Dubai, UAE – February, 2026 – A delegation from the UAE, led by Her Excellency Dr. Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, undertook an official two-day visit to Baku from February 16-17. The delegation met with officials from Azerbaijani government and private sector entities to enhance collaboration in the development of agriculture and livestock sectors. This visit was designed to deepen bilateral cooperation across food security, sustainable agriculture, and the livestock sector, building upon the foundations laid by the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between the United Arab Emirates and Azerbaijan.
Speaking about the visit and the UAE-Azerbaijan partnership, HE Amna Al Dahak said: “Our presence in Baku underscores the depth of the UAE-Azerbaijan relationship. This bond is built upon a shared vision for sustainable economic growth, with the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) serving as a catalyst to unlock opportunities for both our nations. Our visit is specifically designed to translate the momentum generated by the CEPA into tangible, actionable collaboration and clearly defined investment pathways, forging comprehensive partnerships between our key government entities and the private sector.
“The UAE champions a proactive, multi-faceted approach to food security embracing innovation, strategic investment, and impactful international collaboration. Building on these elements, we aim to expand our partnership with Azerbaijan, recognising its immense agricultural potential and rich food production heritage. We look forward to a dynamic bilateral roadmap for investment in the livestock sector and agri-food industries, enhancing trade in sustainable products and fostering greater food security and prosperity for both the UAE and Azerbaijan.”
Strategic Pillars of the Visit:
The visit is guided by three core pillars: enhancing trade facilitation and identifying investment opportunities in the agricultural and livestock sector; promoting sustainable agriculture and fostering robust cooperation in the livestock sector; and bolstering overall food security by developing resilient food supply chains.
The UAE delegation, spearheaded by HE Amna Al Dahak, comprised senior government officials including HE Mohammed Saeed Al Nuaimi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE); HE Abdulrahman Al Hawi, Undersecretary of Ministry of Investment; and HE Mohammed Murad Al Blooshi, UAE Ambassador to the Republic of Azerbaijan.
Key representatives from prominent government and semi-government entities joined the delegation. The delegates included HE Dhafer Rashid Al Qasimi, CEO, Silal Group; HE Mohammed Khalfan Al Mansoori, Executive Director, Corporate Services, Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA); HE Abdullah Al Dhanhani, Board member, Fujairah Chamber of Commerce and Industry; HE Mohammed Al Mansoori, Executive Vice President, Agthia Group, Al Foah; Abdulla Yousef Al Marzooqi, Director of Support and Strategy, Dubai Environment and Climate Change Authority; Dahi Yousef Al Mansoori, Acting Executive Director, Research and Economic Intelligence Sector, Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development; Nawal Al Ameri, Senior Director, Government Relations, Aldahra; Sudhakar Gupta, Director, International Business Development, IFFCO Group; Riyad Jabbar, Director, Lulu Hypermarket Group; and Al Tayeb A. Abdul Vaheed, Secretary General, UAE Food and Beverage Business Group.
Other members of the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment’s delegation included Kaltham Ali Kayyaf, Director of Animal Welfare; Fatma Al Janahi, Acting Director of Partnerships and Special Projects Department; Hajar Bakhit Al Ketbi, Director of Government Communication Department; Waheeb Al Kamali, Projects Expert; Fatima Al Hammadi, Follow-up and Coordination Specialist and Ahlam Al Manaei, Agriculture Engineer.
Nasir Al Blooshi, Director of Partnerships and Investment Promotion Department, Ministry of Investment; Saud Saif Al Neyadi, Manager, Government Affairs, Silal Group; and Doaa Fahmy Mukhayer, Head of Strategic Communications & Business Resilience, Silal Group, were also a part of the UAE delegation.
The Azerbaijani delegation included officials from the Azerbaijan Food Safety Agency (AQTA): Yusif Abdullayev, Executive Director; Tural Hajili, Deputy Executive Director; Zinat Huseynli, Head of the Veterinary, Phytosanitary and Sanitary Control Department; Akbar Aliyev, Head of the Import and Export Control Division; Galib Abdulaliyev, Head of the Animal Health and Biosecurity Division; Fuad Mardiyev, Deputy Head of the International Relations Division. They were joined by Narmin Babayeva, Deputy Head of the Analytical Expertise Centre, Azerbaijan Food Safety Institute (AQTI); and Elnur Shukurov from the Trade Representation of Azerbaijan in the United Arab Emirates.
Azerbaijan’s private sector was represented by a diverse group of industry leaders. This included a delegation from Bestprod LLC comprising Elmari Mamishov, Chairman of the Board; Emin Bagirov, Production Director; and Heybat Namatov from the Procurement Division.
Other prominent representatives included Fizuli Bayramov, Director of RETEMS Group; Fuad Nagiyev, Deputy Director of Yaşıl Ranço LLC; Eldar Jabbarov, Head of the Export Marketing Division at Azersun Holding; Ramil Huseynov, Sales Director of Hajigabul Poultry Company LLC; Sabutay Hasanov, Deputy Chief Director, and Jalal Ramazanov, Commercial Director, both from Az Varvara LLC; Elvin Eminov, Director of Gilazi Poultry LLC; Aykhan Nazarov, Senior International Sales Specialist for Azerbaijan Fish Farm LLC; Orkhan Agalarov from Agro Dairy LLC; as well as Rashad Shirinov, Founder, and Rasul Shirinov, Director, both from Red Valley LLC.
