Doha, June 22 (QNA) - The Qatar-EU Dialogue on Safe and Resilient Food Trade was held on Monday, with the participation of policymakers, regulatory authorities, industry leaders, and experts from the European Union and Qatar, to exchange views on food security, food safety systems, resilient supply chains, and international trade.
During the dialogue session, which was held in person and via video conference, discussions centered on ways to support stable access for European food and agricultural exports to markets, in alignment with international standards for sanitary and phytosanitary measures and foster regulatory transparency in import procedures.
In his remarks, Mohammed bin Ahmed Al Obaidly, Board Member and Chairman of the Food Security and Environment Committee at Qatar Chamber, affirmed that Qatar's experience in food security is no longer limited to theoretical plans or studies, but has become a practical experience shaped by the country's response to various crises.
He noted that Qatar now has clear expertise in identifying its needs and building effective partnerships with various international stakeholders, particularly the EU, stressing that the goal is to make Qatar a global leading hub for food security and technology, and calling for building a genuine and sustainable partnership with the EU in this field.
Al Obaidly further explained that Qatar is a reliable partner capable of building an integrated system with international partners based on mutual benefit and the exchange of expertise.
Qatar Chamber plays an important role in strengthening communication with trade and investment delegations from around the world, receiving dozens of official and business delegations annually that seek cooperation and investment opportunities, Al Obaidly underlined.
He emphasized the importance of building genuine Qatar-EU partnerships based on the principle of mutual benefit, noting that Europe needs energy, while Qatar needs technology, research and development, and advanced expertise, particularly in agriculture, supply chains, food safety, and modern technologies.
As such, Al Obaidly called for benefiting from successful international models, such as the Netherlands' experience in agribusiness, where a strong system has been built based on strategic partnerships, exports, and innovation.
He affirmed that Qatar seeks to develop a similar model in collaboration with European partners, so that it becomes an active partner.
Regarding the daily challenges facing the food trade sector, Al Obaidly stressed the importance of digital transformation and the use of technology and artificial intelligence to facilitate procedures, reduce time, and improve operational efficiency.
He explained that systems may appear ideal when presented theoretically, but practical implementation reveals the real challenges facing producers, importers, logistics companies, and other relevant stakeholders.
Al Obaidly added that Qatar has become one of the world's leading countries in practical experience in food security, stressing that food security is not limited to ensuring supply, but also includes resilience, sustainability, and the ability to deal with crises.
Regarding lessons learned from regional and international crises, he noted that Qatar Chamber has participated in emergency discussions over recent years focused on food security, water security, and essential needs.
Al Obaidly pointed out that Qatar has developed its strategic reserves and tested multiple supply routes by land, sea, and air, including alternative routes through different countries, to ensure readiness in emergency situations.
In addition, Al Obaidly affirmed that the Qatari experience was not theoretical, but was tested in practice, particularly in relation to cold chains and logistics inside and outside the country. He added that Qatar currently has a surplus in some products compared to its needs, which encourages thinking about exports rather than imports alone.
Al Obaidly also highlighted the importance of balancing the interests of various stakeholders, such as local producers, distributors, importers, and retailers, stressing that each party views food security from a different angle, and that the role of the government is important in creating the right equation to ensure the sustainability of the system and prevent harm to any party.
آ  He emphasized the necessity of cooperation between the public and private sectors to achieve food security, noting that the food security strategy should distinguish between essential goods that require monitoring and control, and non-essential or luxury goods that can be left to the open market. (QNA)