Abu Dhabi’s Department of Economic Development (ADDED) has entered into a cooperation deal with Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA) to improve the competitiveness of regional products.
The association is expected to improve the role played by Abu Dhabi Local Content (ADLC) initiative organized under the Ghadan 21 accelerator program, in expediting the government procurement and tendering processes to support regional producers.
ADLC seeks to improve private sector engagement in Abu Dhabi Government’s investments while promoting regional investment by the businesses along with stronger supply chains and an increase in the emirate’s gross domestic product (GDP).
Speaking on the regional collaboration, ADDED’s Under-Secretary Mr. Rashed Abdul Karim Al Balooshi stated that the deal will pave the way towards developing a framework for exploring key areas of cooperation supporting the implementation of the ADLC initiative in the agricultural sector.
Saeed Al Bahri Al Ameri, Director-General of ADAFSA remarked that “The agreement demonstrates the spirit of cooperation and responsibility between government entities in Abu Dhabi, and we are pleased to work with ADDED towards building a diversified, globally competitive and sustainable economy based on a balanced approach to attain socio-economic development.”
Mr. Al Ameri noted that ADAFSA has already asked suppliers and companies participating in tenders to present ADLC certificates. He further emphasized that the new agreement will help the Authority to expand the scope of the program’s beneficiaries to include small and large producers in the agricultural and food production sectors, support local products and enhance their competitiveness in the market.
ADDED will facilitate the training and qualification of ADAFSA’s employees tasked to implement the ADLC program. It also includes facilitating and amending the required procedures in coordination with certifying bodies to encourage companies to buy local products and thereby increase their local content value.
Meanwhile, ADAFSA will provide ADDED with data on the size and types of food production, exports and imports and other necessary information to properly implement the ADLC program.
This data will enable the Department to issue reports and submit proposals and recommendations supporting local products in the emirate.
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