Riyadh: Asim Abdullatif Abdullah, Undersecretary for Agriculture Affairs and Animal Wealth at the Ministry of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture, participated in the 5th International Date Council (IDC) meeting, held in Saudi Arabia. The event served as a significant platform for enhancing cooperation and sharing perspectives on advancing the date sector, improving production quality, and boosting competitiveness among member states.
According to Bahrain News Agency, the Undersecretary emphasized the importance of ongoing joint projects as a fundamental pillar for achieving sustainable growth in the date industry. He highlighted Bahrain's commitment to supporting the sector through agricultural research development, encouraging innovation in irrigation and farming technologies, and adopting global best practices in production and marketing. These efforts aim to improve the quality of dates and enhance their competitiveness in global markets.
The Undersecretary noted the strategic significance of hosting the headquarters of the International Date Observatory in Bahrain, which strengthens cooperation among member states and supports the exchange of expertise. This initiative also facilitates the launching of regional and international projects aimed at sector development, reinforcing Bahrain's role in advancing date production.
The meeting covered several key topics, including the follow-up on the 2024 fourth session resolutions, the outcomes of the 2025 extraordinary meeting, new member state accession, the 2026 workplan, and the formulation of the International Date Council's 2026-2030 strategy.
During his visit, the Undersecretary also attended the Riyadh International Date Exhibition, where he explored the latest technologies in date production and marketing.