Artists perform at the Pakistan pavilion in Dubai.

Inayat-ur-Rahman, Business Editor

Fatima Fertilizer took its cause of promoting the agriculture of Pakistan and giving tribute to its farmers globally by celebrating National Farmers’ Day, also known as Kissan Day, at the Pakistan Pavilion in Expo 2020 Dubai.

 The week-long celebrations aim at showcasing the rich agricultural heritage of Pakistan; a land blessed with five mighty rivers and four seasons. Farmers’ Day celebration in Dubai highlights the important role farmers play in global food security and seeks to make global audience of Dubai Expo realize their significance in bringing food to our table.

 With the help of the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), Fatima Fertilizer organised a range of activities, whereby the entire pavilion was decorated with various agricultural produce from Pakistan, split into two key seasons of Rabi and Khareef. With key crops of Rabi being Wheat and for Khareef being Cotton and Rice. Apart from these fruits like Mangoes and Oranges / Kinnows play a crucial role in Pakistan’s Agri economy and are immensely popular here in UAE.

 Guests at the Pakistan Pavilion were served with delicious desserts from rural Pakistan, which are famous amongst farmers. Traditional hand made pottery from Pakistan was also distributed and visitors got their names calligraphed on the pottery as special memorabilia.

A special cultural show was arranged to showcase all provinces of Pakistan along with their key agricultural produce and national contributions. This cultural show proved to be a major attraction for visitors at the Pakistan Pavilion.

Speaking at the occasion, the CEO of Fatima Fertilizer  Fawad Ahmed Mukhtar highlighted the need for Pakistani companies to actively participate in international forums and aggressively work towards promoting Pakistan’s soft image around the world. He said, “Farmers are the backbone of our nation, and Fatima Fertilizer is the first company to have come forward to pay a glowing salute to them by coining 18th December as Kissan Day”.

 National Marketing Manager for Fatima Fertilizer, Ms. Rabel Sadozai, further added: “We have been working tirelessly for the last three years to get the National Farmers’ Day acknowledged as a national event. Apart from its official celebrations with the Government of Pakistan, Dubai Expo is an international forum attracting visitors from 192 countries, and thereby, serves as an amazing platform to showcase Pakistan’s key strength i.e. our brave and hardworking farmers.”

 Every year, the celebration of ‘Kissan Day’ serves as a constant reminder about the importance of agriculture for our economic betterment. Sarsabz Fertilizer has long been active in giving due importance and recognition to not just Pakistan but farmers around the world. No doubt farmers are at the forefront battling global food security challenges in the face of constantly increasing population and food demand.

Meanwhile, the Bosnia and Herzegovina pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai organised a Country Business Briefing  in the presence of Denis Zvizdic, Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH, Edin Forto, Prime Minister of Sarajevo Canton, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Adnan Delic, Minister of Economy of Sarajevo Canton, Bosnia and Herzegovina, to promote the country’s friendly and favourable business environment to Expo visitors and the people of the UAE.

The briefing underscored the increased foreign direct investments that have helped Bosnia and Herzegovina position itself as an incredible opportunity for potential investors. The event also shed light on Bosnia and Herzegovina’s various attractive industries and business collaboration opportunities across a multitude of sectors, including agriculture and food processing, forestry and wood, metal processing, automotive parts, tourism, and pharmaceutical, and more.

Commenting on the briefing, Edin Forto, Prime Minister of Sarajevo Canton - Bosnia and Herzegovina, said: “The business ecosystem of Bosnia and Herzegovina has a lot to offer, and over the recent years, our international relations have resulted in fruitful results. The Expo 2020 Dubai grounds represented an optimal opportunity to share further details about the country’s commerce environment, and we look forward to embarking on partnerships to empower the business ties between the UAE and Bosnia and Herzegovina.”

Though 51.3% of the country comprises arable land, mountain pastures, improved grazing land, orchards and vineyards, its automotive industry is steadily growing, representing a highly profitable industry, focused on exporting an average 90% of products to 30 countries. Additionally, its pharma sector valued at 334 million EUR in 2020, presented an increase of almost 4% compared to 2019, while the metal processing and electrical industries are Bosnia and Herzegovina’s most successful industries.

