Canada and the UAE have reached a new milestone in agrifood trade with the UAE importing a record AED2 billion ($544 million)  of canola seeds and wheat from Canada in 2020.

Al Ghurair Resources Oils and Proteins (AGROP) and Al Ghurair Foods (AGF) and the Consulate General of Canada in Dubai celebrated the milestone at Gulfood 2021, a statement said. 

AGROP and AGF imported 1.5 million tonnes of canola and wheat from Canada, a record high figure that underlines the growing agrifood trade relationship between the UAE and Canada.

 This follows AGROP’s recent announcement that it had crushed more than 1 million tonnes of canola seeds in a year for the first time in 2020. 

Combined, AGROP and AGF is the single largest importer of Canadian food products in the UAE, contributing to the country’s economy and advancing its food security agenda. 

Building upon the longstanding bilateral trade relationship between the UAE and Canada, the UAE is now one of the top 5 global buyers of Canada’s canola seeds.

Canola seeds are harvested in Canada’s vast and sustainably-managed prairies.

 Processed by value-added manufacturing companies such as AGOP and AGF, canola oil is today one of the most consumed cooking oils worldwide.

While most of the canola seeds crushed in the UAE is currently for export, Djamal Djouhri, CEO, AGOP, AGF, has plans to expand the domestic market for this healthy cooking oil.

Djamal Djouhri, CEO, AGOP, AGF, commented: “As a leader in the region’s agricultural commodities sector, at Al Ghurair we understand that we have a critical role in supporting the global drive for enhanced food security. With a commitment to continuous improvement, we invest in innovation to bring the best quality products to consumers across the region, and beyond.”

Jean-Philippe Linteau, Consul General of Canada in Dubai, noted that Canada-UAE trade was up 17 per cent in 2020 despite Covid-19.