The delegation of ADFCA was headed by HE Rashid Mohamed Al Shariqi, the Director General. ADFCA is sponsoring the participation of three top UAE date companies at the fair � Al Foah, Emirates and the Royal Dates. Among the dignitaries present on the occasion was HE Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, UAE Minister of Foreign Trade. ADFCA presented to the patrons of the event a book in Mandarin on UAE dates.

Moreover, the officials also constructively took part in an international conference on the standards of the Halal industry. They were present at the signing ceremony for an agreement on the standards of halal certificate in China's provinces. On the occasion, the Chinese government representatives expressed their interest in providing an environment conducive for the manufacturing of halal products and linking them to institutions that can export them to Arab and Islamic countries. This is a significant move considering the vast number of people in these countries and the benefits of expanding channels of trade with Muslim countries.

HE Rashid Mohamed Al Shariqi, the Director General of ADFCA, said that trade in halal products is an issue that the Authority attached great importance to. "We follow all the latest developments in this industry across the globe with a good deal of interest. The interest shown by the Chinese authorities in this regard will lead to a spurt in business and investment opportunities on both sides," he added.

ADFCA's participation at the fair with a focus on UAE dates assumes special significance in light of the spurt in date trade in recent years in the UAE. The total value of date export and import by the UAE in 2011 reached AED 770,314, 737. There are three factories manufacturing date products in the UAE. Food accounts for 47% of all investments in the country in non-oil sectors. UAE dates won the best product award at the recently concluded SIAL China, in which ADFCA took part in May this year.