Saudi Arabia Announces $1 Bn Plan to Increase Agricultural Production in Greenhouses

Saudi Arabia supports food self-sufficiency trends through greenhouses (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Arabia supports food self-sufficiency trends through greenhouses (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia Announces $1 Bn Plan to Increase Agricultural Production in Greenhouses

Saudi Arabia supports food self-sufficiency trends through greenhouses (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Arabia supports food self-sufficiency trends through greenhouses (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture, Abdulrahman al-Fadhli, approved the expansion plan in the plant resources sector and greenhouses with new investments valued at $1.06 billion until 2025.

The plan is done in cooperation with the relevant authorities and private sector companies, which aim to raise production capacity by encouraging the usage of the latest technologies in the agriculture sector.

Fadhli, the chairman of the board of directors of the Agricultural Development Fund, confirmed that the approved plan from 2023 to 2025 would contribute to additional productivity estimated at 430,000 tons, bringing the total production capacity of the greenhouses to more than 1 million tons annually.

He said that it aims to achieve national food security, increase the local content's contribution, and offer job opportunities following the goals of Vision 2030.

The minister explained that the expansion plan extends the unlimited support that the agricultural sector enjoys from the Saudi government.

He added that the Fund's loan value to the productive sectors during 2022 exceeded about $1.3 billion.

The plan comes from the ministry's keenness to raise the efficiency of this vital sector and to work towards its development and sustainability, as it is an essential pillar of food security in Saudi Arabia.

Notably, preparations for the expansion plan in greenhouses with the latest technologies have started earlier, as this type of cultivation in Saudi Arabia has been used for over 30 years.

Greenhouses are also considered a key factor for the success of specialized agricultural production, such as organic farming, protecting from different climatic conditions and their effects.

The results of the studies and research conducted by the ministry have revealed that using the latest technologies in the agriculture sector and greenhouses has contributed to saving irrigation water by up to 60 percent.



Saudi Arabia Assumes WTO General Council Presidency for 2025–2026

The General Council of the World Trade Organization (WTO) unanimously appointed Permanent Representative of Saudi Arabia to the WTO Saqer bin Abdullah Al-Moqbel as its president for the 2025–2026 term. (SPA)
The General Council of the World Trade Organization (WTO) unanimously appointed Permanent Representative of Saudi Arabia to the WTO Saqer bin Abdullah Al-Moqbel as its president for the 2025–2026 term. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia Assumes WTO General Council Presidency for 2025–2026

The General Council of the World Trade Organization (WTO) unanimously appointed Permanent Representative of Saudi Arabia to the WTO Saqer bin Abdullah Al-Moqbel as its president for the 2025–2026 term. (SPA)
The General Council of the World Trade Organization (WTO) unanimously appointed Permanent Representative of Saudi Arabia to the WTO Saqer bin Abdullah Al-Moqbel as its president for the 2025–2026 term. (SPA)

The General Council of the World Trade Organization (WTO) has unanimously appointed Permanent Representative of Saudi Arabia to the WTO Saqer bin Abdullah Al-Moqbel as its president for the 2025–2026 term. In a historic milestone, Al-Moqbel becomes the first Arab and Middle Eastern delegate to assume this position, reported the Saudi Press Agency on Wednesday.

The WTO General Council, which convenes throughout the year, oversees the organization’s operations between ministerial conferences, held biennially. As the highest decision-making body at the level of heads of missions, the council plays a crucial role in shaping global trade policies.

During Saudi Arabia's presidency, the General Council is set to address several key issues, including preparations for the 14th Ministerial Conference, scheduled to be held in Cameroon in March 2026.

The agenda will also focus on essential WTO reforms, particularly the dispute settlement mechanism; advancing negotiations on the second phase of the Fisheries Subsidy Agreement; and addressing agriculture, food security, and development concerns.

Other priorities include integrating multilateral agreements, such as the Investment Facilitation for Development Agreement and the E-Commerce Agreement, into the WTO framework.

Commenting on the appointment, Al-Moqbel emphasized that Saudi Arabia’s leadership in the WTO General Council reflects its growing role in the international economic landscape, leveraging its global economic influence to strengthen multilateral trade cooperation.