MUSCAT: The third Africa Bee Expo kicked off on Wednesday under the auspices of Dr Saud bin Hamoud al Habsi, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources, at the Grand Millennium Muscat Hotel.
The Expo is one of the largest international events of its kind in the Arab and African regions, witnessing extensive local and international participation and concludes on September 21, Saturday.
The conference is organised by Waft Global and sees the attendance of distinguished experts, researchers and beekeepers, in addition to representatives from various regional and international organisations and private sector companies specialising in bees and honey production. Among the participating entities are the Arab Beekeepers Union, the Arab Association for Beekeeping, the European Buckfast Organisation, the Al Baha Association from Saudi Arabia, and the World Bee Breeding Organization.
Representatives from 37 countries are attending the conference, including Oman, Lebanon, Iran, Algeria, Tunisia, Turkiye, China, Pakistan, Kenya, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Tanzania, the UK, and others, reflecting the significant international importance of this event.
The third edition of the conference aims to promote and develop the beekeeping industry, open new opportunities for companies and individuals, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises, enhance the exchange of technological and cultural expertise and elevate the professional skills of beekeepers in areas such as export and accessing global markets.
The conference also aims to attract investors in the agricultural and processing industries and add value to bee products such as honey and beeswax, while promoting tourism and alternative medicine through internationally certified bee products.
Dr Hamdan al Wahaibi, Director-General of Agricultural and Animal Research, said: “Oman’s hosting of this conference and exhibition reflects its belief in the importance of the beekeeping sector as one of the promising economic sectors. The ministry is working to enhance this sector by transferring knowledge and modern technologies and promoting honey production. This conference provides an opportunity to exchange experiences among participants and showcase the latest innovations in beekeeping and honey production."
Al Wahaibi added: "The ministry has given significant attention to the beekeeping sector, adopting several national programmes to develop the sector, including research, developmental, advisory and marketing projects. The ministry has also organised specialised festivals to market honey and its products, encouraging the use of modern technologies to increase productivity and improve quality."
Al Wahaibi noted that the number of beekeepers in Oman has exceeded 5,000, with more than 145,000 beehives distributed across various governorates, contributing to the production of over 580 tonnes of honey in 2023, with a market value exceeding RO 11 million.
Dr Ahmed bin Nasser al Bakri, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources for Agriculture, expressed pride in Oman hosting the third International Bee Expo 2024. He emphasised that this global event, lasting four days, brings together companies and global organising bodies.
Al Bakri explained that the exhibition includes two main aspects. The first is a distinguished exhibition featuring a wide range of honey products, such as therapeutic, medicinal, cosmetic and food products, in addition to honey production supplies. More than 50 entities are participating in the exhibition to promote and market these products.
Al Bakri added that the conference includes four days of working sessions where experts from various countries will present research findings and scientific experiments through working papers aimed at improving production and enhancing the added value of local bee products in Oman.
He also pointed out that the beekeeping sector in Oman has witnessed remarkable growth over the past decade, both in terms of increased production and the number of Omanis involved in this profession. He noted that this sector contributes to creating job opportunities for citizens in various governorates of Oman. He also mentioned that the conference will discuss improving quality and finding solutions to challenges such as pest control affecting bees.
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