JEDDAH, 26 February 2006 — Saudi Arabia’s stringent measures to import agricultural products, especially with the outbreak of bird flu in certain countries, were outlined at a meeting here yesterday.
“Our import regulations are strictly implemented and we make no compromise in our agricultural and other imports,” Minister of Agriculture & Fisheries Fahd ibn Abdulrahman told a seminar on “Malaysia-Saudi Arabia investment opportunities in agriculture and agro-based industry,” at the Jeddah Marriott. His Malaysian counterpart Muhyiddin ibn Mohamed Yasin was present with a delegation of businessmen at the event presided over by Jeddah Chamber of Commerce & Industry Vice Chairman Mazen Batterjee. Malaysian Ambassador Dr. Ismail Haji Ibrahim and Abi Musa Ashaari, secretary general of the Malaysian Ministry of Agriculture, were among those present.
“Agriculture is given foremost priority, and our agriculture and agro industries have been making tremendous progress,” Abdulrahman said and identified aqua culture, poultry and agro industries among the areas that the overseas investors could find “useful and rewarding.”
The Malaysian agriculture and agro industries minister, who is scheduled to oversee some of the memorandums of understanding between the members of the private sectors of the two countries, in his keynote address listed the precautions against bird flu in his country.
“There is a recurrence of bird flu in a small way, but it is localized. The flu has not affected human beings,” he said, adding that his country was taking all precautions as some of its neighboring countries had the recurrence of the problem.
“We’ve the protocol set for dealing with such problems at the production level itself,” the minister said.
He emphasized that many farmers in his country were resorting to organic farming. “Going organic doesn’t mean that the products will become costly. It only means replacing some of the chemical fertilizers in use,” he added.
Malaysia, which gets over 124,000 visitors annually from the Kingdom, is rapidly becoming the regional hub for many types of cuisine. And so I wish to see many of our Malaysian fast-food franchises opening here, he said.
Visiting businessmen are here to discuss with their Saudi counterparts all aspects of the export of Malaysian agricultural produce and food products to the Kingdom, or sourcing from the Kingdom agricultural inputs and technology. “They may also discuss joint venture projects in Malaysia,” he added. “As Malaysia’s second biggest trading partner in the Middle East for many years, we strongly believe that the Kingdom has the capacity to be our biggest and most pertinent investor in our agriculture and agro-based industry. Moreover, Saudi businessmen have the financial strength and power to invest in potentially high lucrative business with Malaysian partners,” Yasin said.
The country aims to be the region’s halal food hub with its mission to become the main exporter of Malaysian-made halal products to the Middle East, Central Asia and Africa.
The Malaysian minister said that his ministry was opening seven agricultural offices worldwide. The agricultural offices are meant to facilitate businessmen and conduct promotions and market research.
A Malaysian Center (Markaz Malaysia) is being opened at Al-Shougiyah, opposite Almustahlik (Abu Harb) in Makkah tomorrow, according to Abdullah Abdul Aziz Alqabbaa of the Al Qabbaa Group with the support of the Malaysian Consulate and its commercial section (MATRADE).