Major Indian Firms to Discuss Expanding Partnership with Saudi Counterparts

The Saudi-Indian Roundtable meeting was held in Riyadh in October. (SPA)
The Saudi-Indian Roundtable meeting was held in Riyadh in October. (SPA)
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Major Indian Firms to Discuss Expanding Partnership with Saudi Counterparts

The Saudi-Indian Roundtable meeting was held in Riyadh in October. (SPA)
The Saudi-Indian Roundtable meeting was held in Riyadh in October. (SPA)

Asharq Al-Awsat has learned that a delegation representing major Indian companies intends to visit Riyadh from November 14-16 to hold bilateral meetings, expand partnerships with the Saudi private sector, and explore investment opportunities in the Kingdom.

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, had announced during his participation at the G20 meetings in New Delhi in September the signing of a memorandum of understanding to create an economic corridor connecting India with the Middle East and Europe.

The Federation of Saudi Chambers (FSC) will coordinate bilateral meetings between the Indian delegation, the Saudi Indian Business Council, and the Saudi private sector in Riyadh on Wednesday.

The FSC informed local firms that the Indian delegation includes several giant companies from various fields.

The Saudi firms are currently getting ready to participate in the bilateral meetings with the Indian delegation, explore available opportunities to form alliances, and expand partnerships that serve both parties’ interests.

The FSC had organized the Saudi-Indian Roundtable meeting in October.

The meeting was attended by India's Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal, FSC's President Hassan Al-Huwaizi, Acting Secretary General of the FSC Walid al-Arinan, and India's Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Dr. Suhel Ajaz Khan. More than 100 representatives of Saudi and Indian entities and companies took part in the meeting.

During the talks, Saudi and Indian parties reviewed the investment environment and opportunities in the Kingdom and the targeted sectors in the Kingdom's Vision 2030.

Goyal had said that Crown Prince Mohammed’s visit to India in September achieved historic results in the course of relations between the two countries.

India has become a unique economic and investment destination with distinct advantages for foreign investors, he added.

India has an economic vision that aims to achieve $2 trillion annually in total exports, he stated.

Moreover, he remarked that Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 and the economic corridor linking India, the Middle East and Europe will open promising horizons for international trade and cooperation.

"The investment future between Saudi Arabia and India is large and promising," he said.



Saudi Arabia Boosts Food Security

An agricultural farm in Saudi Arabia (SPA)
An agricultural farm in Saudi Arabia (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia Boosts Food Security

An agricultural farm in Saudi Arabia (SPA)
An agricultural farm in Saudi Arabia (SPA)

Saudi Arabia is accelerating efforts to strengthen food security, a strategic objective rooted in the Kingdom’s founding and shaped by its desert geography and limited water resources.

As part of its Vision 2030, the Kingdom has placed food security among its top priorities, implementing a national strategy to boost local production and promote long-term agricultural sustainability.

The agricultural sector’s contribution to GDP rose to SAR114 billion ($30.4 billion) in 2024, up from SAR109 billion ($29 billion) the previous year, according to the latest Vision 2030 annual report.

Government support, particularly through the Agricultural Development Fund, has fueled the sector’s growth. Agricultural loans increased by 54% between 2018 and 2024, reaching SAR5 billion ($1.33 billion).

Saudi Arabia has achieved higher self-sufficiency rates across several key products. Domestic production in 2024 included 2.95 million tons of fruit, 3.38 million tons of vegetables, 1.83 million tons of grains, 399,000 tons of eggs, 2.7 million tons of milk, 274,000 tons of red meat, 1.15 million tons of poultry, 217,000 tons of fish, and 8,500 tons of honey.

Aquaculture has seen significant growth, with fish production rising from 40,000 tons in 2016 to over 246,000 tons in 2024, driven by investments in sustainable technologies and marine projects. Saudi Arabia is positioning itself as an emerging regional hub for aquaculture.

The Kingdom’s progress reflects its long-term commitment to food security, supported by initiatives to enhance supply chains, stimulate private sector investment, and advance research and innovation in modern farming technologies. Authorities say the achievements so far signal Saudi Arabia’s ability to continue advancing toward self-sufficiency in a more resilient and sustainable agricultural environment.