@FAO - FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva appointing Abdelouahhab Zaid as FAO Goodwill Ambassador for the UAE

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations “FAO” has granted Prof. Abdelouahhab Zaid the title of “UN FAO Goodwill Ambassador” in recognition of his great efforts and contributions in the development of the agricultural food sector at the Arab and international levels through no end of research he has provided and has been positively reflected in the agricultural sector's development, particularly date palms.
On this juncture, Prof. A. Zaid expressed his pleasure at such an honor and stressed that it has bestowed responsibility on his shoulders for performing a noble mission and realizing further achievements. He wished to be up to such a responsibility and to the good trust in order to give a real impression and image of the people of the Arab Nations and to promote the important role in contributing to the continuation of civilization.
Prof. A. Zaid presented this accomplishment to H.H. Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, United Arab Emirates “UAE” Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, praising the great and important influential role of His Highness in motivating and encouraging the research, academics and workforce in the date palm sector. His role is emphasized through many contributions in the development of this sector and honoring of those globally interested in the date palm tree.
The foregoing was during a press conference held on this occasion at the Emirates Palace Hotel this morning and attended by Mr. Mehdi Drissi, representative of the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations in the UAE, and a crowd of media representatives as well as a large audience.
During the press conference, Mehdi Drissi congratulated Prof. Abdelouahhab Zaid for this achievement and emphasized that such an honor and the title granted to His Excellency from the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations are an appreciation and recognition of the progress and development the agricultural sector has witnessed in the UAE and the standard UAE has reached in this field thanks to the wise policy of H.H Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan , President of the United Arab Emirates, the distinctive care and support of H.H. Sheikh Mohamad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Higher Commander of the Armed Forces, and the vigorous follow-up and attention of H.H. Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, as well as the guidance of H.H. Sheikh Nahyan Mabarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Khalifa International Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation Award.
Drissi said: " The fingerprints of Prof. Abdelouahhab Zaid are many and he has always been an honorable model of a successful Arab youth who has largely and positively influenced all the functions he has occupied and dedicated his knowledge and science for serving and development of the agricultural sector and humanity, especially during his work with the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations and the United Nations Development Program for 20 years. The projects he has been commissioned by the Program to supervise in many countries, such as Burkina Faso, Namibia, Jordan, Niger, Nigeria, Syria, Tunisia and Yemen, have realized great success. Such projects have contributed to the development of the agricultural sector and food security in those countries in addition to his great efforts in development of date palm sector through his job as a Secretary General of Khalifa International Date Palm Award where he given without limits and deserved the appreciation and attention of many international organizations, governments and international agencies. Honoring him today is only a part of the appreciation Hiss Excellency does deserve."
The Representative of the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations in The UAE also extended thanks and appreciation to H.E Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, The Extraordinary Goodwill Ambassador of the United Nations for her big and active role in supporting the United Nation's projects worldwide.