News in Brief:
– Nigeria’s Agriculture Minister hosted his Saudi Arabian counterpart for a high-level visit and business roundtable.
– The discussions aim to strengthen collaboration in areas like irrigation, livestock, and trade, promoting mutual investment and agricultural development
In a bid to strengthen bilateral relations, as well as boost the agricultural fortunes of the host nation, Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture and Food Security recently welcomed His Excellency, Engineer Abdulrahman Abdulmohsen A. AlFadley, the Minister of Environment, Water, and Agriculture of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and his delegation to the Ministry’s headquarters.
This visits places emphasis on agricultural development and food security by both nations. Receiving his Saudi Arabian counterpart, Nigeria’s agriculture minister, Senator Abubakar Kyari noted that the visit underscored the enduring and strong bilateral relations between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia.
He further commended the visionary leadership of His Royal Highness King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud.
Senator Kyari disclosed that this high-level engagement signifies a shared commitment to fostering agricultural cooperation for mutual benefit.
Also, he added that the visit is a follow up to previous interactions during a Nigerian delegation’s visit to Saudi Arabia, which he described as productive.
Roundtable discussion a catalyst for collaboration
Significantly, a key component of the visit is a business roundtable discussion designed to propel agricultural collaboration between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia.
This platform will bring together stakeholders from both nations to explore potential areas of partnership and collaboration.
Expected Benefits of the Roundtable include:
- Identifying Areas of Cooperation: The roundtable discussion is expected to identify promising avenues for collaboration in areas such as irrigation, livestock management, and value-added agricultural products.
- Boosting Agricultural Trade: The discussions aim to pave the way for increased agricultural trade between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia. This would benefit both nations by creating new markets for their agricultural products.
- Encouraging Investment: The roundtable is expected to foster a conducive environment for reciprocal investment in the agricultural sectors of both countries. This would unlock new sources of funding and expertise for agricultural development.
Overall, the Nigerian minister expressed his hope that the engagement between the Saudi delegation and Nigeria’s business community will lead to the development of strong partnerships that will propel agricultural cooperation forward.
