Princess Sarah bint Bandar discusses the future of the International Date Council with Russia
In a strategic move aimed at strengthening international cooperation in the date sector, Princess Sarah bint Bandar bin Abdulaziz, Executive Director of the International Date Council, met with Oksana Lut, Minister of Agriculture of the Russian Federation. This important meeting took place on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, where they discussed future trends and ways to develop the date sector globally, with a focus on the pivotal role of the International Date Council in achieving these goals.
This meeting comes within the framework of Saudi Arabia's efforts to solidify its position as a global leader in the date palm sector. Riyadh hosts the headquarters of the International Date Council, an independent international organization established to support and develop this vital sector. The Council's establishment reflects the Kingdom's ambitious vision to diversify its economy and boost its non-oil exports, in line with the goals of Vision 2030. Saudi dates are considered a high-quality product with increasing demand in global markets.
New prospects for cooperation: Russia on the verge of joining the International Date Council
The potential accession of the Russian Federation to the International Date Council was a key focus of the discussions. If finalized, this move is seen as a significant addition that will expand the Council's geographical reach and enhance its international influence. The inclusion of a large consumer market like Russia will offer promising opportunities for date producers and exporters worldwide, and will allow Russia to benefit from the Council's expertise and information to improve supply chains and meet growing domestic demand for healthy and natural products.
During the meeting, Princess Sarah bint Bandar reviewed the Council’s strategic priorities and the projects and initiatives it is working to implement in cooperation with member states and international partners, all of which aim to raise the economic value of the sector and enhance its presence in global markets.
International Date Observatory: A digital vision to boost markets
The meeting also highlighted one of the Council's most prominent future projects, the "International Date Observatory." The Russian side was briefed on this promising digital platform, which is being established to serve as a specialized and reliable resource for monitoring and analyzing trade and economic data and indicators related to dates worldwide. The Russian side expressed significant interest in the Observatory, recognizing the accurate tools and information it will provide to support decision-making by governments and investors, and to contribute to developing trade and exploring new investment opportunities in this vital sector.
At the conclusion of the meeting, both parties emphasized the importance of continuing coordination and exchanging experiences and knowledge, in order to serve common goals and support the sustainable economic development of the palm and date sector internationally, and to enhance the position of dates as a food of high nutritional and economic value on the global trade map.
