Saudis plan to grow crops overseas: Financial Times

By Andrew England in Riyadh

Published: June 12 2008 17:42 | Last updated: June 13 2008 01:52

Saudi Arabia has unveiled plans to develop large-scale overseas agricultural projects to secure food supplies, revealing that Riyadh is in discussions with Ukraine, Pakistan, Sudan, Turkey and Egypt.

Abdullah al-Obaid, the deputy agriculture minister, told the Financial Times the government was planning to set up projects of at least 100,000 hectares in several countries to grow crops such as wheat, corn, rice, soyabeans and alfalfa, a feed for livestock.

The move, which is also aimed at building up strategic reserves, comes as food prices have doubled over the past two years and a series of trade restrictions by exporting countries have limited the oil-rich kingdom's ability to secure supplies.

The massive rises in food prices, particularly wheat and rice, have caused a number of Arab countries to look to develop schemes in other nations. Food costs have also been a significant contributor to the double-digit inflation that is causing mounting concern in the Middle East.

For more on this article, please click on the following link: Saudis plan to grow crops overseas: Financial Times

Pakistan's dairy and agriculture sector opens new business prospects for GCC investors: Arabian Business

Country's agriculture industry outperforms China, India and Malaysia with 4.6 per cent growth rate.

The Pakistan's dairy and agriculture products and investment opportunities Forum was held in Dubai lately, where Al Rabie Saudi Foods Co. Ltd., a pioneering producer of dairy products and juices in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the largest juice manufacturer in the Middle East has participated and was one of the sponsors of this forum as part of initiatives to strengthen its presence among Pakistan market players, this forum has introduced an audience of largely GCC-based corporate houses, financial institutions, fund managers, investors, relevant multinationals, local businesses and high-net individuals.

Mr. Monther Al Harthi, General Manager of Al Rabie Saudi Foods Co. Ltd., has submitted a strategic plan discussing many issues that concerns the dairy industry in the Saudi Arabia kingdom and their achievements in the last 30 years, this strategic plan include the development of dairy industry in the Saudi Arabia kingdom, the individual's consumption of dairy and its products, sources and amounts of dairy products locally and externally in addition to the customers expectations from these products and the role of the government monitoring parties in the dairy industry.

For more on this article, please click on the following link: Pakistan's dairy and agriculture sector opens new business prospects for GCC investors: Arabian Business