Shoura Council Secretary-General Muhammad Al-Ghamdi told newsmen the draft maritime law contains 23 articles designed to preserve the sovereignty and security of the Kingdom. The law includes the demarcation of shipping routes in waters off the Kingdom's shores.
The draft law is based on the guidelines of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea which the Kingdom joined in 1992.
Sunday's session also recommended the agricultural sector be further improved following the presentation of the Ministry of Agriculture's annual report to the Shoura's Water Resources Committee. The Shoura then discussed related issues such as food security, assistance to farmers, irrigation and arable land use.
The members felt that there should be a definite plan to develop agriculture during the next two decades. It was also suggested that the Kingdom must make use of its membership at the World Trade Organization to develop its agricultural sector and its national economy.
Stressing the need for allocation of more funds to develop agriculture, the members also suggested that the National Center for Research on Agriculture and Livestock and its affiliated centers carry out scientific research to identify new domestic agricultural projects.
