WASHINGTON, Feb. 14, 2022 From Feb. 18-22, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will travel to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, to lead a U.S. Department of Agriculture trade mission and hold eventsfocused on the United States commitment to working with international partners to combat climate change.
Foreign Agricultural Service Administrator Daniel Whitley will kick off the trade mission, with events beginning Feb. 16. and Vilsack will join the trade mission delegation on Feb. 19. Whitley and Vilsack will be accompanied by representatives from nearly 40 U.S. agribusinesses, farm groups and state departments of agriculture seeking to tap new export opportunities in the UAE, which is a consistent billion-dollar-plus annual importer of U.S. agricultural goods. U.S. agricultural exports to the UAE topped $1.1 billion in 2021, a 17.8-percent increase from the previous year.
On Feb. 21, Vilsack will tour the Dubai Expo 2020 and co-chair thefirst Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate (AIM for Climate ) Ministerial Meeting. He will also participate in a fireside chat with UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment Mariam Almheiri as part of the Expo 2020 Food Agriculture & Livelihoods Business Forum.The United States and UAEofficially launched AIM for Climate in November 2021 at COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland.The initiative has grown to include more than 140 government and non-government partners that include international organizations, research institutions and corporations.
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
Credentialed reporters interested in covering the events in-person should RSVP topress@usda.govfor further details.
Whitley will hold a media teleconference from Dubaion Feb. 17, at 12:30 p.m. ET. Credentialed reporters interested in participating should RSVP toFAS-press@usda.govfor dial-in instructions.
Vilsack will hold a media teleconference from Dubaion Feb. 21, at 10:30 a.m. ET.Credentialed reporters interested in participating should RSVP topress@usda.govfor dial-in instructions.
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service