The event highlighted the factors that make the country an attractive business hub, including its single-market access, stable financial system that foreign investors can benefit from, and its encouraging economic and regulatory framework.

Taste New Zealand:  Taste New Zealand, a culinary showcase of the nation’s food and beverage offering, will take place at Expo 2020 Dubai from 13-31 January 2022. The three-week event is being led by celebrated visiting Chefs Sid Sahrawat and Kārena and Kasey Bird, as well as Dubai-based Jesse Blake, who will showcase their gastronomic skills and spotlight New Zealand’s array of premium ingredients for visitors to enjoy.

During the festival, food enthusiasts can partake in a mix of ticketed and first-come, first-serve kitchen demonstration pop-ups and specially curated lunches and dinners at the country’s pavilion restaurant, Tiaki.

Chef and restaurateur Sid Sahrawat, who will be at Taste New Zealand from 13-18 January, has spent many years making his mark on the dining scene in Auckland with highly acclaimed restaurants Sidart (recently sold), Cassia and Sid at The French Café. He is renowned for his innovative and inspirational cooking and combining contemporary cuisine with traditional Indian flavours.

“I am really looking forward to being at Expo 2020 Dubai and am very proud to be able to show the world my own take on sourcing and cooking with incredible New Zealand ingredients. It’s a moment for us to showcase how our country has some of the very best produce, which is grown and produced with care and consideration – resulting in excellent taste and quality,” said Sid Sahrawat.

In celebration of Taste New Zealand, Sid has created a special dish - Hawkes Bay lamb chops with Horopito crème fraiche - that will feature on the Tiaki menu during his time at the festival. Naturally delicious, full of flavour, and perfectly tender – the grass-fed lamb is beautifully complemented by Horopito, a native plant with a peppery taste. He will also be teaming up with Dubai-based Sommelier Lindsay Trivers from The Tasting Class to deliver a Culinary Tour of New Zealand on 14 January, taking diners on a journey around the nation’s regions with four delicious dishes and beverage matches.

Sisters and MasterChef New Zealand winners Kārena and Kasey Bird will be at Taste New Zealand from 26-31 January. Having grown up in the beautiful beachside community of Maketu – a place where the community comes together to grow and source fresh, seasonal produce –Kārena and Kasey have turned their passion for cooking into bright careers, giving them a platform to create dishes that celebrate their Māori whakapapa and upbringing.

“Food, beverage, and manaaki are such a huge part of the culture in New Zealand. We are incredibly excited to be a part of a global event like Expo 2020 Dubai, where we can bring our own experiences to life through curated events and special moments for those who are visiting,” said Kārena Bird.

Kasey Bird added: “We hope to leave Dubai with a lasting understanding about New Zealand’s connection to the land and sea and what makes the nation so special.”

Alongside a Mystery Box cooking challenge and demonstration kitchen, the sisters have created a bespoke Matariki Degustation Lunch, inspired by the story of a star cluster that signals the beginning of the Māori New Year. This special ticketed event will be accompanied by cultural storytelling and entertainment.

Kārena and Kasey’s unique dish – Mānuka Smoked Beef – will also feature on Tiaki’s menu while they are at Expo, allowing guests to experience a modern take on the Hāngī – the centuries-old method of cooking food in a pit oven underground.

Jesse Blake, the Executive Chef behind homegrown Dubai concept LOWE, will also be partaking in Taste New Zealand, sharing a dish that heroes New Zealand scampi from 19-25 January. Born and bred in Aotearoa New Zealand, the talented chef has made waves with his creative, produce-driven approach on a global scale, which he will be sharing with visitors at Expo 2020.

Speaking on his involvement, Jesse Blake said: “As a Kiwi who has been living and working overseas for more than 10 years, I can’t wait to represent my home on the world stage at Taste New Zealand. Having the opportunity to cook with top New Zealand produce within the setting of the New Zealand Pavilion at Expo 2020 is pretty special and I hope diners connect with the culinary essence of Aotearoa through my dish.”