A strategic step towards enhancing food security
In a significant strategic step that strengthens the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's progress towards self-sufficiency, His Excellency the Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture, Engineer Abdulrahman bin Abdulmohsen Al-Fadhli, and His Excellency Mr. Fahd bin Abduljalil Al-Saif witnessed the signing of two vital agreements aimed at localizing the fisheries and seafood sector. These agreements were signed between the Saudi Ministry of Investment, the Partnership with the Private Sector Enhancement Program Center (Sharik), and Almarai, a leading food company.
The signing ceremony was held in the presence of a distinguished group of leaders, headed by His Royal Highness Prince Nayef bin Sultan bin Mohammed bin Saud Al Kabeer, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Almarai Company, and His Excellency Dr. Hamad Al-Sheikh, Secretary General of the Localization and Balance of Payments Committee. Also present were Dr. Abdullah Al-Dubaikhi, Assistant Minister for Investment Development, representing the Ministry of Investment, and Mr. Hisham bin Mishari Al-Mishari, representing the “Shareek” program. Mr. Fahad bin Abdulaziz Al-Abdulqader, Acting CEO, was also in attendance, while Mr. Fawaz bin Mohammed Al-Jasser, CEO of Almarai Company, represented the company.
Historical context and the move towards self-sufficiency
Historically, the Gulf region and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have relied heavily on imports of food and seafood products to meet growing domestic demand. With the launch of Saudi Vision 2030, the urgent need to diversify income sources and reduce dependence on imports became apparent. This led to the development of the National Agriculture Strategy and the National Food Security Strategy, which outline a clear roadmap for resource sustainability. The entry of food giant Almarai into the seafood sector represents a significant shift, expanding its investment portfolio, which has long focused on dairy and poultry, into the aquaculture and fish processing sectors using cutting-edge technologies.
Local and regional impact of the project
Domestically, this ambitious project aims to enhance food security by increasing local production of seafood, improving the efficiency of supply chains, and expanding the availability of fresh, high-quality produce in the Saudi market. It also directly contributes to achieving the goals of the National Localization Strategy, which seeks to replace imports with locally manufactured products and reach 85% localization of the food industry by 2030. This initiative will create thousands of job opportunities for young Saudis in the food manufacturing and technology sectors.
Regionally, this project reinforces the Kingdom's position as a leading industrial and food powerhouse in the Middle East. By reducing reliance on external supply chains, Saudi Arabia contributes to the stability of regional food markets and provides a model for neighboring countries on how to leverage public-private partnerships to achieve tangible economic growth.
International dimensions and environmental sustainability
Internationally, this investment sends a strong message to global investors that the Saudi food sector possesses a robust infrastructure and is attractive to innovation. The project also aligns with global sustainable development goals, as localizing fish processing reduces the carbon footprint associated with lengthy international shipping and transport operations. Furthermore, it supports the adoption of cutting-edge global technologies in aquaculture and food processing, ensuring the sustainability of marine resources for future generations and protecting the marine environment from overfishing, thus achieving an ideal balance between economic growth and environmental preservation.
