Saudi Arabia, Tunisia Sign 7 MoUs in Various Fields

The Tunisian-Saudi Investment and Partnership Forum kicked off Wednesday in Tunis. (Tunisian Businessmen website)
The Tunisian-Saudi Investment and Partnership Forum kicked off Wednesday in Tunis. (Tunisian Businessmen website)
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Saudi Arabia, Tunisia Sign 7 MoUs in Various Fields

The Tunisian-Saudi Investment and Partnership Forum kicked off Wednesday in Tunis. (Tunisian Businessmen website)
The Tunisian-Saudi Investment and Partnership Forum kicked off Wednesday in Tunis. (Tunisian Businessmen website)

The Tunisian-Saudi Investment and Partnership Forum kicked off Wednesday at the Tunisian Union of Industry, Commerce, and Crafts (UTICA) headquarters in Tunis.

Over 100 Saudi businessmen and government officials from both countries were present.

The event is designed to scale up partnerships between businesses.

This forum is being held along with the 11th session of the Tunisian-Saudi Joint Committee meeting.

Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Ibrahim Alkhorayef signed seven memoranda of understanding with Tunisian Interim Minister of Economy and Planning Sihem Boughdiri Nemsia on the sidelines of the 11th session of the Committee meeting.

The MoUs, which aim at enhancing Saudi-Tunisian cooperation in various fields, were signed in the presence of the Kingdom’s Ambassador to Tunisia, Dr. Abdulaziz bin Ali Al-Saqr.

Two of the MoUs were about agricultural scientific research and environment protection between the Saudi Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture and the Tunisian Ministry of Agriculture, Water Resources and Fisheries, as well as the Ministry of Environment.

Another MoU was on industrial cooperation between the Saudi Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources and the Tunisian Ministry of Industry and Energy. Alkhorayef and Nemsia also signed an MoU in tourism between their two countries.

In labor, another MoU was also signed between the Saudi Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development and Ministry of Vocational Training and Employment of Tunisia, along with another one in climate and meteorology between the Saudi National Center for Meteorology and its counterpart of Tunisia.

The Saudi non-oil exports to Tunisia during the third quarter of 2023 amounted to SAR513.42 million, with chemicals, polymers, packaging, and building materials being the most products the Kingdom has exported to Tunisia, while the volume of Saudi non-oil imports from Tunisia reached SAR206.59 million, topped by food products and textiles, heavy machinery and electronics.

The Saudi Industrial Development Fund’s contribution to financing joint projects in Tunisia amounted to SAR3.8 million, the value of the contribution to financing one project.



Saudi Arabia Records Significant Increase in Potato Production

Saudi Arabia Records Significant Increase in Potato Production
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Saudi Arabia Records Significant Increase in Potato Production

Saudi Arabia Records Significant Increase in Potato Production

The Saudi Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture announced a remarkable 47% increase in potato production in 2023, achieving a self-sufficiency rate of 86% with over 621,750 tons of potatoes produced compared to 423,770 tons in 2021.

This milestone was achieved after more than 17,000 hectares of land were cultivated with potatoes in 2023, up from 15,890 hectares in 2021. The potato production surge has positively impacted the manufacturing sector, stimulating investment and the use of advanced technologies.

According to the Ministry, overall vegetable production in 2023 reached 3.21 million tons, marking a 19% rise from 2020.

The significant improvement in agricultural productivity and its SAR109 billion contribution to the GDP are attributed to the Ministry's strategic initiatives focused on boosting self-sufficiency, attracting investments, and providing financial support, including increased financing rates for modern technology-based projects.

By prioritizing local production and reducing reliance on imports, the ministry aims to achieve the goals outlined in Saudi Vision 2030 and diversifying the national economy.