Saudi Agricultural Exhibition Opens with Over SAR800 Million in Development Investments

The 41st Saudi Agricultural Exhibition was inaugurated in Riyadh on Monday. (SPA)
The 41st Saudi Agricultural Exhibition was inaugurated in Riyadh on Monday. (SPA)
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Saudi Agricultural Exhibition Opens with Over SAR800 Million in Development Investments

The 41st Saudi Agricultural Exhibition was inaugurated in Riyadh on Monday. (SPA)
The 41st Saudi Agricultural Exhibition was inaugurated in Riyadh on Monday. (SPA)

Saudi Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Eng. Abdulrahman Alfadley inaugurated on Monday the 41st Saudi Agricultural Exhibition in Riyadh.

The event, which runs from October 21-24, highlights key investment opportunities and features cutting-edge technologies, solutions, and innovations in the agriculture sector. Over 420 agricultural companies representing 29 countries are taking part. Qatari Minister of Municipality Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Subaie attended the opening ceremony.

Alfadley emphasized the importance of strengthening national economic priorities and achieving food security in Saudi Arabia while striking a balance between agricultural development and the preservation of natural resources.

This is key to boosting sustainability and ensuring the protection of the environment and agricultural assets for future generations, he stressed.

Alfadley underscored the significant economic growth of the agricultural sector over the past three years, attributing it to the unwavering support from the country’s leadership and to the ministry’s efforts to promote sustainable agricultural practices. These have led to the sustainability of agricultural production; the preservation of soil, water, and natural resources; and self-sufficiency in a variety of agricultural products.

The sector achieved its highest-ever contribution to gross domestic product (GDP), amounting to SAR109 billion, further driving sustainable development and supporting the national economy, he revealed.

During the exhibition, Alfadley witnessed the signing of 12 agreements and memoranda of understanding with total investments exceeding SAR800 million to bolster agricultural production in the Kingdom.

The event saw the launch of the KAUST Center of Excellence for Sustainable Food Security. The strategic initiative aims to boost food security in the Kingdom by developing sustainable innovations and solutions in agriculture in line with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.



Saudi EXIM Hosts Global Risk Experts Meeting in Riyadh

The event gathered specialists from 47 organizations from 33 countries; it served as a platform for discussing strategies, partnerships, and innovative solutions. - SPA
The event gathered specialists from 47 organizations from 33 countries; it served as a platform for discussing strategies, partnerships, and innovative solutions. - SPA
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Saudi EXIM Hosts Global Risk Experts Meeting in Riyadh

The event gathered specialists from 47 organizations from 33 countries; it served as a platform for discussing strategies, partnerships, and innovative solutions. - SPA
The event gathered specialists from 47 organizations from 33 countries; it served as a platform for discussing strategies, partnerships, and innovative solutions. - SPA

The Saudi Export-Import Bank (Saudi EXIM) hosted the Berne Union's Country Risk Specialist Meeting, providing a platform for experts and thought leaders in risk management from the export credit community.
At the meeting, which took place from November 19 to 21 in Riyadh, the attendees exchanged best practices to better protect the industry amid shifting global dynamics.
According to a statement issued by the Saudi EXIM on Saturday, the event gathered specialists from 47 organizations from 33 countries; it served as a platform for discussing strategies, partnerships, and innovative solutions.
By strengthening institutional resilience, the industry is ready to turn global economic challenges into opportunities for economic prosperity, said the statement, adding that it played a crucial role in advancing global trade, strengthening international cooperation, and developing credit solutions that empower export activities while controlling risk, SPA reported.
According to the statement, discussions centered on critical risks impacting international trade and the global economy, such as debt sustainability and geopolitical tensions, along with innovative approaches to risk modelling. Participants also explored the global shifts in infrastructure, energy and critical minerals sectors, and were given an overview of Saudi Arabia's National Industrial Strategy, which focuses on economic diversification through investments, developing new sectors, and promoting local industries.
In his opening remarks, Saudi EXIM CEO Eng. Saad bin Abdulaziz Al-Khalb said the meeting is an ideal platform to address risks impacting global economic decision making.
He stated: "Through such meetings, we can turn challenges into strategic opportunities and enhance our resilience in an ever-changing world. At Saudi EXIM, we remain committed to enabling companies by offering expert financial and non-financial solutions to navigate risks effectively."
He also said that "at Saudi EXIM, we place great emphasis on risk management. In alignment with the main objective of this meeting, I am pleased to announce the completion of our independent country risk model, which is supported by advanced modelling tools and machine learning. This model will provide country ratings and predictions of default risks. We look forward to collaborating with our partners in other export credit agencies to exchange knowledge and expertise, and to strengthening our risk management functions with greater responsibility and effectiveness."
Associate Director at Berne Union Eve Hall said: "The global risk landscape today is highly volatile and highly interconnected. As we navigate our way around the ongoing transformations connected to energy transition and shifting industrial strategies, the traditional concept of 'country risk' is becoming increasingly complex. Our industry excels at understanding, quantifying and pricing these risks, and by bringing together this community of experts for technical exchange the Berne Union is able to help support the development of the industry as a whole. The initiatives announced by our colleagues at Saudi EXIM, making use of new technology in risk analysis, provide a fantastic example of where collaboration in this field can be effectively applied."
The statement disclosed that Saudi EXIM's membership in Berne represents a significant strategic step, and is consistent with the Kingdom's commitment to expanding collaboration and integration in the global economy.
This is achieved by building partnerships with leading institutions to address the challenges facing the export credit sector. It also aligns with the bank's goal of developing the export of national products and services through partnerships with national and international financial and funding organizations.
Berne Union works with global trade organizations to encourage the adoption of best practices in export credit insurance, and to cooperate in maintaining the stability of global trade.
Saudi EXIM, a development bank under the National Development Fund, contributes to diversifying the Kingdom's economic base by improving the efficiency of non-oil export ecosystems, bridging financial gaps, and minimizing export risks. This plays a role in helping the non-oil national economy grow, in line with Vision 2030.