Fifth Session Of International Dates Council In Riyadh Focuses On Cooperation And Innovation

The International Dates Council (IDC) recently convened its fifth members’ council session in Diriyah. The event saw participation from ministers, senior officials, and delegation leaders from member countries. Princess Sarah bint Bandar bin Abdulaziz, the IDC Executive Director, welcomed the attendees and stressed the significance of this gathering in enhancing collaborative efforts and promoting cooperation among member nations.

Abdulrahman Alfadley, Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture and Chairman of the IDC Members’ Council, delivered the opening remarks. He highlighted the necessity of utilizing research, innovation programs, and modern technologies to boost date production efficiency and its global market presence. Alfadley emphasized that political will and commitment from all governments are crucial for addressing key issues in the palm and dates sector.

Princess Sarah provided an update on the resolutions from the fourth session for 2024 and presented the IDC Secretariat’s report for this year. She also outlined the council’s work plan for 2026. This plan includes completing the International Dates Observatory and establishing a modern digital identity for IDC. These initiatives aim to strengthen research capabilities and enhance cooperation among member states.

The meeting proceeded with remarks from ministers and delegation heads. Following these discussions, participants adopted the session's final resolutions and meeting minutes. Preparations were also made for the next session scheduled to take place in Muscat.

The session concluded with signing several cooperation agreements with regional and international entities. These agreements are part of IDC’s strategy to bolster its research and technical programs. Collaborations were established with organizations such as the Arab Accreditation Cooperation (ARAC), International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), and Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences (CATAS).

These partnerships aim to advance agricultural research, enhance laboratory capabilities, improve product quality, and support training programs among member countries. Such initiatives are expected to facilitate knowledge transfer and foster stronger ties between participating nations.

With inputs from SPA