MUSCAT: Member states of the International Dates Council account for around 60% of global date production, with an annual output of approximately six million tonnes, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Abdulrahman Alfadley said on Sunday at the council’s sixth session in Muscat.
The International Dates Council held its sixth session of the Council of Members in Muscat, hosted by Oman, represented by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources, with the participation of representatives of member states, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
The meeting elected the Executive Board for the next term, approved a mechanism for calculating member states’ financial contributions, and extended the mandates of specialised committees. The council also welcomed the accession of Morocco and Libya to its membership.
The meeting opened with a review of the annual report on the work of the Executive Secretariat, highlighting key achievements, programs, and activities implemented over the past period.
Participants also reviewed progress on joint initiatives and projects and discussed strategic directions and priorities for developing the palm and dates sector at the regional and international levels.
The session saw the election of the Executive Board for the next term, with Saudi Arabia retaining the presidency. Oman was selected to represent the Gulf states and Yemen region, Jordan to represent the Near East region, and Libya to represent North Africa.
The council also thanked the outgoing Executive Board members — Saudi Arabia, Oman, Tunisia, and Palestine — in recognition of their efforts during the previous term.
The council welcomed Morocco and Libya as new members, expanding the geographical representation of member states and supporting opportunities for cooperation, knowledge exchange, and the development of joint initiatives in the palm and dates sector.
On financial and organisational matters, the Council of Members approved a mechanism for calculating member states’ financial contributions to the council’s budget, helping regulate its financial resources and support the sustainability of its programs and projects.
It also approved extending the mandates of specialised committees for an additional term to enable them to complete their tasks and technical programs and build on the expertise accumulated in their respective fields.
In his address, Saudi Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture and the Chairman of the Council of Members of the International Date Council Abdulrahman Alfadley commended Oman’s efforts in hosting the sixth session, according to SPA.
He stressed the importance of moving from planning to implementing strategic initiatives and maximising the economic value of the dates sector.
He noted that the palm and dates sector is undergoing an important transformation, shifting beyond production growth toward maximising value, enhancing competitiveness, developing markets and industries, and strengthening sustainability.
Amid these changes, the sector has significant potential to contribute to food security, support sustainable agriculture, improve resource-use efficiency, and create sustainable economic and development opportunities, further consolidating the global importance of dates as both a food product and an economic sector.
Alfadley explained that the global dates sector had continued to grow over the past five years, with exports increasing by approximately 6%, driven by changing consumption patterns and rising demand for food products with health benefits.
He said this presents a strategic opportunity for the International Dates Council to connect member states’ capabilities and expertise with growing global demand.
Member states account for approximately 60% of global production, with annual output of around 6 million tons, strengthening the council’s role in developing production, processing, and marketing, and enhancing the competitiveness of dates and date products in international markets.
