Category: News

• Over 200 million consumers have shifted to online shopping since 2020.
• UAE food trade exceeds AED 100 billion every year.
• The AgriTech market is expected to reach over AED 80 billion by 2026

Food Tech Valley, which is being developed by wasl Asset Management Group, is a UAE-government-led initiative that was announced in 2021 by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, that seeks to triple the UAE’s food production and position the nation as a global destination for the industry, partners with Tradeling, the MENA’s e-marketplace focusing on B2B transactions. The aim is to ensure a number of benefits for both parties and B2B buyers and sellers, as well as to bolster the primary goal of growing the UAE’s self-sufficiency in food imports.

The agreement was signed at wasl Experience Center by Ahmed AlShaibani, Project Lead at Food Tech Valley, and Marius Ciavola, Chief Executive Officer at Tradeling, in the presence of senior officials from both entities.

Several key objectives were agreed upon to ensure that Food Tech Valley realises its potential of being a commercial hub for industry experts in the food ecosystem. Tradeling’s platform will grant business users access to food and agricultural technology products via easy payment solutions, logistics, warehousing solutions, and marketing and customer acquisition benefits. Food Tech Valley will establish a B2B marketplace powered by Tradeling to help support, connect and match buyers from across industries, including hospitality, which is host to F&B sellers who source local and international quality products and raw ingredients.

This collaboration will enable a digitalised trade experience that will support food producers by helping expand their businesses in the UAE. Tradeling will support local producers by accelerating their growth through the platform. Credit finance solutions will also be offered to select eligible companies, comprising flexible payment options for SMEs and start-ups.

A spokesperson from Food Tech Valley said: “It gives us immense pleasure to enter into this strategic partnership with Tradeling, the leading e-marketplace for MENA business buyers, to augment our proposition and consolidate our commitment to help develop and transform the UAE into a global hub for clean, tech-based food and agricultural solutions. As a result of this collaboration, we will enable local food producers to trade through a newly added section on Food Tech Valley’s website, FTV B2B Market, covering the value chain and target segment towards yielding substantial growth and results. Our combined efforts will eventually help empower the UAE’s food security plans, and we look forward to working closely with Tradeling to pioneer sustainable food production towards reimagining how the world produces and consumes food.”

Commenting on the agreement, Marius Ciavola said: “The UAE has been successfully diversifying away from its economy, and Food Tech Valley is yet another initiative that fits into the country’s plan of fostering a more sustainable future. Tradeling is thrilled to be a part of this journey, and we look forward to facilitating business opportunities for B2B buyers and sellers that contribute to the betterment of the country. More than 200 million consumers have shifted to online shopping since 2020, and through this partnership, we believe that we can collectively revolutionise the ecosystems of both e-commerce and AgriTech.”

UAE food trade exceeds AED 100 billion every year, and the AgriTech market is expected to grow from $13.5 billion to $22 billion over the next four years. The primary objectives include bolstering the UAE’s food security, helping the country achieve self-sufficiency, and further developing vertical farming and other advanced agriculture technologies, among other goals.

The MoU between Tradeling and Food Tech Valley has been formed to help expedite this process and boost both organisations’ offerings. As this strategic partnership progresses, Tradeling will contribute to strengthening Food Tech Valley’s market position while simultaneously becoming the preferred online channel for its technology providers.

Food Tech Valley, being developed by wasl Asset Management Group and centring around food, innovation, knowledge, technology and sustainability, has announced the signing of an agreement with the International Islamic Food Processing Association (IFPA) to support its parent entity, Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS); step up food security efforts; and achieve a sustainable future for agriculture.

The agreement was signed during Gulfood Manufacturing 2022 by Ahmed AlShaibani, Food Tech Valley Project Lead, and HE Yerlan A. Baidulet, Chairman of International IFPA.

As part of the agreement, Food Tech Valley will empower IFPA members with best practices in AgriTech by exchanging expertise and operational excellence through industry training, conferences and events. The collaboration will enable IFPA to continue fostering robust relations between agricultural businesses across IOFS member states and empowering B2B cooperation among OIC private sectors.

A spokesperson from Food Tech Valley, said: “We are pleased to enter into a strategic partnership with IFPA in the consolidation of its mission to help its members distribute and promote agri-food products and champion top companies in the OIC/IOFS markets; it will also facilitate business connections and strategic partnerships in food-processing and the wider food supply chain. Our mandate at Food Tech Valley is to establish a collaborative network to lead regional transformation and export knowledge towards a sustainable food system.”

HE Yerlan A. Baidulet said: “International Islamic Food Processing Association (IFPA), a subsidiary of the Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS), is an organization that can help enable food security for the OIC countries. Through close private sector collaboration, IFPA will assist OIC members in building food manufacturing capacity and expanding trade opportunities. With IFPA relocating to UAE, with Dubai as its headquarters, IFPA is in a geo-strategic location that has the infrastructure and track record to catalyze the improvement of the food manufacturing value chain. In this direction, today’s MOU with Food Tech Valley and our close collaboration with Gulfood Manufacturing are our first steps towards achieving food security within OIC nations”

International Islamic Food Processing Association is established under the auspices of the OIC-specialised institution of the Islamic Organisation for Food Security, as its subsidiary, at the Astana International Financial Centre. Its mandate is to enable and promote intra-OIC trade and investment between agri-food private-sector businesses across the entire ecosystem and food supply chain from gene to fork among OIC/IOFS member states.