Pakistan, UAE sign agreement for promotion of date palm cultivation

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Monday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to enhance agricultural innovation and research to develop and promote various aspects of date palm cultivation and related industry, Pakistan’s top diplomat to the UAE said.

The UAE is Pakistan’s third-largest trading partner, after China and the United States. Policymakers in Pakistan consider the Gulf state an optimal export destination due to its geographical proximity, which minimizes transportation and freight costs while facilitating commercial transactions. Presently, Pakistan’s primary exports to the UAE include textile products and a variety of food items.

Pakistan’s Ambassador Faisal Niaz Tirmizi and Dr. Abdelouahhab Zaid, general-secretary of the Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation, signed the MoU in Abu Dhabi. The signing ceremony was attended by Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, the UAE minister of tolerance and coexistence.

“The MoU will help in promoting joint cooperation and sharing of expertise between the two sides,” Tirmizi told Arab News. “It will also provide an opportunity to Pakistani farmers to increase cultivation of date palm including through innovative ideas.”

Being one of the pioneers, the UAE will provide technological support to Pakistan to increase date palm cultivation as Pakistan’s rich topography presents immense potential in the sector, according to the Pakistani ambassador.

Pursuant to the deal, Pakistan will organize its first international date palm festival this year.

“Pakistan and the UAE enjoy fraternal relationship and are engaged on a range of mutually beneficial collaborative projects, including in the realm of political, economic, agricultural, cultural, energy and defense cooperation,” Tirmizi added.