We the agriculture ministers and heads of delegation of countries attending the donor ministerial meeting to support the trust fund and the regional program to combat Red Palm Weevil (RPW) convened on Saturday 9 March in Abu Dhabi:

Recognizing the cultural, religious, social, and economic dimensions of the blessed palm tree, the fruits of which have constituted the basic food for many nations in the arid regions of the Middle East and North Africa for centuries;

Valuing the great efforts that the countries of the region have made to support and develop the palm date sector in the region; 

Aware of  the threat that terrible pest of Red Palm weevil poses for date palm tree and its negative effects om national economy, on food security, and livelihoods of rural communities and on the environment;

Reaffirm our support to the framework strategy and the regional programme to eradicate RPW developed under the FAO auspices;

Commend donor states and organizations, such as the United Arab Emirates , Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,and the Sultanate of Oman,  for their financial support to the trust fund aimed at supporting the regional programme;

Express high appreciation and gratitude to the leadership of UAE and the Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation for hosting this meeting and for the warm hospitality

Extend warm gratitude to FAO, and Director General Jose Graziano da Silva, for its leadership in putting the sustainability of the date palm at the forefront of its sustainable development priorities .

Abu Dhabi, 9 March 2019