Islamabad, Riyadh agree to boost Pakistani agri, food exports to USD3bn
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have agreed to increase Pakistan’s agricultural and food exports to the Kingdom to USD3 billion within the next two years, said a joint statement issued by the two countries on Sunday. The statement, released by the Prime Minister’s Office, said the agreement was reached following successful talks between Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture and Pakistan’s Ministry of National Food Security and Research, on the initiative of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. At the invitation of the Pakistani government, a Saudi delegation led by Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Engineer Abdulrahman Al-Fadley visited Islamabad from August 26 to August 28. READ MORE: Agriculture, food security, water management: Pakistan, KSA agree to expand cooperation The delegation comprised senior officials from Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, the General Food Security Authority and other relevant institutions. Prime Minister Shehbaz met the Saudi delegation on Friday and held detailed discussions on potential areas of cooperation, according to the joint statement. “The two countries expressed their shared commitment to increase Pakistan’s agricultural and food exports to Saudi Arabia to USD3bn, with efforts to be made to achieve the target over the next two years,” the statement said. For this purpose, rice, red meat, fruits and their concentrates, green fodder and water-efficient agricultural technologies were identified as priority sectors, in collaboration with the Saudi private sector. During the visit, the two sides received briefings on the Pakistan-Saudi Arabia Agriculture and Food Strategic Plan and held meetings with the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), Fauji Foundation and the Pakistan-Saudi Arabia Agri-Business Forum. The Saudi delegation also visited the National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC). Reaffirming their deep and historic ties, the two sides highlighted the strong alignment between Saudi Arabia’s food security priorities under Vision 2030 and Pakistan’s agricultural and food export sector. The delegations noted that Pakistan supplied around 169,000 tonnes of rice to the Saudi market in 2025, worth approximately USD163 million. According to the joint statement, the Saudi team expressed interest in further increasing bilateral rice trade in the coming years. The Saudi delegation also expressed interest in gradually doubling imports of red meat from Pakistan. The two sides reviewed Islamabad’s annual supply of around 30,000 tonnes of red meat, valued at approximately USD167 million. Regarding fruits and fruit concentrates, the two sides identified significant potential to further increase Pakistan’s share of the Saudi market. They encouraged measures to facilitate business-to-business linkages and matchmaking between the private sectors of the two countries, as well as the mutual recognition of quality certifications. Green fodder was also identified by the Saudi side as a promising area for expanding trade and establishing long-term supply partnerships, the joint statement said. Both countries welcomed the successful completion of the first phase of a water-efficient irrigation programme in Punjab’s Bhakkar and expressed interest in a proposed second phase aimed at small farmers. The Saudi delegation also encouraged Pakistan to join the International Dates Council, a proposal welcomed by the Pakistani side. The two sides reviewed investment proposals submitted by Pakistan’s private sector in livestock, agri-food processing and the rice value chain. They also agreed to maintain coordination to advance cooperation in these areas. “Both countries reaffirmed their broader strategic partnership,” the statement said. Pakistan also welcomed an invitation to participate in the 43rd Saudi Agriculture Exhibition, scheduled to take place in Riyadh from October 19 to 22. Both sides expressed satisfaction with the outcomes of the visit and agreed to maintain coordination to translate the understandings reached into practical cooperation. The Pakistani delegation was led by Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain. It included Secretary Aamir Ali Ahmed, Commerce Secretary Jawad Paul, Prime Minister’s Coordinator for Agriculture and Food Security Ahmed Umair, and private-sector representatives from Pakistan’s rice, red meat, processed food and fruit concentrate, and green fodder sectors. Before the Saudi delegation’s visit this week, Assistant Minister of Investment of Saudi Arabia Ibrahim Al-Mubarak visited Islamabad in February, when he expressed interest in investing in corporate farming in Pakistan’s rice sector. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have agreed to increase Pakistan’s agricultural and food exports to the Kingdom to USD3 billion within the next two years, said a joint statement issued by the two countries on Sunday.
The statement, released by the Prime Minister’s Office, said the agreement was reached following successful talks between Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture and Pakistan’s Ministry of National Food Security and Research, on the initiative of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
At the invitation of the Pakistani government, a Saudi delegation led by Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Engineer Abdulrahman Al-Fadley visited Islamabad from August 26 to August 28.
READ MORE: Agriculture, food security, water management: Pakistan, KSA agree to expand cooperation
The delegation comprised senior officials from Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, the General Food Security Authority and other relevant institutions.
Prime Minister Shehbaz met the Saudi delegation on Friday and held detailed discussions on potential areas of cooperation, according to the joint statement.
“The two countries expressed their shared commitment to increase Pakistan’s agricultural and food exports to Saudi Arabia to USD3bn, with efforts to be made to achieve the target over the next two years,” the statement said.
For this purpose, rice, red meat, fruits and their concentrates, green fodder and water-efficient agricultural technologies were identified as priority sectors, in collaboration with the Saudi private sector.
During the visit, the two sides received briefings on the Pakistan-Saudi Arabia Agriculture and Food Strategic Plan and held meetings with the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), Fauji Foundation and the Pakistan-Saudi Arabia Agri-Business Forum.
The Saudi delegation also visited the National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC).
Reaffirming their deep and historic ties, the two sides highlighted the strong alignment between Saudi Arabia’s food security priorities under Vision 2030 and Pakistan’s agricultural and food export sector.
The delegations noted that Pakistan supplied around 169,000 tonnes of rice to the Saudi market in 2025, worth approximately USD163 million.
According to the joint statement, the Saudi team expressed interest in further increasing bilateral rice trade in the coming years.
The Saudi delegation also expressed interest in gradually doubling imports of red meat from Pakistan.
The two sides reviewed Islamabad’s annual supply of around 30,000 tonnes of red meat, valued at approximately USD167 million.
Regarding fruits and fruit concentrates, the two sides identified significant potential to further increase Pakistan’s share of the Saudi market.
They encouraged measures to facilitate business-to-business linkages and matchmaking between the private sectors of the two countries, as well as the mutual recognition of quality certifications.
Green fodder was also identified by the Saudi side as a promising area for expanding trade and establishing long-term supply partnerships, the joint statement said.
Both countries welcomed the successful completion of the first phase of a water-efficient irrigation programme in Punjab’s Bhakkar and expressed interest in a proposed second phase aimed at small farmers.
The Saudi delegation also encouraged Pakistan to join the International Dates Council, a proposal welcomed by the Pakistani side.
The two sides reviewed investment proposals submitted by Pakistan’s private sector in livestock, agri-food processing and the rice value chain. They also agreed to maintain coordination to advance cooperation in these areas.
“Both countries reaffirmed their broader strategic partnership,” the statement said.
Pakistan also welcomed an invitation to participate in the 43rd Saudi Agriculture Exhibition, scheduled to take place in Riyadh from October 19 to 22.
Both sides expressed satisfaction with the outcomes of the visit and agreed to maintain coordination to translate the understandings reached into practical cooperation.
The Pakistani delegation was led by Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain. It included Secretary Aamir Ali Ahmed, Commerce Secretary Jawad Paul, Prime Minister’s Coordinator for Agriculture and Food Security Ahmed Umair, and private-sector representatives from Pakistan’s rice, red meat, processed food and fruit concentrate, and green fodder sectors.
Before the Saudi delegation’s visit this week, Assistant Minister of Investment of Saudi Arabia Ibrahim Al-Mubarak visited Islamabad in February, when he expressed interest in investing in corporate farming in Pakistan’s rice sector.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026