Pakistan, Saudi Arabia set $3bn target for agricultural, food exports

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have agreed to work towards increasing Pakistan’s agricultural and food exports to Saudi Arabia to $3 billion over the next two years, marking a major development in bilateral cooperation in the agriculture and food security sectors.

According to a joint statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office on Sunday, the agreement was reached during successful talks between Saudi Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Abdulrahman Al-Fadley and Pakistan’s Ministry of National Food Security and Research, held under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s personal interest.

A Saudi delegation led by Al-Fadley visited Islamabad from August 26 to 28 at Pakistan’s invitation. The delegation included senior officials from the Saudi Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, the General Food Security Authority and other relevant institutions.

Prime Minister Shehbaz also met the Saudi delegation and discussed potential areas of cooperation.

The Pakistani delegation was led by Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain and included Commerce Secretary Jawad Paul, National Food Security and Research Secretary Amir Ali Ahmed, Prime Minister’s Coordinator for Agriculture and Food Security Ahmad Umair, and representatives of Pakistan’s rice, red meat, processed food, fruit concentrate and green fodder sectors.

During the visit, the Saudi delegation was briefed on the Pakistan-Saudi Arabia Agriculture and Food Strategic Plan. It also held meetings with the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), Fauji Foundation and the Pakistan-Saudi Arabia Agribusiness Forum and visited the National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC).

Rice, meat, fruit and fodder identified as priority areas

The two sides reaffirmed their longstanding bilateral ties and highlighted the strong alignment between Saudi Arabia’s food security priorities under Vision 2030 and Pakistan’s agricultural and food export sector.

To achieve the $3 billion export target, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia identified rice, red meat, fruits and fruit concentrates, green fodder and water-efficient agricultural technologies as priority areas in collaboration with the Saudi private sector.

Pakistan supplied around 169,000 tonnes of rice to the Saudi market in 2025, valued at about $163 million, according to the joint statement.

The Saudi delegation expressed interest in further expanding bilateral rice trade in the coming years.

In the red meat sector, the two sides reviewed Pakistan’s annual supply of around 30,000 tonnes, worth about $167 million. Saudi Arabia expressed interest in gradually doubling its imports of red meat from Pakistan.

Both sides also identified significant potential for increasing Pakistan’s share in the Saudi market for fruits and fruit concentrates. They encouraged measures to facilitate business-to-business matchmaking, strengthen private-sector linkages and promote mutual recognition of quality certifications.

Saudi Arabia identified green fodder as a promising area for expanding trade and establishing long-term supply partnerships.

Focus on water-efficient agriculture

The two countries welcomed the successful completion of the first phase of a water-efficient irrigation programme in Bhakkar, Punjab, and expressed interest in a proposed second phase targeting small-scale farmers.

The Saudi delegation also encouraged Pakistan to join the International Dates Council, a proposal welcomed by the Pakistani side.

The two sides also reviewed investment proposals put forward by Pakistan’s private sector in livestock, agri-food processing and the rice value chain, agreeing to maintain coordination on potential cooperation in these areas.

The two sides reaffirmed their broader strategic partnership and welcomed an invitation to participate in the 43rd Saudi Agriculture Exhibition, scheduled to be held in Riyadh from October 19 to 22, 2026.

Both sides expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the Saudi delegation’s visit and agreed to maintain engagement to translate the understandings reached into practical cooperation.