Saudi Arabia to Import Agricultural Products to Boost Strategic Stocks

Saudi Arabia signs contracts to boost strategic stocks for agricultural products. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Arabia signs contracts to boost strategic stocks for agricultural products. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia to Import Agricultural Products to Boost Strategic Stocks

Saudi Arabia signs contracts to boost strategic stocks for agricultural products. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Arabia signs contracts to boost strategic stocks for agricultural products. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia's Agricultural Development Fund signed a number of financing contracts to import agricultural products worth SAR 367 million riyals ($ 97 million) in a move aimed to promote the Kigdom's food security initiative and strengthen the strategic stock,

The Saudi Food Abundance Committee, emanating from the Food Security Committee, held its twelfth periodic meeting last week, to review the abundance of basic food commodities in the Kingdom, and the latest developments in global food markets and supply chains in light of the repercussions of the Russian-Ukrainian crisis. The meeting was chaired by Eng. Abdul Rahman Al-Fadhli, Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture.

The Fund signed a contract with the First Excellence Feed Company to finance the import of barley at a value of SAR 92 million riyals ($24 million).

It signed a similar contract with Al-Nafia Food, at a value of SAR 125 million ($33 million), and one with Arabia Agricultural Services (ARASCO) worth SAR 150 million riyals ($40 million) to finance the import of barley, yellow corn and soybeans.

The signing of these contracts comes to boost the strategic stock and ensure the stability of food supply chains, and to compensate for any shortages that may occur in the supply of commodities and agricultural products due to the repercussions of the crisis in Ukraine.



Starbucks Workers Expand Strike in US Cities Including New York

Starbucks workers hold signs as they picket during a strike in front of a Starbucks to demand collective bargaining agreements in Burbank, California on December 20, 2024. (AFP)
Starbucks workers hold signs as they picket during a strike in front of a Starbucks to demand collective bargaining agreements in Burbank, California on December 20, 2024. (AFP)
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Starbucks Workers Expand Strike in US Cities Including New York

Starbucks workers hold signs as they picket during a strike in front of a Starbucks to demand collective bargaining agreements in Burbank, California on December 20, 2024. (AFP)
Starbucks workers hold signs as they picket during a strike in front of a Starbucks to demand collective bargaining agreements in Burbank, California on December 20, 2024. (AFP)

Starbucks workers have expanded their strike to four more US cities, including New York, the union representing over 10,000 baristas said late on Saturday.

The five-day strike, which began on Friday and initially closed Starbucks cafes in Los Angeles, Chicago and Seattle, has added New Jersey, New York, Philadelphia and St. Louis, Workers United said in a statement. It did not say where the New Jersey walkout was occurring.

Starbucks did not immediately respond to a request for comment outside regular business hours.

Talks between the coffee chain and the union hit an impasse with unresolved issues over wages, staffing and schedules, leading to the strike.

The union is striking in 10 cities, also including Columbus, Denver and Pittsburgh, during the busy holiday season that may impact the company's Christmas sales.

Workers United warned on Friday that the strike could reach "hundreds of stores" by Tuesday, Christmas Eve.

Starbucks began negotiations with the union in April. It said this month it had conducted more than eight bargaining sessions, during which 30 agreements had been reached.

The company operates more than 11,000 stores in the United States, employing about 200,000 workers.