Saudi Agriculture expo attracts 25,000 visitors

Saudi Agriculture 2014, the 33rd international agriculture, water and agro-industry trade show which was inaugurated by Agriculture Minister Fahd bin Abdul Rahman Balghunaim at Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center here, concluded on Wednesday with exhibitors and visitors applauding the largest agro-food expo of the Middle east. Around 400 companies and individual exhibitors from 40 countries participated in the premier agriculture expo, which started on Sunday and recorded more than 25,000 visitors during the four-day show.
Riyadh exhibitions company in partnership with Advanced Conferences and Meetings conducted a series of seminar focusing on four key topics, including “Agribusiness in Saudi Arabia and Exploring Future Investment Strategies,” ‘Exploring Future of Greenhouse Management and Organic Farming in Saudi Arabia,” ‘Growing Industries of Poultry Farming and Aquaculture in Saudi Arabia,” and “Saudi Arabia Irrigation Challenges and Future Water Resource Solutions.”
Held concurrently with Saudi Agriculture 2014 were Saudi Agro-Food 2014, the 21st international trade show for food products, ingredients and technologies, and Saudi Food-Pack 2014, the 4th international trade exhibition for food processing and packaging.
The show was accredited by the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry (UFI).
Pakistan exhibitors K&N's Food Pvt. Ltd, Asian Food Industries Pvt. Ltd., Hilal Foods Pvt. Ltd. and Ismail Industries Ltd. participating in the expo to bolster ties in agro and food processing industries with the Kingdom, hailed the show.
Speaking to Arab News on the closing day, Atiq R. Siddiqui, head of exports at K&N’s Foods Products said, "It is quite heartening to see internationally compatible brands from leading food products manufacturing groups to keep moving forward in truly becoming global, the most convenient and supportive brotherly regional markets like GCC member states in general and Saudi Arabia in particular with broad consumer base has become attractive learning pad for big and quality proven brands like K&N’s to enter these markets through distributors and expand their export base."
"The agro-food exhibition was chosen as right platform to showcase the quality products range with vibrant packaging and meeting all international standards such as HACCP, ISO and above all the credible Halal Accreditation," Siddiqui stated.
Commenting on Pakistani exhibitors enhancing ties in agro-food sector with Saudi partners he thanked Khayyam Akbar, charge d'affaires at Pakistan Embassy and Wasim Hayat Bajwa, commercial attaché, who visited the Pakistani pavilion and was full of praise for the efforts made by participating companies who came all the way from Pakistan with their senior executives and products to create an acceptance room for themselves in this market place.
Pakistani exhibitor Mohammad Umair Naveed is bullish of business success and pointed to the quality attributes of K&N’s value added chicken products which have now become important components of daily life style in gourmet lovers.
On the sidelines of the agro expo, the commercial section of Pakistan Embassy also held a business meet to facilitate better tie-ups in agro-food sector and honor the Pakistani exhibitors participating in the expo with Khayyam Akbar as chief guest.
Chief executive officers of some leading companies and businesses have also been invited.
Commenting on the expo Tarun Bajaj, general manager of Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority of India (APEDA) at the Indian Pavilion said, “business relations between India and the Kingdom continues to remain strong and has resulted in remarkable growth in the agro-food sector with total exports of $2.09 billion during 2013-14, representing 21 percent of total Indian exports to Saudi Arabia during this period and still continues to increase. Our
participation this year has increased to 50 companies, which is up from 30 in the last edition and we look forward to furthering our participation at the 2015 edition.”
Daniel Cunningham, commercial attache from the Irish embassy said, “agriculture sector forms around 47 percent of the total Irish exports to Saudi Arabia, which is valued at 1.1 billion euros.”
As part of a continued effort by the Western Australian trade offfice, a 15 member delegation participated in the expo to further strengthen the growing trade relationship with the Kingdom.