Dubai - Agriculture Minister Jože Podgoršek met in Dubai on Tuesday Saif Mohammed Rashid Saeed al Shara, a high representative of the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment of the UAE. The pair talked cooperation in agricultural and food products and the transfer of knowledge, especially in terms of cooperation of expert institutions.

Podgoršek presented to Al Shara the situation in agriculture and food industry in Slovenia, as well as data on surpluses or needs for certain agricultural products, the Slovenian Agriculture Ministry said in a press release.

Al Shara, meanwhile, emphasised the importance of presentation of Slovenian agricultural and food products and companies to business partners in Dubai, including at key fairs, which would make it possible for Slovenia to enter the market of the UAE.

The pair also exchanged information on what administrative obligations are needed to be met for exports of red meat, poultry and milk from Slovenia to the UAE.

They agreed that there is a possibility for appropriate certificates and permits for these products to be arranged at a fast pace, so the Slovenian ministry will speed up activities in this area, the release adds.

In Dubai, Podgoršek also visited a company that grows vegetables using hydroponics technology, a special way of growing plants in areas with high temperatures and shortage of water, where food is produced on desert sand.

The minister was in Dubai also on Monday, when he attended a conference discussing efforts to tackle global challenges related to smart villages as part of the Expo 2020 world exhibition.

He emphasised in the debate that digitalisation of rural areas was one of the key tasks of the new EU common agricultural policy.