RIYADH – Saudi Arabia's food consumption is expected to grow by 4.2 percent between 2011 and 2015, driven by factors such as rising income levels, population growth, lifestyle shifts, and a thriving domestic economy. The Saudi government has already allocated around $15 billion for the agricultural sector this year for projects and initiatives aimed at meeting demand. It is also encouraging more rapport and collaboration between the public and private sectors to ensure that food needs are satisfied as the Kingdom – the Middle East's largest individual food importer and the largest market in the region for agro-food products and technologies – pursues its development targets through 2020. Saudi Arabia's state grains authority Grain Silos & Flour Mills Organization (GSFMO) has issued an international tender to purchase 660,000 tons of hard wheat, European traders said Friday. The tender deadline was yesterday (Aug. 24) and offers must remain valid up to Monday, August 26, traders said. The tender sought wheat with a minimum 12.5 percent protein, traders said. Some 330,000 tons was sought for shipment to the port of Jeddah and 330,000 tons to the port of Dammam. Six shipments of 55,000 tons were sought for each port in stages from Nov. 1 to Dec. 30. In its last reported tender on June 3, Saudi Arabia bought410,000 tons of hard wheat and 115,000 tons of soft wheat for shipment between September and October. Saudi Arabia has become a major importer of both hard and soft wheat after abandoning plans for self-sufficiency in wheat in 2008 as farming in the desert used huge volumes of precious water. It aims steadily to reduce agriculture and plans to be completely reliant on imports by 2016 in order to save water. “A good quality of life for its residents is topmost in KSA's development agenda for the next decade. Food security is thus of high priority and as usual, Saudi Agriculture will serve as a major platform for discussing, exploring and directing the future of the Kingdom's agricultural sector. This year's show has an exceptional lineup of agricultural products, services and equipment that are sure to satisfy the high expectations of participants,” said Zeyad Al Rukban, Assistant General Manager, Riyadh Exhibitions Company. Against this backdrop, the upcoming Saudi Agriculture 2013 to be held on Sept. 15-18 at the Riyadh International Convention & Exhibition Centre – – the 32nd International Agriculture, Water and Agro-Industry Show – will showcase a wide spectrum of agricultural services, techniques and products crucial to nurturing the Kingdom's agricultural sector. Regarded as the Middle East's largest agriculture exhibition, Saudi Agriculture's 2013 edition is accredited by UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry. Last year's show logged a total of 643 exhibitors from 35 countries and nearly 16,735 visitors' all eager to capitalize the market potential of the Kingdom's 28 million food consumers. Running concurrently with Saudi Agriculture 2013 is Saudi Agro-Food 2013 – The 20th International Trade Show for Food Products, Processing and Packaging Technologies. The first half of September 2013 will thus see KSA brimming with partnership and growth opportunities covering the agriculture, food, processing and packaging segments, all available under one roof. More information on both events is available at http://www.saudi-agriculture.com. — SG
