SAUDI ARABIA-AGRICULTURE EXHIBITION Hundreds of exhibitors vie for Saudi agriculture market at trade show

Record ID: 189510

  • Title: SAUDI ARABIA-AGRICULTURE EXHIBITION Hundreds of exhibitors vie for Saudi agriculture market at trade show
  • Date: 8th September 2014
  • Summary: RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA (SEPTEMBER 7, 2014) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF SAUDI AGRICULTURE 2014 EXHIBITION LOGO OF SAUDI POULTRY COMPANY (AL-WADI) VARIOUS OF CHICKS STAFF OF AL-WADI AT COUNTER (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) AL-WADI COMPANY REPRESENTATIVE SAYING: "The Saudi market is very promising in the field of poultry. It produces 700 million chicks per year and still can accommodate much more. The production is still covering 60 percent of the consumption. It's promising and there is good investment in it." VISITORS TALKING TO PARTICIPANTS PARTICIPANT SHOWING CHICK TO VISITOR (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) VISITOR, ZAIED AL-ESSA, SAYING: "I have interest in agriculture especially in poultry. I would like to have a better idea, maybe I will develop it in the future and start a project -- that's why I am studying things." VISITORS AT EXHIBITION VARIOUS REPRESENTATIVES SEED COMPANY SHOWING THEIR PRODUCTS TO VISITORS TURKISH SECTION AT THE EXHIBITION SCREEN SHOWING TURKISH POULTRY PRODUCTS (SOUNDBITE) (English) TURKISH AMBASSADOR, YUNUS DEMIRER, SAYING: "There are more than 18 Turkish companies participating in the fair. I think there is a lot of room between Turkey and Saudi Arabia in the field of agriculture in future cooperation. There is already some existing projects and cooperation going on between our two countries but there is a room for the future and I hope that we will do it better and better." SAUDI AND TURKISH FLAGS GRAIN SILOS AND FLOUR MILLS SECTION VARIOUS OF FLOUR PRODUCTS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SAUDI AGRICULTURAL MINISTER, FAHAD BALGHUNAIM, SAYING: "We consume about three million tons of wheat yearly. We must have strategic storage and the aim of that is to enable the country to use it in crisis. Thank god, we have enough strategic stocks of wheat." JOURNALISTS STALL OF AN EGYPTIAN COMPANY VARIOUS OF MACHINE PRODUCING FEED VISITORS CHECKING FEED QUALITY
  • Embargoed: 23rd September 2014 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Saudi Arabia
  • Country: Saudi Arabia
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA96PNBCVFIUCEY5HMEUY5A2QHJ
  • Story Text: Hundreds of agricultural companies are trying to find or increase their presence in the lucrative Saudi agricultural market.
    More than 400 companies from 40 countries are taking part in the Saudi Agriculture 2014 trade show that opened in Riyadh on Sunday (September 7).
    The four-day event offers products and services for the agricultural sector, covering areas such as agriculture building construction, animal health and production, finance and banking, machinery and equipment, chemicals and fertilisers, fisheries and fish farming, greenhouses, irrigation and landscaping equipment, and organic farming.
    Exhibiting alongside companies from the United Arab Emirates, India, Pakistan, the United States, Britain, China, Egypt, Germany, Malaysia and Turkey are local firms.
    Exhibitors say there is still a lot of room for growth in many areas, such as poultry.
    "The Saudi market is very promising in the field of poultry. It produces 700 million chicks per year and still can accommodate much more. The production is still covering 60 percent of the consumption. It's promising and there is good investment in it," said one representative of a Saudi poultry company. Al Wadi.
    It's not just the investors who have gathered at the exposition. Among the visitors is one who is contemplating starting his own agricultural business.
    "I have interest in agriculture, especially in poultry. I would like to have a better idea, maybe I will develop it in the future and start a project -- that's why I am studying things," said visitor Zaied al-Essa.
    The Turkish ambassador to the kingdom attended the event on the opening day, hoping to boost business partnerships between the two countries.
    "There are more than 18 Turkish companies participating in the fair. I think there is a lot of room between Turkey and Saudi Arabia in the field of agriculture in future cooperation. There is already some existing projects and cooperation going on between our two countries but there is a room for the future and I hope that we will do it better and better," said Yunus Demirer.
    Demand for agricultural produce is set to grow in the country. The Saudi government says it has made provisions to ensure food security.
    "We consume about three million tons of wheat yearly. We must have strategic storage and the aim of that is to enable the country to use it in crisis. Thank god, we have enough strategic stocks of wheat," said Saudi agricultural minister, Fahad Balghunaim.
    Organisers say last year's trade show attracted 26,000 professional visitors, that included officials, producers, manufacturers, dealers, agents and distributors.
    Whilst Saudi Arabia is principally desert, large areas of previously barren land have been converted to agricultural production with massive irrigation and mechanisation projects.

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