The date palm and date sector in Saudi Arabia continues to achieve successive milestones, reflecting the Kingdom's position as one of the world's largest exporters of this strategic product. In a new step aimed at opening wider horizons in East Asian markets, Al-Ahsa Governorate witnessed the signing of a significant agreement that will enhance the access of Saudi products to global markets, particularly the promising South Korean market.
Strategic agreement under official sponsorship
In this context, the Al-Ahsa Agricultural Development Association signed a memorandum of understanding for agricultural cooperation with the Korean company Lotte International, under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Saud bin Talal bin Badr Al Saud, Governor of Al-Ahsa. The signing ceremony took place in the presence of the Chairman of the Association's Board of Directors, Mr. Abdulaziz Al-Mousa, and the CEO of Lotte International, Mr. Jung Ki-ho, with direct support from the National Center for Palms and Dates.
This step comes as part of the "Enabling Saudi Dates Exports and Their Entry into Global Markets" initiative, which is one of the strategic initiatives led by the National Center for Palms and Dates to raise the production and marketing efficiency of Saudi dates, in line with the objectives of the Kingdom's Vision 2030, which seeks to increase non-oil revenues.
The importance of the partnership with the Korean company "Lotte"
This agreement gains its significance from the economic weight of the Korean partner; Lotte International is one of the top five conglomerates in South Korea. The company possesses a vast and complex distribution network encompassing more than 13,000 retail outlets and convenience stores both within Korea and internationally. This extensive reach provides Saudi dates with a prime platform, granting them direct access to Asian consumers and enhancing the competitiveness of Saudi products in international markets.
Economic dimensions and development of manufacturing industries
The agreement is not limited to the export of raw dates only, but extends to include important developmental aspects:
- Boosting manufacturing industries: Focusing on creating new, high-value-added products derived from dates.
- Knowledge transfer: Exchange of technical and agricultural expertise between the two sides to improve the quality of production.
- Supporting innovation: Encouraging quality investments in the agricultural sector to ensure the sector's sustainability.
Local and global context
Saudi Arabia is home to the largest number of date palms in the world, and Al-Ahsa, in particular, is a historic agricultural oasis listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, giving its dates a unique marketing and cultural value. This expansion into global markets contributes to increasing the agricultural sector's contribution to the GDP, creating new job opportunities, and improving the income of farmers and investors in this vital sector.
