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Saudi Arabia Mobilizes to Boost Dates Exports to China

Dates on sale in Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
Dates on sale in Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia Mobilizes to Boost Dates Exports to China

Dates on sale in Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
Dates on sale in Saudi Arabia. (SPA)

As part of its active strategy for unlocking more markets for its exports, Saudi Arabia is eyeing the Taiwanese market for its dates and dairy trades. The Kingdom is scouting for the most prominent importers in the field while considering the particular mechanism and conditions outlined by China.

Each of the offices of the Saudi General Authority for Foreign Trade in China and the Saudi Commercial Office in Taipei received a copy of the mechanism and requirements for exporting dates and dairy products to Taipei, according to information obtained by Asharq Al-Awsat.

This will aid the Kingdom in filling in its private sector’s dates and dairy industries on major Taiwanese importers in their target market.

The export of dairy products will be carried out with approval from the Food and Drug Administration, which operates under the Chinese Ministry of Health and Welfare.

In importing dairy products that are not included among the specified taxed goods, authorities will apply Article 35 of Taiwan’s food safety and health legislation.

According to the legislation, imports will be subjected to a systematic inspection process based on procedures and the attachment of health certificate documents for products from the exporting country.

As for dates, exports to Taiwan are required to present records signed by relevant and expert authorities. Upon arrival, dates will need to undergo a laboratory examination that tests for pesticides and microorganisms.

The move to boost dairy and dates exports aligns with Saudi Arabia’s national transformation plan, Vision 2030, which chiefly aims to diversify the Kingdom’s economy.

Vision 2030 focuses on capitalizing on natural resources available to the Kingdom other than oil. This includes Saudi Arabia’s prosperous agricultural and farming industries.

The plan seeks to make the Kingdom’s dates production and distribution industries one of the most critical sectors in a new era of national investments that takes Saudi exports worldwide.

According to a report prepared by the National Center for Palms and Dates (NCPD) and the General Authority for Statistics, dates exports in the Kingdom reached 107 countries in 2020.

Compared to previous years, the 2020 results confirm remarkable growth in marketing the Kingdom’s dates and expanding their reach worldwide.

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First Round of Free Trade Negotiations between Gulf States, Türkiye Begins in Ankara

The signing of the joint statement to begin negotiations on a free trade agreement between the GCC and Türkiye in March (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The signing of the joint statement to begin negotiations on a free trade agreement between the GCC and Türkiye in March (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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First Round of Free Trade Negotiations between Gulf States, Türkiye Begins in Ankara

The signing of the joint statement to begin negotiations on a free trade agreement between the GCC and Türkiye in March (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The signing of the joint statement to begin negotiations on a free trade agreement between the GCC and Türkiye in March (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Ankara is set to host on Monday the first round of negotiations for a free trade agreement between the Arab Gulf Cooperation Council and Türkiye.

The talks will extend over three days, with the participation of nine Saudi government agencies, and will focus on a number of topics related to trade in goods and services, investment, technical barriers to trade, and sanitary and phytosanitary measures.

Conferees are set to exchange information and data, discuss challenges and trade opportunities between the concerned parties, and build trust and partnership by identifying areas of cooperation and joint coordination, with the aim of reaching a final comprehensive agreement.

The Saudi government delegation, which is headed by the General Authority for Foreign Trade, includes the Ministries of Energy, Investment, Environment, Water, Agriculture, Industry and Mineral Resources, the Ministry of Economy and Planning, the Food and Drug General Authority, the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority, the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Authority, and the Export Development Authority.

The agreement, when implemented, will give a preferential advantage for the entry of national goods and services into the markets of all concerned parties, in addition to facilitating, encouraging and protecting investments, raising the volume of trade exchange and promoting economic growth and development in the member countries.

The GCC Secretary-General, Jassim Mohammed Al-Budaiwi, and the Turkish Minister of Trade, Omer Bolat, signed on March 21 a joint statement to launch the negotiations for a free trade agreement in Ankara, highlighting the two sides’ endeavor to develop their strategic partnership.

In a speech during the signing ceremony, Bolat said he was confident of the success of the talks.

He noted that the negotiations between his country and the GCC began in 2005, but were suspended in 2010, stressing that the bilateral economic relations will be more comprehensive and well-defined, and will offer opportunities for development and diversification.

Bolat added that Türkiye attached great importance to a comprehensive deal that regulates important areas such as trade in goods and services, intellectual property rights and customs procedures, as well as facilitating trade and developing cooperation between small and medium-sized companies.