Rome: International Dates Council executive director Princess Sarah bint Bandar bin Abdulaziz met today with UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Director-General Qu Dongyu at the organization’s headquarters. The meeting underscored the council’s pioneering global role in promoting dates as both a food and an industry, with the aim of achieving sustainable agricultural development and strengthening the sector’s position in international markets.

According to Saudi Press Agency, Princess Sarah highlighted the role of the International Dates Council as an independent intergovernmental organization dedicated to developing the date palm sector and enhancing its sustainability and competitiveness worldwide. She explained that the council works to coordinate efforts among member states and international organizations, while supporting development, production, and marketing programs to raise the quality of dates and expand their presence in global markets.

The two officials reviewed areas of cooperation under the agreement signed in 2022 and running through 2027, which provides a framework for unifying efforts to support the sustainability and global competitiveness of the date palm sector. They also discussed mechanisms to activate the agreement in the coming phase, including the appointment of official contact points to coordinate joint programs and projects.