Khalifa International Award For Date Palm Partners With Mexico For 2025 Festival

The General Secretariat of Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation, linked to Erth Zayed Philanthropies, Presidential Court, has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with Mexico's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. This agreement is to organise the 4th Mexico International Date Palm Festival from 27th-29th November 2025.

The virtual signing ceremony took place on Wednesday. Santiago José Argüello Santos, General Coordinator of Agriculture at the Mexican Ministry of Agriculture, represented the Mexican Minister of Agriculture. Luis Alfonso De Alba Góngora, Ambassador of Mexico to the UAE, Dr. Abdelouahhab Alboukhari Zaid, Secretary-General of the Award, and several representatives from both sides were present.

Santiago José Argüello Santos praised the UAE’s efforts in supporting date palm cultivation globally. He acknowledged the UAE’s ongoing support for this strategic sector, which is crucial for food security and sustainable agricultural development. He highlighted that the agri-food sector is vital for improving life quality in both countries by enhancing global food security.

Argüello also emphasised the UAE's leading role in date palm cultivation and its production, processing, and marketing sectors. He stated that organising this festival will serve as a significant platform for fostering cooperation and strengthening partnerships between the two nations in this essential sector.

Dr. Abdelouahhab Alboukhari Zaid noted that signing the MoU reflects international trust in the Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation. This award acts as a global platform promoting sustainable agricultural development and strengthening international partnerships through guidance from the UAE's leadership.

He further mentioned that the upcoming festival will be a new milestone in a series of international festivals organised by the Award across various date-producing countries. The event aims to enhance expertise exchange, develop value chains, and expand marketing opportunities for Mexican dates regionally and internationally.

The festival's objectives include contributing to sustainable economic and agricultural development by improving marketing opportunities for Mexican dates worldwide. This initiative aligns with efforts to achieve broader goals in sustainable agriculture.

With inputs from WAM