JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia currently imports fruits and vegetables from more than 40 countries around the world including Iran. But after the call from some businessmen to boycott all goods from Iran, Saudi businessmen have stopped accepting products from the country.

According to a report released recently, Saudi Arabia imports up to SR50 million worth of agricultural products annually from Iran. However, investors have confirmed that they have stopped dealing with Iran based on the Kingdom’s decision to break diplomatic ties with the state.

Mohammed Abdullah Sharbatly, a member of the Trade Committee at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Deputy CEO of Abdullah Sharbatly Company, said that although the Kingdom imports such a high volume of goods from Iran annually, the break in diplomatic ties will not affect the Saudi fruit and vegetable market. He said that the Kingdom imports goods from around 40 countries worldwide, and the Saudi market is characterized by diversity and steady growth, which is expected to continue to bring an annual growth of more than 5 percent. Sharbatly welcomed the decision to boycott Iranian products, including apples, watermelons, pomegranates, kiwis and pears and expreseds solidarity with the government.

He pointed to the existence of a wide range of products in the Saudi market, with fruit imports from countries such as South Africa, Egypt, Chile, the Philippines, Lebanon, India, Pakistan, France and the United States, and said that there is also great product diversity, with more than 200 varieties of fruits including bananas, apples and oranges, which account for about 40 percent of the fruit market.

He explained that during Ramadan and Haj seasons the demand for fruits increases 35 percent as compared to the rest of the year.

He also emphasised the involvement of Saudi youth in the sector to boost the Kingdom’s economy, as youth’s involvement is expected to bring positive gains with regard to economic profits, adding that an entrepreneurial culture should be established to give training to youth to help involve them in the market.