Ministry of Environment and Water signs strategic MoU with Norway Fishing Foundation

Abu Dhabi (WAM): The U.A.E. Ministry of Environment and Water (MoEW) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Nor-Fishing Foundation and Informa Middle East Limited, one of the region’s leading providers of high quality conferences, to organise ‘Aqua Middle East’ (AquaME) and ‘Aqua ME Summit’ in conjunction with AgraME taking place from 16th-18th March 2015 at the Dubai Exhibition and Convention Centre. Nor-Fishing Foundation was established in 1992 by the Norwegian Ministry of Fisheries. Over the last 30 years, not only have they been responsible for organising the Norwegian international fisheries exhibition "Nor-Fishing" – regarded as the leading international fisheries trade show – but also the leading international aquaculture venue "Aqua Nor" in Norway, making them the ideal international partner for AquaME. The partnership is a move to consolidate and encourage co-operation to improve the aquaculture sector, which falls in line with the U.A.E.’s strategic objectives to promote food security and environmental sustainability contributing to the U.A.E.’s Vision 2021. The MoU was signed by MoEW Assistant Under-Secretary for Support Services, Abdul Rahim Al Hammadi, and Nor-Fishing Foundation Chairman of Board, Mrs Liv Holmefjord, and Informa Middle East Limited Exhibition Director Richard Pavitt, earlier this week in Trondheim, Norway, in the presence of Mohammed AlJuwaied, U.A.E. Ambassador to the Kingdom of Norway. Under the MoU, all parties will work in close collaboration towards promoting the development of the aquaculture and fishing industry by hosting an exhibition to attract local and international suppliers from within these industries. Furthermore, in parallel to the trade show, the AquaME Summit, the second edition of the Aquaculture Investment Forum, will be organised to bring experts and specialists from around the world to exchange experiences, transfer knowledge and review best practices, advances and innovations in research, science and technology thereby strengthening the aquaculture and fishing industry in the U.A.E.. The total current market valuation of investments in to the U.A.E. aquaculture sector stands at US$ 321 million, with 20 million of that amount being invested in to the Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Marine Research Centre. The project, which was launched in February 2013, aims to produce 10 million juveniles per year of local indigenous species and will contribute to enhancing food security in the U.A.E.. Furthermore, the centre will support research focusing on overexploited species and habitat conservation measures. – Emirates News Agency, WAM - http://www.wam.ae/en/news/emirates/1395268937721.html