Algeria May Host Headquarters of Arab Date Sugar Company

The Arab Union of Date Producers and Manufacturers has proposed establishing an Arab company specializing in date sugar production and food industries, with its permanent headquarters in Algeria. The union's Secretary-General, Kamal El-Din Ahmed Far, made the announcement on the sidelines of the International Date Fair in Algiers. He emphasized the importance of implementing joint Arab projects in date processing to expand its uses in manufacturing industries and increase its economic value.

The proposed company can start operations in Algeria and later expand to other Arab countries, Far said. He noted that Arab countries import large quantities of liquid sugar from abroad, despite having significant date reserves that can be used to produce date sugar and develop related industries. The date sugar is suitable for use in various food and pharmaceutical industries.

Far highlighted the quality of Algerian dates, particularly the "Deglet Nour" variety, which is in high demand in international markets. He called for increasing exports of this product by improving production and developing processing and manufacturing operations, which would support the diversification of the national economy and increase producers' income.

The International Date Fair, organized by the National Chamber of Agriculture under the auspices of the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development, and Maritime Fisheries, aims to showcase the economic importance of dates and promote Algerian varieties. The event brings together over 234 national and foreign exhibitors, including producers, processors, exporters, artisans, cooperatives, and professional and research organizations.

The fair, which runs from November 11 to 14, features exhibitors from eight countries, including Iraq, Oman, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Mauritania, Turkey, and China. The event's theme is "Our Dates: Heritage and Sustainable Economy." The union also discussed modern techniques to develop the date sector, such as tissue culture to multiply palm trees and drones for pollination.

The use of remote sensing technologies was also discussed to detect diseases and pests affecting palm trees early on. These techniques can contribute to the development of the date sector. The event provides a platform for discussing challenges facing the sector and proposing solutions to promote date production and processing.

The Algerian economy may benefit from hosting the headquarters of the proposed Arab date sugar company, which could lead to increased investment and job creation. The country's date production and processing industries may also experience growth, contributing to the national economy.

Key points

• Algeria proposed to host headquarters of Arab company to produce date sugar.