Indian Speciality Chemical Industry Poised for Strong Global Growth

14 Nov 2025 CW Team

Fully funded by Al Rostamani Group, the new facilities reinforce ICBA’s role as a leading center for climate-resilient agriculture, research, and capacity building. The inauguration follows the foundation-stone ceremony held in September 2024 and underscores the UAE’s commitment to advancing science-based solutions that support food security and climate adaptation.

The ceremony brought together senior government officials, industry leaders, scientists, and representatives from academia and the private sector, including H.E. Marwan Abdulla Al Rostamani, Chairman of Al Rostamani Group; H.E. Hassan Abdulla Al Rostamani, Vice-Chairman; and H.E. Dr. Tarifa Al Zaabi, Director General of ICBA.

H.E. Dr. Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak highlighted ICBA’s key role in the National Food Security Strategy 2051, noting its leadership in developing crop innovations suited for saline and arid environments. “These new facilities strengthen our research-driven approach to boosting local food production. The Al Rostamani Group’s investment sets a benchmark for public-private collaboration to accelerate climate-smart agriculture,” she said.

H.E. Dr. Tarifa Al Zaabi emphasized that the new infrastructure marks a strategic expansion of ICBA’s mission. “The Training Center will enable farmers, researchers, and policymakers to learn together. The Plant Tissue Culture Laboratory and Agri-Aquaculture System will support innovation in water-efficient, resilient food production for arid regions,” she noted.

H.E. Marwan Abdulla Al Rostamani reaffirmed the Group’s commitment to national sustainability goals. “Our partnership with ICBA reflects our belief in impactful, future-focused investments. These facilities align with the UAE’s vision for environmental stewardship, innovation, and food security,” he said.

The newly inaugurated facilities include:

Training & Knowledge Transfer Center: Multipurpose halls accommodating up to 300 participants for workshops, technical training, and knowledge-sharing programs.
Plant Tissue Culture Laboratory: Advanced research capability for propagating crucial plant species, including date palms and mangroves.
Integrated Agri-Aquaculture System: A platform for applied research focused on sustainable agriculture, efficient water use, and climate-resilient food systems.

This milestone strengthens ICBA’s efforts to build a knowledge-based agricultural sector and enhance resilience across the UAE and the wider region. Through cutting-edge research, innovation, and capacity development, ICBA continues to drive impactful solutions for food security and sustainable agriculture globally.

The International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA), in partnership with Al Rostamani Group, has inaugurated three major facilities at its Dubai headquarters: a Training and Knowledge Transfer Building, a Plant Tissue Culture Laboratory, and an Integrated Agri-Aquaculture System. The launch took place in the presence of H.E. Dr. Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, marking a significant step forward in strengthening the UAE’s agricultural innovation ecosystem.Fully funded by Al Rostamani Group, the new facilities reinforce ICBA’s role as a leading center for climate-resilient agriculture, research, and capacity building. The inauguration follows the foundation-stone ceremony held in September 2024 and underscores the UAE’s commitment to advancing science-based solutions that support food security and climate adaptation.The ceremony brought together senior government officials, industry leaders, scientists, and representatives from academia and the private sector, including H.E. Marwan Abdulla Al Rostamani, Chairman of Al Rostamani Group; H.E. Hassan Abdulla Al Rostamani, Vice-Chairman; and H.E. Dr. Tarifa Al Zaabi, Director General of ICBA.H.E. Dr. Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak highlighted ICBA’s key role in the National Food Security Strategy 2051, noting its leadership in developing crop innovations suited for saline and arid environments. “These new facilities strengthen our research-driven approach to boosting local food production. The Al Rostamani Group’s investment sets a benchmark for public-private collaboration to accelerate climate-smart agriculture,” she said.H.E. Dr. Tarifa Al Zaabi emphasized that the new infrastructure marks a strategic expansion of ICBA’s mission. “The Training Center will enable farmers, researchers, and policymakers to learn together. The Plant Tissue Culture Laboratory and Agri-Aquaculture System will support innovation in water-efficient, resilient food production for arid regions,” she noted.H.E. Marwan Abdulla Al Rostamani reaffirmed the Group’s commitment to national sustainability goals. “Our partnership with ICBA reflects our belief in impactful, future-focused investments. These facilities align with the UAE’s vision for environmental stewardship, innovation, and food security,” he said.The newly inaugurated facilities include:Training & Knowledge Transfer Center: Multipurpose halls accommodating up to 300 participants for workshops, technical training, and knowledge-sharing programs.Plant Tissue Culture Laboratory: Advanced research capability for propagating crucial plant species, including date palms and mangroves.Integrated Agri-Aquaculture System: A platform for applied research focused on sustainable agriculture, efficient water use, and climate-resilient food systems.This milestone strengthens ICBA’s efforts to build a knowledge-based agricultural sector and enhance resilience across the UAE and the wider region. Through cutting-edge research, innovation, and capacity development, ICBA continues to drive impactful solutions for food security and sustainable agriculture globally.

Infrastructure Transport

12 Jan 2026

Dhalbhumgarh Airport Faces 150-km Rule Hurdle

The issue has resurfaced following a recent statement by Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu, who said that under existing aviation policy, a new greenfield airport is generally not permitted within an aerial distance of 150 kilometres of an operational civilian airport. He added, however, that if a formal proposal is submitted, its impact on the existing airport can be examined and relaxations may be considered on a case-by-case basis. While the clarification has revived some hope for Dhalbhumgarh, it has also underlined the scale of the technical challenge facing the project. Unde..

Infrastructure Transport

12 Jan 2026

Stakeholders Seek Parallel Ops For Vizag Airports

With road and metro rail links to Bhogapuram still several years away, stakeholders in north Andhra Pradesh have renewed demands to continue civil operations at INS Dega even after the commissioning of Bhogapuram International Airport. The new airport is expected to begin commercial operations from June. Officials said close to 80 per cent of the airport infrastructure at Bhogapuram, including the terminal building and internal approach roads, has already been completed. However, inadequate external connectivity remains a key concern. Making a case for parallel operations, Andhra Pradesh Air ..

Infrastructure Transport

12 Jan 2026

Govt To Roll Out V2V Tech To Cut Road Crashes

In an effort to curb road accidents, particularly in low-visibility conditions such as dense fog, the government is set to roll out vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication technology that will allow cars to exchange real-time data and alert drivers to potential dangers. The announcement was made by Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari after the 43rd meeting of the Transport Development Council. The technology involves installing an on-board unit (OBU) in vehicles, enabling wireless data exchange between nearby cars. This will allow vehicles to share information such as spee..