Saudi Arabia: Governor of Al-Ahsa and Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Inaugurate the First Session of the First International Forum for Saudi Reef in Al-Ahsa
Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia, December 16, 2024: The opening day of the 1st International Forum for Saudi Reef was a success, held in Al-Ahsa under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Saud bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz, Governor of the Eastern Province. The Forum’s first-ever panel session was led by His Royal Highness Prince Saud bin Talal bin Badr, Governor of Al-Ahsa, and His Excellency Eng. Abdulrahman bin Abdulmohsen Al-Fadley, Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture, discussing “The Rural Community and Its Role in Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and Saudi Vision 2030.”
During the event, His Highness, accompanied by Minister Al-Fadley, received the Guinness World Records certificate awarded to the International Forum for Saudi Reef for achieving the record for the largest number of attendees in a single day at an agricultural forum worldwide. His Highness also witnessed the signing of six Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) between “Saudi Reef” and various governmental and private entities, aimed at enhancing the program’s efforts and its partners in developing and sustaining the Saudi countryside.
The agreements were signed with the following entities: the Saudi Food and Drug Authority, aimed at enhancing food safety and raising awareness about food security in rural areas; the Culinary Arts Authority, aimed at developing and enhancing rural skills in the field of culinary arts and supporting the local economy; the King Khalid Foundation, aimed at strengthening developmental partnerships and supporting sustainable rural initiatives; the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation, aimed at developing specialized training programs to support farmers and workers in the rural sector; the National Agricultural Development Company (NADEC), aimed at improving the quality of agricultural production and enhancing supply chains in the agricultural sector; and Dan Company, a Public Investment Fund company aimed at improving the rural environment and promoting agricultural tourism.
In his opening remarks, the Governor of Al-Ahsa emphasized the Forum’s role in promoting rural development, noting that 60% of the Kingdom’s population is under 30 and that women make up 43% of the agricultural workforce. He highlighted the Kingdom’s efforts to empower women and youth through supportive legislation and work environments, contributing to sustainable development goals.
For his part, His Excellency Eng. Abdulrahman bin Abdulmohsen Al-Fadley, Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture, stated that the ministry’s programs come within the framework of achieving the targets of Saudi Vision 2030, where rural and agricultural development represents a pivotal part of the national goals. He stressed that the “Saudi Reef” program is characterized by its direct access to citizens in their regions, contributing to enhancing social stability and improving the quality of life.
His Excellency explained that rural development programs are based on studying the comparative advantages of each region in the Kingdom, allowing for the design of initiatives that match the diversity of climate and environment, adding that the program has enabled more than 80,000 beneficiaries and supported the achievement of sustainable development by focusing on environmental, agricultural, and food-related aspects. The session concluded by emphasizing the importance of integrating efforts and programs to achieve rural development goals. His Excellency emphasized the role that rural communities play in achieving food security and economic sustainability, in line with the objectives of Vision 2030.
The First International Forum for Saudi Reef serves as a global platform that brings together elite experts and decision-makers to exchange experiences and showcase best practices in rural development; aiming to empower rural communities, enhance innovation in the agricultural sector, and achieve environmental and economic sustainability, in line with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 in building a prosperous and sustainable future for Saudi rural areas.
