwil’s status as a key hub for innovation in the food sector. His

Excellency presented the opportunities offered by the UAE’s Food Economic Cluster model, along with
the investment enablers and expansion potential tied to this vital sector.

The event featured a series of panel discussions and presentations highlighting the importance of

strengthening international partnerships and accelerating knowledge exchange to foster innovation in the
food sector. The sessions showcased global initiatives aimed at building a sustainable food system and
underscored Switzerland’s influential role in international food innovation and its active contribution to

shaping the future of food clusters around the world.

The delegation also visited the Swiss Nutrition & Food Valley, a pioneering model of food clusters
dedicated to developing sustainable and effective food solutions in line with the global Sustainable

Development Goals. The Valley plays a vital role in cementing Switzerland’s position as a global leader in
sustainable nutrition, innovation, and nutritional health.

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