Pakistan and Saudi Arabia Forge $3 Billion Agricultural Export Agreement

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have agreed to expand their agricultural and food trade to $3 billion within the next two years, according to a joint statement reported by Anadolu.

The agreement was reached following high-level talks between Saudi Arabia’s Agriculture Ministry and Pakistan’s Food Security Ministry, initiated by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

This development comes after a Saudi delegation, led by Environment, Water and Agriculture Minister Abdulrahman A. Alfadley, visited Islamabad. The Pakistani side was led by National Food Security and Research Minister Rana Tanvir Hussain.

Prime Minister Sharif also met with the Saudi delegation to discuss potential areas for enhancing bilateral cooperation.

Both sides identified priority sectors for trade and investment, including rice, red meat, fruits and fruit concentrates, green fodder, and water-efficient agricultural technologies, with a focus on private sector collaboration.

Pakistan supplied approximately 169,000 tons of rice, valued at $163 million, to Saudi Arabia in 2025. The Saudi side expressed a strong interest in further increasing bilateral rice trade.

The parties also reviewed Pakistan’s annual red meat exports of around 30,000 tons, worth about $167 million, with Saudi Arabia aiming to gradually double its imports.

Green fodder was highlighted as a key area for expanding trade and developing long-term supply partnerships.

Investment proposals from Pakistan’s private sector in livestock, agri-food processing, and the rice value chain were discussed, with both sides agreeing to maintain coordination to advance these projects.

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia reaffirmed their longstanding strategic ties, emphasizing the alignment between Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 food security priorities and Pakistan’s agricultural export potential.

The two nations have recently bolstered their defense and economic cooperation, including signing a strategic mutual defense agreement last year and a Mecca Joint Defense Agreement with Turkiye earlier this month.

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