Riyadh, November 18, 2024, SPA — Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Abdulrahman Alfadley affirmed that the Kingdom’s participation in the G20 Summit in Brazil stems from its regional and international role in development and environmental issues.
In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) coinciding with Saudi Arabia’s participation in the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Brazil, Alfadley highlighted Saudi Arabia’s leading role in supporting the group’s efforts to achieve its goals regarding food security, sustainable development, environment, and climate change.
He underlined the Kingdom’s contributions to promoting balanced perspectives on agriculture, food security, labour markets, and the digital economy, among other topics.
The minister said that within the G20, the Kingdom has focused on enhancing international cooperation, promoting sustainable development, and fostering innovation in various sectors. These endeavours aim to ensure that the G20 Summit achieves its objectives, especially as it brings together representatives of the world’s major economic powers.
He emphasized the Kingdom’s particular attention to food security, agricultural trade, food price stability, trade restrictions on supply chains and production inputs, and rural development, which contribute to achieving comprehensive and sustainable global economic stability.
Alfadley pointed out the topics discussed during the G20 Agriculture Ministers’ meetings, including sustainable agriculture, diverse food systems, and enhancing global trade’s contribution to food security.
The meetings also addressed elevating the essential role of family farming, smallholders, and local communities in building healthy and comprehensive sustainable food systems and promoting the integration of sustainable fisheries and aquaculture in local and global value chains.
Moreover, he stated that Saudi Arabia has set a global example in presenting water issues internationally through initiatives such as the G20 Water Platform and the Global Water Organization. He noted that the Kingdom continues to enhance its role in addressing global water security challenges worldwide.
The minister emphasized the efforts made by Saudi Arabia in addressing food security challenges, with the ministry implementing several strategies and programs to remove obstacles facing sustainable agricultural development and food security, including the Sustainable Agricultural Rural Development Program. The program aims to empower small farmers and rural communities to increase their production rates, which has significantly impacted over 120,000 beneficiaries in 2023 and continues to target reaching over 200,000 beneficiaries by 2026. The ministry has also worked to facilitate access to financing and increase it by an average of 75% over the past four years to enhance agricultural activities, leading to a 35% increase in the Kingdom’s agricultural GDP.
Alfadley affirmed that the Kingdom and its partners have allocated an initial $10 billion contribution through the Arab Coordination Group (ACG) institutions to respond to food security challenges, which aligns with the Roadmap for Global Food Security–Call to Action objectives.
Additionally, the minister said that the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) has concluded over 900 food security projects in 78 countries worldwide. The Kingdom has also allocated financial support to promote agricultural investment abroad in countries with relative advantages, high production capacity, and abundant natural resources. These endeavours aim to achieve mutual development and enhance global food security.
Meanwhile, he emphasized that Saudi Vision 2030 aligns with the core objectives of the G20. The vision is centred around three themes: a vibrant society, a thriving economy, and an ambitious nation.
He underscored that the vision aims to enhance human capital, attract investments, preserve and sustainably develop the environment and natural resources, and contribute to achieving sustainable food and nutritional security.
The minister confirmed that the Kingdom’s participation in the G20 Summit aligns with the objectives of Vision 2030, aiming to enhance innovation and increase the contribution of small and medium enterprises to the national economy.
He also noted that the Kingdom aims to play a pivotal role in promoting entrepreneurship globally and exchange experiences with G20 countries to build a thriving and sustainable Saudi economy based on knowledge and innovation.
