… Partnership targets food security, trade expansion, and integrated supply chain development between West Africa and the Gulf
By Rashidat Olushola Okunlade
BUA Group, AD Ports Group, and MAIR Group have signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore collaboration in sugar refining, agro-industrial development, and integrated global logistics solutions.
The tripartite partnership is designed to establish a world-class platform that will enhance regional food security, support industrial diversification, and strengthen Abu Dhabi’s position as a global hub for trade and manufacturing.
The proposed initiative will combine BUA Group’s extensive industrial capacity with the advanced infrastructure of Khalifa Port and the operational expertise of AD Ports Group. The collaboration aligns with the UAE’s Food Security Strategy 2051, aimed at building sustainable food systems and resilient supply chains, while also complementing Nigeria’s agricultural transformation agenda focused on boosting domestic production, value addition, and export capacity.
Through structured aggregation, processing, storage, and maritime export systems, the partners intend to streamline supply chains, improve traceability and quality standards, and establish a reliable trade corridor connecting West Africa with the Gulf, Asia, and other global markets.
Recognised as one of Africa’s largest conglomerates, BUA Group brings significant expertise across sugar refining, food production, flour milling, cement manufacturing, and infrastructure. MAIR Group is expected to provide strategic support in developing integrated agro-industrial and logistics solutions to enable efficient production, storage, and distribution systems.
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Left-Right: Kabiru Rabiu, Group Executive Director, BUA Group; Cpt. Mohammed J. Al Shamisi, MD/Group CEO, AD Ports Group; Saif Al Mazrouei, CEO (Ports Cluster) AD Ports Group; Abdul Samad Rabiu, Founder/Executive Chairman, BUA Group; and Steve Green, Group CFO, MAIR Group, at the signing of the MoU in the UAE recently. Speaking on the development, Abdul Samad Rabiu, Founder and Chairman of BUA Group, described the agreement as a major step in the company’s international expansion strategy.
“This MoU marks an important milestone in BUA’s international expansion and reflects our long-term vision of building globally competitive industrial platforms. Together with AD Ports Group and MAIR Group, we aim to develop sustainable food production and logistics solutions that strengthen regional supply chains and support the UAE’s Food Security Strategy 2051,” he said.
He added that the partnership represents a strategic food corridor anchored on shared economic ambition, resilient infrastructure, and long-term food security goals.
A representative of MAIR Group noted that the collaboration reinforces Abu Dhabi’s commitment to advancing strategic industries and building integrated systems that enhance its status as a global trade and food security hub.
Similarly, a spokesperson for AD Ports Group highlighted the role of Khalifa Port as a catalyst for industrial investment, stating that the partnership will boost trade connectivity, enhance food security, and support economic diversification efforts in Abu Dhabi.
The agreement signals a significant step toward building a sustainable and resilient food and logistics ecosystem, with expected benefits spanning the UAE, West Africa, and global markets.
About BUA Group
BUA Group is one of Africa’s leading manufacturing, mining, foods, and infrastructure conglomerates, headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria. Founded in 1988 by Abdul Samad Rabiu, the company has major investments in cement manufacturing, food production, construction, real estate, quarrying, and mining.
