Kuwait city: Minister of Electricity, Water, Renewable Energy, and Acting Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs, Dr. Sabeeh Al-Mukhaizeem, highlighted Kuwait's commitment to food security and sustainable agriculture, supporting farmers to enhance production and ensure agricultural stability. This announcement was made during the 37th Gulf Cooperation Council Ministers' Meeting on Agricultural Cooperation and Food Security hosted by Kuwait.
According to Kuwait News Agency, Al-Mukhaizeem stressed the importance of modern agricultural technologies, such as year-round greenhouse cultivation and soil-less farming systems, advocated by the Public Authority for Agriculture and Fisheries. These technologies are crucial for overcoming harsh climatic conditions and supporting the region's expanding population. The meeting occurs amid sensitive regional and international circumstances, with global economic challenges impacting food security, necessitating coordinated policies and resilient agricultural strategies among member states.
The meeting's objective was to establish a roadmap for joint agricultural cooperation, reflecting a collective determination to secure a sustainable future through an integrated Gulf food security system. Khaled Al-Sunaidi, Secretary-General for Economic and Development Affairs at the GCC, emphasized the need for regional agricultural coordination in response to recurring global market disruptions, economic fluctuations, and climate pressures.
Al-Sunaidi noted that despite challenges like climate change, water scarcity, and limited arable land, GCC states continue to advance their agricultural sectors, ensuring resilience and fostering sustainable growth. The GCC agricultural sector achieved an annual growth rate of 6.8 percent in 2024, contributing significantly to member states' GDP and non-oil GDP, highlighting agriculture's increasing economic importance.
Furthermore, intra-GCC trade in agricultural and fishery products reached around five billion dollars, with an annual growth rate of 7.4 percent, underscoring the Gulf market's strategic role in food trade. Ministers reviewed strategic plans and joint projects, agreeing on continued cooperation, policy integration, and promotion of Gulf economic collaboration to bolster regional and global food security.