Saudi Arabia eyes Malaysia on food security

 

 

Saudi Arabia is looking at a collaboration with Malaysia to develop its food security programme, said adviser of Corridor Development Malaysia Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

 

Badawi said the Saudi Deputy Minister of Agriculture Abdullah Al-Obaid, expressed this during their meeting here.

 

"Currently, they are talking to the Philippines, Vietnam, Turkey and Ukraine. They welcome the possibility to work with Malaysia," he said.

 

The mission, a follow-up of Prime Minister Najib Tun Razaks earlier visit to Saudi Arabia in January, aims to attract investors as well as enhance bilateral business relationships with the West Asian nations.

 

Badawi said they discussed potential agriculture projects to be promoted under Saudi Arabia's Private Investment Fund, which has an allocation of three billion riyal (US$800 million).

 

"There is a strong interest in the agricultural sector to address concerns of food security. This is seen as an immediate requirement that can be fulfilled through the promotion of agriculture projects in the East Coast Economic Region (ECER)," he said.

 

Following this, Al-Obaid said, there would be quick follow-up discussions to pinpoint the potential activities in the ECER, in particular livestock production and development.

 

He said a company was keen to develop downstream polymer activities to complement existing facilities in Saudi Arabia, Dubai and Brazil.

 

In addition, another company was keen on mid-stream petrochemical activities, i.e. ethanol/fertilisers, methanol, methane, ammonia, polyethelene and polycarbonate.

 

Al-Obaid noted that the Saudis were interested in halal products, particulary food and non-food items.