Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are preparing to bolster bilateral trade and investment in the agriculture and food sectors. Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Cheema chaired a high-level review meeting to finalize strategies aimed at driving agricultural exports through private-sector partnerships and direct foreign investment.
Key Highlights of the Initiative
- Focus Sectors: Both nations have prioritized trade expansion in meat, rice, processed foods, and animal fodder.
- High-Level Bilateral Visit: Saudi Minister for Environment, Water and Agriculture Abdulrahman Al-Fadley will lead a delegation to Pakistan to explore joint ventures and engage with provincial agriculture ministers and local business leaders.
- Research & Development: The Saudi delegation is scheduled to tour the National Agriculture Research Centre (NARC) to review Pakistan’s latest advancements in agri-tech and research.
- Proposed Agreements: Expected outcomes of the visit include the signing of multiple MoUs on food research and the potential setup of a Pakistan-Saudi Agri Investment Fund.
Aligning with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s push to convert diplomatic relations into economic output, Minister Cheema instructed federal departments to draft commercially viable proposals to maximize export potential during the upcoming talks.
