RIYADH: Saudi Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Abdul Rahman Al-Fadhli officially inaugurated Saudi Agriculture 2018 at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center on Monday.
The exhibition, organized by the Riyadh Exhibitions Co. (REC), was, however, open for exhibitors and visitors on Sunday.
The exhibition provides local and international companies with an opportunity to showcase the latest agricultural technologies and services specifically focusing on animal and aquatic plantations, crop farms, organic agriculture and fish farming.
As Vision 2030 aims to diversify the economy by developing the economic sector to achieve sustainable development, it further emphasizes reserving natural resources including the rationalization of water consumption in agriculture and achieving food security to increase the share of the agriculture sector in the gross domestic product (GDP).
Mohammad Al-Asheikh, head of marketing at the REC, said the exhibition had drawn a large number of regional and international participants, which reflects their growing confidence in the Saudi market as the Kingdom offers promising growth opportunities in animal and organic agriculture as well as in aquaculture.
He said the focus on aquaculture is aligned with the initiatives to meet the local demand for marine products by 2030, enhancing its competitiveness in providing a safe and reliable supply of these resources.
Concluding on Oct. 10, the mega event is being held concurrently with the Saudi Agro-Food expo, dedicated to the food processing and packaging industry, which showcases a vast array of equipment and solutions from manufacturers and distributors of tools, machinery and services that are essential for food production and packing.
Saudi Agriculture 2018 is aimed at exploring investment opportunities in the local aquaculture sector to ensure food security in the Kingdom and increase its food production capacity to 1 million tons by 2029.
A number of workshops were also held to highlight the role of organic agriculture in providing safe and environment-friendly organic and animal food products in the local market.
Participants at the workshops discussed investment opportunities in the local sector, updating the international community about aquaculture developments in line with the government’s policy of making the Kingdom a top global producer of safe and high-quality food harvested in sustainable ways.
The annual exhibition brings together some of the largest companies every year as it has become a major platform to review the latest agricultural products and technologies.
The event also covers the latest innovations in animal health, beekeeping and honey production, agricultural funding products and services, animal breeding, chemicals and fertilizers, cold storage and crop production, dairy products and equipment, feed and additives, and packaging systems.
