USA Poultry & Egg Export Council (USAPEEC) MENA held its 4th AI seminar in Dubai at the JW Marriott Marquis Hotel from March 21 until March 24, 2022 in collaboration with the Illinois Corn Marketing Board. The seminar was hybrid in nature, and bought together 54 participants from 13 different Middle East and North African countries including: UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Iraq, Jordan, Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria, Mauritania and Kurdistan.
Participants were mainly veterinary officials, but also included agricultural engineers, toxicologists, food safety experts, epidemiologists, and trade policy decision makers who came from regulatory committees, food safety and health departments, and agricultural ministries of MENA governments. Guest speakers included members of APHIS and USDA such as Dr. Fidelis, Senior Staff Veterinarian and National Coordinator for AI related issues, Jacqueline Mason (Export Products & Senior Staff Veterinarian), John Clifford (Technical Advisor), and Kate Bowers (Live Animal Export Senior Staff Veterinarian).
This seminar helped establish a rapport with new and returning guests to reinforce and facilitate future discussions related to AI outbreaks and any ensuing trade issues.