Against a bullish consumer sector outlook benefiting from the Kingdom's ongoing economic growth, the Saudi Agriculture 2015 was inaugurated Sunday (Oct. 11) by Eng. Abdullrahman Bin Abdullmohsen Al-Fadhli, the Saudi Minister of Agriculture, in the presence of senior officials representing the sector. With a youthful population that is increasingly susceptible to Western consumer trends, Saudi Arabia is a good regional point for investors seeking long-term volume growth. Saudi Arabia continues to boost the local agricultural sector because of its great economic importance as a key pillar in achieving food security to reach the level of self-sufficiency. Al Fadhli said: "I'm glad to inaugurate the Saudi Exhibition today and I'm glad to realize that more than 350 exhibitors are present this year which is more than last edition of the expo by around 10%. This shows that the agriculture industry is important and grabbing the local and the international interest. The Saudi agriculture industry is one of the important industries in the kingdom and contributes in providing food security to the kingdom. Such events are also important in order to raise awareness about the sector and the production levels as well as decreasing costs and improving services to consumers." Industry players emphasize on the need for platforms to discuss key issues, discover new business and investment opportunities, and interact with major stakeholders. So, participating at the event gives the opportunity to directly engage with industry professionals and prospects. Saudi Agriculture 2015, which runs until Oct. 14, acts as a strategic platform for the exchange of experiences and knowledge among decision-makers, strengthening the bonds of cooperation and partnerships between stakeholders from different countries. More than 350 specialized exhibitors from the Middle East, Europe, the Americas and Asia, in addition to local companies are showcasing the latest in agricultural products, services and equipment. In addition, the exhibition reviews the latest products, equipment and related services for the agricultural sector, reflecting the most prominent trends and developments in the global market in general and the Saudi market in particular. The event is concurrently held with the Saudi Agriculture - The 34th International Trade Show for Agriculture, Water & Agro-Industry, and The Saudi Food-Pack - The 5th International Trade Exhibition for Food Processing & Packaging Technologies. With 33 years of accumulated experience and high standing, the highly specialized and acclaimed Saudi Agriculture is one of the region's most important agriculture exhibitions, addressing every aspect of the industry. The Saudi Food-Pack showcases a vast array of equipment and solutions from manufacturers and distributors of tools, machinery and services that are essential for food production and packing, as well as their display in stores and outlets. The Saudi Agriculture, the Middle East's largest agricultural show, was organized by Riyadh Exhibitions Co. Ltd. (REC) under the auspices of the Saudi Ministry of Agriculture. Fakieh Poultry and Arabian Agricultural Services Company (ARASCO) are the Diamond Sponsors of the event being supported by the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry as its Strategic Partner. — SG
