Date: 23 Apr, 2026
Location: Rome - Italy
H.E. Dr. Obaid Saif Hamad Al Zaabi, Chairman of the Board of the Arab Authority for Agricultural Investment and Development (AAAID), participated in the high-level Ministerial Roundtable III: “Financing resilient and climate-smart agrifood systems in the Region”, held as part of the 38th Session of the FAO Regional Conference for the Near East and North Africa (NERC 38), at FAO Headquarters in Rome, Italy, on 20 April 2026.
The session was chaired by Her Excellency Dr. Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak is the UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment, with participation from H.E. Dr. Saeb Khreisat, Minister of Agriculture of Jordan, H.E. Qu Dongyu, Director-General of FAO, and H.E. Dr. Abdulhakim Elwaer, Assistant Director-General and FAO Regional Representative for the Near East and North Africa.
H.E. emphasized that rising climate and geopolitical challenges require a fundamental shift in agricultural financing models toward innovative and sustainable investment approaches that strengthen agrifood system resilience.
He also highlighted the importance of empowering smallholder farmers through integrated financing models that enhance productivity and stabilize food supply chains.
The participation comes amid growing international warnings over increasing pressure on fragile agrifood systems in the Near East due to climate change and conflict, underscoring the urgency for more resilient and innovative investment responses.
