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Saudi Arabia Achieves Self-Sufficiency in Figs

Saudi Arabia Achieves Self-Sufficiency in Figs
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Saudi Arabia Achieves Self-Sufficiency in Figs

Saudi Arabia Achieves Self-Sufficiency in Figs

The Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture (MEWA) declared on Sunday that the Kingdom has achieved total self-sufficiency in fig production, with annual output exceeding 28,000 tons on 1,421 hectares of cultivated land.

According to the ministry, the Jazan region leads fig production with 9,906 tons per year, followed by Riyadh with 8,010 tons, Aseer with 3,970 tons, Makkah with 1,635 tons, and several other regions that contribute smaller yet significant amounts.

The fig production season is from February to November. MEWA is working to increase the production, processing, and marketing of figs through the sustainable agricultural rural development program, by exploiting and investing in the available opportunities and resources and taking advantage of the natural resources and agricultural potential of different regions.

Figs are considered healthy, versatile fruits rich in nutrients. They are said to have benefits, like helping prevent Alzheimer's disease, regulate blood pressure, and strengthen bones.

The ministry advises consuming locally grown seasonal produce to maximize nutritional value.

The fig harvest season campaign aims to raise awareness about the Kingdom's diverse fruit options and to support farmers by improving marketing and distribution.

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Egypt Seeking to Boost Africa’s Financial Resources from International Institutions

A woman works at a factory in Accra, Ghana. (World Bank)
A woman works at a factory in Accra, Ghana. (World Bank)
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Egypt Seeking to Boost Africa’s Financial Resources from International Institutions

A woman works at a factory in Accra, Ghana. (World Bank)
A woman works at a factory in Accra, Ghana. (World Bank)

Egyptian Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation Rania Al-Mashat said her country is currently working to boost the financial space available to African countries from international institutions, with the aim to implement the 2063 Development Agenda.

Speaking during the 2024 African Caucus Meeting in Abuja, Nigeria, the minister stressed the importance of the ongoing discussions between the African Group and the World Bank to bolster joint cooperation with one of the largest multilateral development banks, to overcome the development challenges facing African countries, and push towards achieving the Development Agenda.

The meeting, hosted by the International Monetary Fund and World Bank Group governors, aimed to identify ways to accelerate intra-African trade as a catalyst for sustainable economic growth.

“We are working to expand the financial resources available to African countries from international institutions to support the implementation of the 2063 development agenda,” Al-Mashat told the attendees.

She added that Egypt was seeking to integrate more deeply with its African counterparts, as outlined in its Vision 2030 plan, and to promote intra-South cooperation to share development experiences and best practices.

During the meetings, World Bank officials presented the group’s strategy for regional integration in Africa and discussed the initiative that was launched between the World Bank Group and the African Development Bank in April.

The initiative aims to provide electricity to about 300 million people in Africa by 2030, through a partnership between multilateral development banks and private sector investments.

Participants also discussed the means to activate the African Continental Free Trade Agreement, by unifying payment systems at the continent level, enhancing digital transformation efforts, developing sustainable infrastructure, and adopting effective policies towards digital transformation.

Moreover, talks touched on the means to enable startups’ access to financing from the private sector and facilitate trade and regional integration in Africa.