Pakistan, Saudi Arabia target $3 billion in agricultural and food trade
Islamabad, Aug. 30 (SANA) Pakistan and Saudi Arabia agreed to work toward increasing Pakistani agricultural and food exports to the Kingdom to $3 billion over the next two years, as both countries deepen cooperation on agriculture and food security.
The agreement followed a visit to Islamabad from Aug. 26 to 28 by a Saudi delegation headed by Environment, Water and Agriculture Minister Abdulrahman A. Alfadley.
Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif met the Saudi delegation to discuss potential areas of bilateral cooperation, according to a statement issued by his office Sunday.
Both sides agreed to promote business-to-business partnerships in the fruit and fruit concentrate industries and pursue mutual recognition of quality certifications. They also identified green fodder as a promising area for trade and long-term supply agreements.
Saudi officials encouraged Pakistan to join the International Dates Council, a proposal welcomed by Islamabad.
During the visit, the Saudi delegation toured the National Agricultural Research Centre and met officials from the Special Investment Facilitation Council and Fauji Foundation, as well as representatives of the Pakistan-Saudi Arabia Agri-Business Forum.
The joint statement reaffirmed the countries’ longstanding strategic ties and highlighted the alignment between Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 food-security priorities and Pakistan’s agricultural export potential.
Saudi Arabia invited Pakistan to participate in the 43rd Saudi Agriculture Exhibition, scheduled to be held in Riyadh from Oct. 19 to 22.
