The Minister of Agriculture of Kazakhstan, Mr. Saparkhan K. Omarov held negotiations with the Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture of Saudi Arabia, Mr. Abdulrahman Al-Fadhli within the framework of Second General Assembly of Islamic Organization for Food Security, held on August 29, 2019 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Mr. Omarov thanked Mr. Abdulrahman Al-Fadhli for hospitality and support of initiatives of IOFS.
It is worth noting that during the Second General Assembly of Islamic Organization for Food Security, Kazakhstan initiated a Grain Fund and investment development through establishment of a Food Processing Association of IOFS member states.
Mr. Omarov discussed potential of Kazakhstan in terms of growth of production and export and invited the Saudi side to invest in agroprocessing sector.
Mr. Abdulrahman Al-Fadhli expressed interest in investing in agricultural industry of Kazakhstan through a governmental company, SALIC, as well as private Saudi companies. The minister also mentioned his interest in quality agricultural products of Kazakhstan, stressing the importance of adherence to local food standards, including halal.
For reference, mutual trade turnover of agricultural products in 2018 amounted to $251.7k, which is 44.3% more than in 2017 ($174.4k). According to the results of 2018, agricultural products exported from Kazakhstan to Saudi Arabia were $153.9k worth, which is twice as much as in 2017 ($76.9k).
Products that Kazakhstan exported to Saudi Arabia include:
- natural honey (26.6 tons worth $121.5k in 2018);
- poultry ($31.3k or 0.1 tons in 2018).
Saudi Arabia exported $97,8k worth of products to Kazakhstan in 2018, which is 0,2% higher than in 2017 ($97,6k). The exported products were:
- dates, fresh or dried ($73,4k in 2018 or 18,7 tons)
- vegetable oils and other fats ($17,5k or 1,7 tons)
Collaboration between Republic of Kazakhstan and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in agricultural industry is carried out under Memorandum of Understanding signed on October 24, 2016 in Riyadh between the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as well as agreements reached during 4th meeting of the Kazakh-Saudi Intergovernmental Commission on trade, economic, scientific, technical and cultural cooperation on November 2, 2014, in Riyadh.
Source: https://moa.gov.kz/ru/post/495
