Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation Signs Five Letters of Intent with Local and International Institutions

ABU DHABI, 20th May, 2017 (WAM) - In line with the directives of Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan - Minister of Culture & Knowledge Development, and President of the Board of Trustees at the Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation - the Secretariat General of the Award has signed five letters of intent with a number of institutions in the UAE and international organisations. The aim is to strengthen the principles of partnership and exchange of experiences for achieving the Award’s objectives across multiple levels. The signing took place during a ceremony honouring the winners of the 9th Session of the Award. H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, and Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan were in attendance. The five partnering institutions include: Al Foah Co., for organising the national version of the Award at the date palm growers level; United Arab Emirates University (UAEU), who is responsible for co-organising the 6th International Conference of Date Palm to be held in March 2018; the International Centre for Bio-Saline Agriculture, the Ministry of Trade and Industry in the Arab Republic of Egypt for organising, and Phoenix International where they will both be at the 3rd Egyptian Date Palm Festival in Siwa this year.

Dr. Abdelouahhab Zaid, the Secretary-General of the Award, said that signing this many letters of intent confirms the high credibility the Award has achieved at the national and international levels.

"Such useful results have not come from a vacuum but are rather the outcome of the clear vision and hard work of the members of the Board of Trustees as well as partnership and collaboration with all the concerned parties at the UAE and world levels," he added.