7 JAN 26

As part of its ongoing efforts to strengthen Arab cooperation and support regional initiatives aimed at achieving food security and sustainable agricultural development, the Arab Authority for Agricultural Investment and Development (AAAID) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Ghitha, a portfolio company of Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company – the sovereign wealth fund of the Kingdom of Bahrain, to establish a general framework for strategic cooperation between the two entities in areas of mutual interest.

The MoU was signed at AAAID’s headquarters on Wednesday, 7 January 2026. It was signed on behalf of AAAID by His Excellency Dr. Obaid Saif Hamad Al Zaabi, Chairman of the Board, and on behalf of Ghitha by Mr. Basim Mohamed AlSaie, Chairman of Ghitha.

The MoU aims to enhance cooperation in food security–related fields, including support for food production, development of strategic reserves of essential food commodities, improving distribution efficiency, and ensuring equitable and sustainable access to food, in line with national and regional priorities in this vital sector and Ghitha’s mandate to strengthen food system resilience.

The areas of cooperation also include facilitating mutual visits and field engagements between technical teams, exchanging expertise and knowledge, and developing best practices in agriculture and food security. In addition, the MoU provides a framework for exploring opportunities to develop, scale, and market innovative products and services through affiliated companies of both parties, leveraging Ghitha’s growing portfolio and operational capabilities.

Furthermore, the cooperation extends to identifying and leveraging strategic opportunities to access regional and international markets, supporting mutual growth by capitalizing on the networks, expertise, and resources of both entities. This includes the exchange of market intelligence, research data, and strategic analyses to support planning processes and informed decision-making.

Both parties also agreed to explore opportunities for collaboration with governments and regional, international, and multilateral organizations on food security–related projects, with the aim of enhancing developmental impact and strengthening public–private sector integration at both regional and global levels.

Commenting on the occasion, H.E. Dr. Obaid Saif Hamad Al Zaabi, Chairman of the Board of AAAID, stated: “This Memorandum of Understanding represents an important step toward strengthening effective Arab partnerships in agriculture and food security. It reflects AAAID’s commitment to supporting sustainable investment initiatives that contribute to food security and the development of the agricultural sector across Arab countries, through cooperation with leading national institutions such as Ghitha”.