UAE-Azerbaijan Food and Agriculture Roundtable:
Private sector representatives from both sides engaged in structured dialogues and B2B meetings to foster new business relations and partnerships aimed at deepening bilateral cooperation across food security, sustainable agriculture, and livestock sector management, aligned with the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between the United Arab Emirates and Azerbaijan.
These meetings enhanced priority trade relations in the agri-food and livestock sectors, creating investment opportunities and diverse business development prospects.
Central to this effort was the UAE-Azerbaijan Food and Agriculture Roundtable. This platform facilitated strategic exchange and partnership development, convening leaders, senior officials, and private sector representatives from both nations.
The UAE was represented by HE Dr. Amna Al Dahak, HE Mohammed Saeed Al Nuaimi, HE Abdulrahman Al Hawi, and HE Mohammed Murad Al Blooshi.
From Azerbaijan, the roundtable participants included Yusif Abdullayev, Tural Hajili, Elnur Shukurov, Farid Farzaliyev, Director of the Export Department, AZPROMO; and Mirsaid Ibrahimzadeh, Deputy Director of the Public Relations Department, AZPROMO.
The roundtable discussion was followed by presentations from leading private sector companies from both nations, highlighting growth opportunities and innovative solutions.
Ahlam Al Manaei from MOCCAE delivered a presentation on the UAE’s Animal Health and Food Safety Framework. She emphasised the Ministry’s mandate in overseeing health and technical procedures related to the import of livestock and animal products and approving international slaughterhouses. The Ministry’s core functions include developing national food safety policies, legislation, and strategies ensuring the safety and suitability of food, especially meat, poultry, dairy, and imported products throughout the food supply chain. She explained how the Ministry was advancing control, inspection, adoption, and registration systems to streamline its food safety monitoring and tracking systems, crisis management protocols, and rapid alert systems.
The UAE delegates highlighted the significant contributions of the private sector in strengthening the national food security system, focusing on its contributions across various food industries and investment domains. Silal Group outlined its role in advancing food security in the UAE, presenting data on its production capacity, including import and export volumes, as well as the scale of its agricultural and food-sector investments. The efforts of Lulu Hypermarket, Aldahra and IFFCO, in enhancing the UAE’s food sector were also highlighted. The UAE F&B Group emphasised opportunities to support investment in sustainable food supply chains, logistics, trade, and distribution networks.
The visit also included a stop at Qoç ət farm at Lokbatan, where delegates received a detailed presentation on Azerbaijan’s livestock sector, a strategic priority for investment and for enhancing bilateral trade between the two sides.
Strategic Partnership to Enhance Food Safety and Animal Health
The UAE delegation concluded its visit by meeting with the Azerbaijan Food Safety Agency (AQTA) at the headquarters of the Azerbaijan Food Safety Institute (AQTI). The meeting included a review of advanced laboratory capabilities and technical discussions. It culminated in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) by HE Mohammed Saeed Al Nuaimi on behalf of the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, and Mammadrahim Najafov, Head of Administration of the Azerbaijan Food Safety Agency (AQTA).
The MoU seeks to establish a collaborative framework to strengthen cooperation in animal health, food safety and biosecurity aimed at protecting public health and facilitating the import and export of consignments subject to veterinary control.
The MoU focuses on the exchange of information and best practices in food safety and livestock development, alongside the sharing of health and veterinary certificate templates.
Additionally, it bolsters preventive measures by curbing the spread of infectious animal diseases, exchanging epidemiological data, and enhancing technical cooperation between the diagnostic and analytical laboratories from both countries.
Ministerial Meetings to Implement the Plant Health Chapter under CEPA and Facilitate Bilateral Trade
During the visit, a series of bilateral meetings to deepen sector-specific cooperation took place. HE Amna Al Dahak met with HE Majnun Mammadov, Minister of Agriculture of Azerbaijan, at the Ministry’s headquarters. The session focused on expanding bilateral food trade by identifying strategic commodities, streamlining import/export processes for food and livestock, and exploring UAE investment in Azerbaijan’s agricultural infrastructure and land development.
The ministers also explored avenues for joint cooperation in agricultural research and innovation, particularly in relation to priority crops, and examined the use of artificial intelligence to support research and development initiatives.
HE Amna Al Dahak also met with HE Mikayil Jabbarov, Minister of Economy of Azerbaijan, to focus on the broader implementation mechanisms of the CEPA, specifically identifying key food sectors that are a priority for growth beyond agriculture, and fostering an even more conducive environment for private sector partnerships and foreign direct investment.
Under the CEPA framework, the two countries are working together to boost non-oil trade and forge long-lasting partnerships. This visit underscores the UAE’s commitment to diversifying global food sources, fortifying resilient food supply chains, and championing investments in advanced agricultural technologies, providing comprehensive support for Azerbaijan’s rapidly developing agricultural sector.
The CEPA between the UAE and the Republic of Azerbaijan has already propelled bilateral economic engagement to new heights, with non-oil trade exchange reaching approximately USD 2.4 billion, demonstrating an impressive annual growth rate of 43%. UAE investments in Azerbaijan currently stand at USD 1 billion, reflecting an expanding economic bond between the two nations. This dialogue, therefore, provides a unique and timely opportunity to intensify sector-specific cooperation within food security and agriculture.
The discussions and agreements forged during the UAE delegation’s visit to Baku are poised to strengthen the economic partnership between the UAE and Azerbaijan. This collaborative effort will drive forward their mutual goals of enhanced food security, sustainable development, and an increase in non-oil trade.
