Food in plenty for all in the UAE

The effectiveness in dealing with the ongoing Covid-19 crisis reflects the preparedness of the UAE on several fronts. Since its formation in 1971, the leadership here has been consistently investing in the country and preparing its systems and people for a better future. Forward-looking strategies have guided people and governance in the UAE.

This has helped the country manage the current challenge well, especially when there is no vaccine or comprehensive treatment available.

The country's well thought-out strategy has not only guaranteed the availability of food and medical products in the local markets but also enabled the UAE to assist more than 50 nations by sending 570 tonnes of aid so far.

The UAE has also cooperated with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) to launch an international air bridge to provide medical and humanitarian supplies, which would be a lifeline to needy people in more than 100 countries.

The UAE has been investing in its people, who are the foundation of the country. For instance, 10 per cent of Emirati students studying abroad are specialising in medicine, 38 per cent in science, 42 per cent in engineering and technology. In addition, the research and development expenditure constituted 1 per cent of the country's GDP in 2017.

Thanks to its relentless efforts in ensuring food security and sufficiency in other sectors, the UAE ranks 11th globally and first in the Arab world in the Logistic Performance Index 2018. The factories have helped the UAE export food and pharmaceutical products to the world and play a vital role in the re-export and storage.

The UAE is also the world's 31st nation in the Global Food Security Index 2018 and we aim to be ninth globally by next year, a significant target that explains the proactive decisions taken by the UAE such as launching the National Food Security Strategy and appointing a minister to be in charge of food security issues.

Despite its catastrophic impacts, which almost everyone knows, the pandemic will help create a stronger food security in line with the 2051 target (to be the world's first nation in food security).

It goes without saying that the health, security, and military sectors in the UAE are progressing based on clear visions and this was made clear a couple of days ago by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, when he said: "Despite the challenges the whole world is facing and us, the food supply chain in the UAE at this time was not, and will not be impacted, whether it's the local production; the stockpile; or the imports."

-malzarooni@khaleejtimes.com