Abu Dhabi Investment Office Partners With Agencies To Enhance Global Trade Of High-Quality Perishables

The Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) has teamed up with several key organisations to boost the trade of premium perishable goods from Al Ain and throughout Abu Dhabi. This collaboration includes Abu Dhabi Airports Company, Abu Dhabi Customs, the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA), Silal, Pure Harvest Smart Farms, ESG Agro, and Elite Agro Holding. The partnership aims to enhance logistics efficiency and streamline trade processes to expedite delivery to global markets.

By focusing on Al Ain's advanced air cargo and logistics infrastructure, the initiative creates a testing ground for optimising cold-chain logistics in challenging climates. Proven technologies and processes here will demonstrate resilience in global markets, enhancing Abu Dhabi's reputation as a reliable source of high-quality produce. This effort aligns with ADIO's mandate to foster sustainable growth while supporting the AgriFood Growth and Water Abundance (AGWA) cluster's goals.

ADIO will spearhead efforts to open new trade routes, while Abu Dhabi Airports, ADAFSA, and Customs will ensure efficient movement of goods through world-class logistics gateways. The focus is on leveraging Abu Dhabi’s strategic location and infrastructure for reliable market access. This approach supports local producers by simplifying export processes and enhancing their competitiveness in international markets.

Dr. Tariq Ahmed Al Ameri from ADAFSA highlighted that this initiative aligns with Abu Dhabi’s vision for food security by supporting local producers with integrated solutions for transport, storage, and export. "Ensuring food safety and quality is fundamental to building global confidence in Abu Dhabi’s exports," he stated.

The partnership also explores aggregating volumes from both large and small local producers to facilitate efficient shipping. By uniting under this agreement, the parties aim to transform Abu Dhabi’s agricultural potential into a robust trade capability. This collective effort enhances the emirate's role within global supply chains by creating an integrated environment for seamless product exportation.

Badr Al-Olama of ADIO emphasised the goal of building a competitive economy through strategic partnerships. "Together with our partners, we are creating a fully integrated environment that makes it easier for agricultural producers to export their products seamlessly," he said.

Commitment to Sustainable Agri-Trade

Dhafer Al Qasimi from Silal expressed commitment to making Abu Dhabi a global hub for sustainable agri-trade. By combining Silal’s diverse portfolio with advanced agri-tech solutions, they aim to enable competitive exports of locally produced goods. This collaboration supports UAE’s food security and economic diversification goals through innovation.

Rashed Lahej Al Mansoori of Abu Dhabi Customs noted their role in facilitating smooth trade processes. "We are streamlining processes to ensure agricultural trades move seamlessly through our gateways," he mentioned, highlighting support for local producers' competitiveness internationally.

Role of Infrastructure in Agri-Trade

Elena Sorlini from Abu Dhabi Airports underscored their central role in advancing agri-trade ambitions by enhancing cold-chain and cargo infrastructure. "We are enabling faster movement of perishable goods to key destinations worldwide," she said, reinforcing the importance of efficient logistics in achieving these goals.

This comprehensive partnership not only strengthens Abu Dhabi's position in global agri-trade but also supports its economic transformation objectives by leveraging advanced technology to address food security challenges effectively.

With inputs from WAM