Saudi Arabia Achieves Surplus in Self-Sufficiency for Top 3 Food Items

Dates recorded the highest rate of self-sufficiency in Saudi Arabia (SPA)
Dates recorded the highest rate of self-sufficiency in Saudi Arabia (SPA)
TT
20

Saudi Arabia Achieves Surplus in Self-Sufficiency for Top 3 Food Items

Dates recorded the highest rate of self-sufficiency in Saudi Arabia (SPA)
Dates recorded the highest rate of self-sufficiency in Saudi Arabia (SPA)

The Kingdom has recorded surpluses in its top three food products during the past year as a result of the intensive efforts undertaken by the government to achieve self-sufficiency in food commodities.

Dates lead the way with a remarkable 124% increase, followed by dairy products at 118%, and table eggs at 117%.

At the beginning of 2023, Saudi Arabia decided to transform the Saudi Grains Organization (SAGO) into the General Food Security Authority (GFSA), a move aimed at improving performance indicators and achieving national objectives in the development and growth of the sector.

This underscores the Kingdom’s determination to attain self-sufficiency in all food items and products.

According to the agricultural statistics report issued by the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) on Thursday, the self-sufficiency rate for potato crops in the past year reached 80%, while poultry meat stood at 68%, and tomatoes at 67%.

Red meat followed at 60%, carrots at 50%, fish at 48%, and onions at 44%.

Citrus fruits, on the other hand, ranked at the lowest end of the spectrum, with a self-sufficiency rate of 15%.

Ibrahim Al-Turki, the head of the National Agriculture Committee at the Saudi Chambers of Commerce and Industry, stated that the two wings of the Kingdom’s national transformation plan, Vision 2030, are working in harmony: one in the public sector, and the other in the private sector.

Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, Al-Turki pointed out that the efforts of relevant agencies to facilitate local companies and farmers have borne fruit in achieving the targeted food security goals in Saudi Arabia.

Al-Turki emphasized the importance of food security, especially in the wake of the coronavirus crisis and the Russia-Ukraine conflict, affirming that the high level of self-sufficiency in strategic food commodities such as dairy, eggs, dates, and potatoes has also positively influenced prices, making them competitive and accessible to all.

The chairman of the agriculture committee further explained that the surplus in certain products has a positive impact on the local market and consumers.



Eurasian Development Bank Reveals Partnerships with the Gulf to Develop Energy Projects

Chairman of the Management Board at the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) Nikolai Podguzov. Asharq Al-Awsat
Chairman of the Management Board at the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) Nikolai Podguzov. Asharq Al-Awsat
TT
20

Eurasian Development Bank Reveals Partnerships with the Gulf to Develop Energy Projects

Chairman of the Management Board at the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) Nikolai Podguzov. Asharq Al-Awsat
Chairman of the Management Board at the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) Nikolai Podguzov. Asharq Al-Awsat

Chairman of the Management Board at the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) Nikolai Podguzov revealed plans to cooperate with GCC countries, including Saudi Arabia, to develop energy infrastructure.

Podguzov told Asharq Al-Awsat that the bank, which is the international financial organization that operates in Central Asia and in Eurasia, works on implementing a working plan based on three strategies.

“Every year we execute around 30-40 new projects and set up agreements,” he said.

“The investments of the bank are growing at least 20% each year,” Podguzov revealed. “We are quite a fast developing bank. Uzbekistan has just joined the bank this year.”

Regarding the size of loans and investments handled by EDB, Podguzov explained that the bank's average investment ranges between $100 million and $400 million. He added however, that the bank is capable of syndicating larger loans that can reach up to $1 billion or more, while the average annual investment volume is around $2.53 billion.

Regarding the bank's work plans for the coming year, Podguzov explained that the Eurasian Development Bank is simultaneously working to strengthen its relations with the GCC countries and the Islamic Development Bank.

“We improve connectivity, transport infrastructure and logistics. We improve access to water for regions in Central Asia. We develop energy infrastructure in our member states,” he told Asharq Al-Awsat.

“We take care of food safety and food safety infrastructure, which provides access to food and provides food security for our member states. And I think in this field we can set up very good economic ties and cooperation between GCC countries and Central Asia.”

“I know that such countries like Saudi Arabia, Emirates, Oman are quite interested in the topics of our strategy,” he said.

“We mainly do non-sovereign finance ... which is very convenient for our potential partners,” he added.

Podguzov said there is a partnership with Masdar which “is a world leader in bringing renewable energy technologies into the world. They are quite active in Central Asia, in Kazakhstan in particular.”

“That is why, for example, we are very much interested in cooperation with Masdar company. This is one of examples. I think logistics and logistics project also could be of interest for Saudi Arabia. A lot of infrastructure could be developed together with the help of Eurasian Development Bank.”

“I believe that it's also very important to build economic bridge between GCC countries and Central Asia. And I think the bank can do a lot in this field and finally we can bring together economic interests of Central Asian and GCC countries.”