DUBAI, March 13 – The United Arab Emirates and New Zealand signed an agreement at Expo 2020 Dubai on Friday (11 March), confirming their Strategic Food Security Partnership.
HE Mariam Hareb Almheiri, UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment, and Damien O’Connor, New Zealand Minister for Trade and Export Growth, signed the Memorandum of Arrangement at the New Zealand Pavilion, after discussions on ways to cement their food-security relationship and expand cooperation.
Damien O’Connor said: “I’m pleased to be here in the United Arab Emirates and to sign a Memorandum of Arrangement on a food security partnership today with Her Excellency Minister Almheiri.
“This partnership recognises New Zealand as an innovative trading and agricultural nation and our role in supporting high quality, safe food and beverage products to the UAE. As part of future-proofing this food security partnership, we will also identify opportunities to share knowledge to boost self-sufficiency and collaborate on policy challenges we all face together.”
The pair exchanged gifts – Manuka honey for the UAE, and cufflinks, camel milk chocolates and a book to celebrate 50 years of the UAE for New Zealand – before touring the New Zealand Pavilion.
At the same time in the pavilion, businesses from New Zealand were displaying goods such as chocolate, pet supplies, honey and drinks, and talking to potential investors within the UAE market as part of an initiative called Taking New Zealand to the World.
