Commerce Ministry, KFMB discuss strengthening food security
In a press statement after the meeting, Minister Al-Ajeel affirmed the government's keenness on supporting national products and industries, particularly in the food sector.
Al-Zayed, for his part, stressed that KFMB would continue to boost production capacity and improve products quality to meet the demands of local and international markets.
The State-owned KFMB was founded in 1961. It specializes in bread and flour products.
It recently ventured into the hospitality and food service sector, offering high-quality "boutique-style" coffee drinks and baked goods at very affordable prices. (end) aam.gta
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arab Times
7 hours ago
- Arab Times
New Visa-Free Travel Deal Between UAE And Pakistan Goes Live
DUBAI, July 27: The United Arab Emirates and Pakistan have officially activated a visa waiver for holders of diplomatic and official passports, Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar announced. In a statement posted on the social media platform X, Dar revealed that during a recent meeting with Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, he was informed that the visa waiver came into effect on July 25, 2025. The agreement was signed in the final week of July during the 12th session of the Pakistan-UAE Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC) held in Abu Dhabi. Dar said: 'During my meeting in Abu Dhabi on June 24, 2025, with my brother Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, we agreed on mutual visa waivers for diplomatic and official passports between our two brotherly countries. We signed a Memorandum of Understanding to implement this arrangement, effective 30 days after signing.' Confirming the activation of the waiver, Dar added: 'I have been informed by UAE authorities that the visa waiver for Pakistani diplomatic and official passports is now operational at all UAE airports, effective July 25, 2025.' He further confirmed that reciprocal arrangements have been put in place, allowing UAE nationals holding diplomatic and official passports to enter Pakistan without a visa. The UAE and Pakistan share strong diplomatic, cultural, and economic ties, with over 1.7 million Pakistanis living and working in the UAE. Hundreds of thousands of Pakistani tourists also visit the Gulf nation annually. Since taking office, Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has made several visits to the UAE, reinforcing the close relationship between the two countries. It is important to note that this visa waiver applies exclusively to diplomatic and official passport holders and does not extend to ordinary passport holders.
Kuwait Times
7 hours ago
- Kuwait Times
Battling tariffs is no trivial pursuit for US games retailer
COLLEGE PARK, US: At a strip mall in Maryland, a miniature landscape extends across a table between Dash Krempel and his friend as a war game unfolds. But their hobby is becoming more expensive as US tariffs take a toll. Krempel, 29, told AFP the cost of models for tabletop games have surged from inflation, and continued rising since US President Donald Trump imposed sweeping tariffs on trading partners this year. UK-made figurines that cost $60 around three years ago now go for $94.50, he said. 'Prices have gotten bigger,' he added. 'It's a very expensive hobby to begin with, so it's maybe pricing a lot of people out.' Instead of buying more products, he now tries to support retailer Game Kastle College Park by renting tables to play in-store. For the shop's owner, Boyd Stephenson, stocking new board games, paints and hobby supplies has only become more challenging. To avoid the harshest of Trump's tariffs, some suppliers had to delay shipments or postpone new releases. As they raised their suggested retail prices, so has Stephenson at Game Kastle. About a fifth of his store's products have seen cost hikes, with increases ranging from 5 percent to 20 percent. 'If we see higher prices or higher tariffs, I'm going to see higher wholesale prices, and then I have to raise my prices accordingly,' he said. Asked what percentage of his store relies on imports, Stephenson replied: 'Almost all of it.' Stephenson estimates some 7,000 board games were released last year from 5,000 different companies. 'You're really looking at 5,000 different approaches (to tariffs),' he said. 'Some producers are saying, 'We're going to eat the cost.' Some producers are saying, 'We're passing the cost through all the way.' And other producers are doing some sort of mix of that.' Like other US retailers, Stephenson could face more cost pressures come August 1, when steeper tariffs are set to hit dozens of economies like the European Union and India. The elevated rates mark an increase from the 10 percent levy Trump imposed on goods from most economies in April. While China—a crucial manufacturing hub for games—is temporarily spared, Trump has separately imposed fresh 30 percent tariffs on products from the world's second biggest economy this year. US tariffs on Chinese products could return to higher levels from August 12 if officials fail to extend their truce. Yet, there is no quick fix to return manufacturing to the United States. 'US manufacturers just don't have the capacity to do that anymore,' said Stephenson, showing an intricate board game figurine. 'Really, the people that are good at that, that's China,' he said. 'The best modeling paints come from Spain.' 'So if you see tariffs get put up on the EU, then all of a sudden I'm going to have to pay higher prices on modeling paint when I bring it into the country,' he added. Trump has threatened the bloc with a 30 percent tariff. 'Universally bad' Stephenson tries to absorb some cost hikes, but said: 'I have to be able to pay the staff, pay the electric company, pay the landlord.' Trump's on-again, off-again approach to duties has also made suppliers' price changes more unpredictable. 'What is always universally bad for business is uncertainty,' Stephenson said. He usually stocks up on inventory ahead of the year-end holiday season, but expects to be more strategic with purchases this year to avoid unwelcome surprises. Many companies are delaying merchandise imports as they lack certainty, said Jonathan Gold, vice president of supply chain and customs policy at the National Retail Federation. —AFP
Kuwait Times
7 hours ago
- Kuwait Times
Maldives, KFAED eye closer cooperation
President of the Maldives Mohammad Moaz and Acting Director General of the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) Waleed Al-Bahar in Male. KUWAIT: President of the Maldives Mohammad Moaz and Acting Director General of the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) Waleed Al-Bahar discussed on Saturday means of boosting collaboration and reviewed joint projects in a way that contributes to backing sustainable development efforts in the Maldives. During the meeting held in the Maldives' capital, Male, Moaz expressed much gratitude and appreciation to Kuwait, lauding the fund's key role since its cooperation with his country in 1976, according to a statement by the fund. He pointed out that the Fund's contributions included the construction of the Maldives International Airport, in addition to a number of drinking water projects and support for hospitals in remote islands. The statement noted that this meeting coincides with the Maldives' celebrations of its independence anniversary, as well as the opening of the expansion project of Velana International Airport in the capital, Male, under the patronage and presence of President Moez. The project is financed by the KFAED as part of its efforts to support the vital transportation sector. — KUNA
