AS Saudi Arabia presses ahead with multi-industry economic diversification, a key pillar of its National Vision 2030, the head of the Saudi Exports Development Authority (Saudi Exports) has revealed an ambitious target of non-oil products contributing 50 per cent of the country’s exports by 2030.

With the Kingdom continuing to generate global headlines for a series of high-profile socio-economic reforms being ushered in by its progressive, forward-thinking government, the Gulf region’s largest economy is spearheading a plethora of industrial drives to decrease a longstanding over-reliance on oil revenues.

And Gulfood is viewed as a crucial enabler in increasing food trade exports, according to Faisal A. Alhammad, manager, Export Promotion Department, Saudi Exports. “In line with the National Vision 2030, we want to see non-oil exports increase from 16 percent to 50 percent. Last year alone we saw a 13 per cent increase in food exports,” said Alhammad.

And with more than 50 companies exhibiting under the (Saudi Exports) umbrella at the 23rd edition of the world’s largest annual food and beverage trade show at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), it has been a busy week of deal-making on various Saudi Arabia pavilions spread across the show’s eight food commodity sectors of Beverages, Dairy, Fats and Oils, Health, Wellness & Free From, Meat & Poultry, Pulses, Grains & Cereals, Power Brands and World Food.

“This year we have about 50 companies at the Saudi national pavilion and another 65 outside in other sectors. That’s more than 100 companies, exhibiting more than 200 products. We are extremely pleased by the traffic to our pavilion and stands. It has been very busy. People are interested and want to know about Saudi products. There’s not even time for ‘hello’, it’s just straight down to business,” said Alhammad.

“Gulfood is very important to us, this is our fifth time with a Saudi pavilion. We have more than 100 companies and I hope in the future we can have 100 more. This is a great platform for us to increase our exports across the GCC, Middle East, Africa and Europe. That includes food and the whole range of industries.

Alhammad believes interest in Saudi produce is driven by country’s commitment to the highest standards. “Why are people coming for Saudi products? They know they will get quality produce in a short delivery time — and all our products are halal. We adhere to the highest global food security standards in our factories across local markets.”

One major Saudi exhibitor that is leading by example is poultry giant, Al Watania Poultry. “We are a big part of the government’s food security solution for the whole GCC region, we are a leading and we must continue leading by example. We try to stabilize the market, especially for chicken, with safe, Halal-certified, quality chicken,” said Jamal Trad Al Saadoun, VP marketing & sales, Al Watania Poultry.

“We are the leading poultry farm in the Middle East, producing almost 850,000 birds per day and one million eggs. We must strive to produce good quality, safe food for our children.” — SG