Mansour opens Date Palm Festival

Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE, Minister of Presidential Affairs And Chairman of Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority, on Monday inaugurated the sixth edition of Emirates International Date Palm Festival -a weeklong celebration of the date fruit and its culture, tradition and heritage -at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research,and Rashid Mohamed Al Shariqi, Director General of Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority (ADFCA), were also present at the occasion. Rashid Mohamed Al Shariqi, Director General of Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority (ADFCA), said on the occasion of the opening of the Emirates International Date Palm Festival, that the success of the previous editions of the Date Palm Festival, organised by ADFCA was the reason why top producers and exporters of dates and date products were attracted to take part in the festival. He added, “More than 165 exhibitors from 18 countries are taking part this time, in addition to official pavilions from a number of countries, including Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, Jordan, Libya, Palestine and Tunisia, displaying the best varieties of dates.” “The festival is hosting several new activities this year, highlighting the heritage of previous generations so that their successors living today become more aware of the importance of the date palm and the date fruit. This event is an occasion to educate the people about the traditions and heritage of the UAE as well as for dates businesses to interact with each other and explore business opportunities. The Festival testifies to the extent to which the UAE cares for preserving its glorious heritage and culture,” he concluded. Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyanwas taken on a guided tour through the festival area where he met exhibitors and sampled some of the most delicious date fruits and date products produced in the GCC region. Approximately165 exhibitors from 18 countries are participating at the festival, in addition to national pavilions from six countries: Iraq, Pakistan, Jordan, Libya, Tunisia and Palestine. An exciting feature, the ‘Planting of Date Seedlings’ at the 2012 Emirates International Date Palm Festival, will pay special tribute to the Union Tree initiative recently launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. From Gulf Today