RIYADH — Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation in food security and agriculture, with both sides expressing their shared aspiration to raise the value of Pakistani agricultural and food exports to Saudi Arabia to $3 billion. The agreement was announced in a joint statement issued at the conclusion of the official visit of the high-level Saudi delegation to Pakistan from August 26 to 28. The delegation was headed by Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Eng. Abdulrahman Al-Fadhly and included senior officials from the ministry, the General Authority for Food Security, and other relevant entities. The Pakistani side was headed by Minister of State for Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain and included senior government officials and representatives of the private sector in Pakistan. Both sides affirmed the strength of their long-standing historical relations and commended the level of integration in advancing food security priorities by enhancing the export capabilities of the agricultural and food sector. Discussions focused on priority sectors, including rice, red meat, fruits and fruit concentrates, green fodder, and water-efficient agricultural technologies. Pakistani rice imports to the Kingdom in 2025 reached approximately 169,000 tons, valued at an estimated $163 million. Both sides expressed interest in expanding bilateral trade in the coming years. Pakistani meat imports to Saudi Arabia reached approximately 30,000 tons annually, valued at $167 million, with the Saudi side expressing its desire to double these imports in the future. The two sides also identified promising opportunities in the fruit sector and agreed to increase Pakistan's share of exports in the Saudi market, empower the private sector, facilitate communication between businesspeople, and expand mutual recognition of quality certificates.The Saudi side highlighted green fodder as a promising sector for expanding trade and developing long-term supply partnerships. The Saudi delegation also encouraged Pakistan to join the International Date Council, an invitation welcomed by the Pakistani side. Both sides expressed satisfaction with the completion of the first phase of the "Water-Saving Irrigation Program" in the Bhakar region of Punjab province and expressed interest in the proposed second phase aimed at supporting small farmers. They also reviewed investment proposals from Pakistani private sector companies in livestock, agricultural processing industries, and rice value chains. Both sides agreed to coordinate and work together to explore and capitalize on these investment opportunities. The Saudi delegation's visit included a briefing on the Strategic Plan for Agriculture and Food Security between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, meetings with the Pakistan Private Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), the Fauji Foundation, and the Pakistan-Saudi Arabia Agricultural Business Council, as well as a visit to the National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC). Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries. The Pakistani side welcomed the invitation to attend the 43rd Saudi Agriculture Exhibition, to be held in Riyadh in October. Both sides expressed satisfaction with the outcomes of the visit and agreed to continue joint coordination to follow up on the implementation of the understandings reached.
