The Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) recently signed an agreement with Silal, Abu Dhabi’s new fresh food and agritech company, to promote local agricultural products in the emirate.
The Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) recently signed an agreement with Silal, Abu Dhabi’s new fresh food and agritech company, to promote local agricultural products in the emirate.
The agreement aims to achieve Abu Dhabi Local Content Programme objectives, particularly those pertaining to the strategies of enhancing food supply chains. It also supports freelancers and micro and small enterprises to diversify the emirate’s GDP and create job opportunities for citizens in the private sector.
His Excellency Rashed Abdul Karim Al Balooshi, Undersecretary of ADDED, and His Excellency Eng. Jamal Salem Al Dhaheri, CEO of Silal, signed the agreement virtually, in the presence of officials from both parties.
His Excellency Al Balooshi emphasised ADDED’s ambition to achieve sustainable economic development and elevate the business sector and economic affairs in Abu Dhabi. This is done by providing distinctive services to investors and business sectors across Abu Dhabi to carry out their economic activities.
His Excellency Al Balooshi added: “The Department is Abu Dhabi’s competent authority to apply the Local Content Programme mechanisms for government and semi-government entities, contributing to the emirate’s GDP growth, encourage Emiratisation in the private sector and promote a knowledge-based economy.
His Excellency Al Dhaheri reiterated Silal’s determination to improve the quality of services in the agricultural sector and activate cooperation with government and semi-government entities, as well as relevant stakeholders in the emirate. His Excellency also praised ADDED’s key role in facilitating procedures and implementing progressive initiatives for private sector companies, which empowers the private sector and boosts Abu Dhabi’s local economy.
His Excellency Al Dhaheri said: “The signing of this agreement comes as part of the company’s strategic partnership with ADDED to identify key areas of cooperation in managing and maintaining the emirate’s food reserves. We will implement the Abu Dhabi Local Content Programme to increase local food demand, support local food producers, and strengthen domestic agricultural crop supply chains.”
Under this agreement, both parties will devise proposals for regulations and laws, and launch programmers and initiatives to support local farmers in the emirate, boosting Abu Dhabi’s self-sufficiency in key products. This will be achieved through Silal’s adoption and compliance with the Local Content Programme and Government Procurements Supporting Abu Dhabi’s Golden List project to implement supporting strategic projects.
Joint programmes, action plans and objectives will be arranged by both parties, and a work team will be assigned to follow up on the mechanisms and procedures of implementing the agreement.
About Silal:
Silal is part of ADQ, one of the region’s largest holding companies with a broad portfolio of major enterprises spanning key sectors of Abu Dhabi’s diversified economy. Silal was established in September 2020 to diversify sources of food products and stimulate local manufactured and agri-food sectors. The company works in line with the Abu Dhabi Government’s directives to promote food supply and distribution in the emirate. Silal’s mandates include empowering the food and agricultural sector and local farmers in Abu Dhabi, as well as managing procurement programmes and strategic stocks of foodstuffs, in cooperation with Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA). The company also executes specialised knowledge transfer programmes on desert farming techniques, and devises research and development projects to support the increase in local production of fruits and vegetables for smallholder farmers in the UAE.