Date: 12 Aug, 2025
The Arab Authority for Agricultural Investment and Development (AAAID) held a productive virtual meeting with Bahrain Food Holding Company (BFHC), a subsidiary of Mumtalakat, the sovereign wealth fund of the Kingdom of Bahrain. The meeting aimed to explore prospects for enhancing joint cooperation and establishing sustainable strategic partnerships particularly in areas linked to food security.
AAAID places strong emphasis on the Bahraini market, in view of the Kingdom’s advanced national strategy for enhancing food security, including ambitious initiatives such as the Food City Project, one of the region’s most prominent industrial ventures.
The meeting was chaired on behalf of AAAID by H.E. Dr. Obaid Saif Hamad Al Zaabi, Chairman of the Board, and included the participation of Mr. Mohamed Osman Abdelgadir, Director of the Investment Activities Sector; Mr. Talal Mohamed Akeil, Director of the Direct Investment Department; and Mr. Ayman El Henawy, Director of Communication and International Relations.
Representing BFHC and Mumtalakat were Mr. Omar Syed, Chief Investment Officer – Strategic Investments at Mumtalakat and Board Member at BFHC; Mr. Mohammad Ahmadi, Senior Manager – Strategic Investments; Mr. Mohammed Al Rahma, Manager – Strategic Investments; and Mr. Firas Sadiq, Associate – Strategic Investments.
At the start of the meeting, H.E. Dr. Al Zaabi welcomed the participants and provided an introductory briefing on AAAID’s role as a pan Arab financial institution dedicated to agricultural development and food security enhancement through strategic investments across Arab countries.
Both parties discussed potential areas of collaboration and reviewed investment opportunities in sectors such as food processing, poultry production, flour milling, and other fields related to food security. They also explored mechanisms for developing value-added projects and considered signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to formalize and activate cooperation under a clear framework that supports mutual interests and long-term food security.
Commenting on the meeting, H.E. Dr. Obaid Al Zaabi stated: “We value the Kingdom of Bahrain’s continued efforts to foster an attractive investment environment that promotes Arab food security. We look forward to expanding our cooperation with leading entities like Bahrain Food Holding Company in alignment with AAAID’s strategic goals.”
He added: “AAAID is committed to cultivating effective, sustainable alliances built on high-quality investment. We fully recognize the importance of collective action to address food security challenges and to achieve Arab self-sufficiency.”
This meeting is part of a broader series of strategic dialogues conducted by AAAID with regional and international partners as part of its efforts to expand its agricultural and Agri-industrial investment portfolio contributing to the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals and reinforcing food security across the Arab world.
