The government and private sectors cooperate to ensure food security

Through the supply chain, 60,000 tons of barley were delivered

The National Shipping Company of Saudi Arabia “Bahri” has announced today, that its tanker “SARA”, which weighs 60 thousand tons of barley, has arrived at the Jeddah Islamic Port, coming from the Australian port of Bunbury. After the Agricultural Development Fund funded the supply contract concluded between Mansour Al-Mosaid Company and the Saudi Agricultural and Livestock Investment Company “SALIC”, the shipment was received by several officials from the concerned parts.

On this occasion, the CEO of Bahri, Eng. Ahmed bin Ali Al-Subaey said: “Providing staple grains such as barley, wheat, and corn to Saudi Arabia is one of our greatest accomplishments as part of the supply chain. The modern tanker carrier “SARA” is one of several ships added to Bahri’s cargo fleet to meet the needs of customers in the Kingdom and the region as well as Saudi companies seeking to import these important commodities. Which will contribute to enhance food security, one of the main objectives of Saudi Vision 2030."

As for the SALIC Group CEO, Eng. Sulaiman bin Abdulrahman Al-Rumaih said: “The contracting project and the arrival of the shipment, which consists of 60,000 tons of barley, is an important milestone in local food security since efforts have been integrated between three national companies to achieve and ensure food security following the Vision 2030 objectives, an extension of the "SALIC" role in empowering the local agriculture industry. According to Al-Rumaih, "SALIC," through its global investments, contributed to achieving the national goals for food security in strategic commodities by receiving over one million and three hundred thousand tons of commodities and products in the Kingdom during the year 2022.

In the same context, Mr. Munir Bin Fahd Al-Sahli, General Manager of the Agricultural Development Fund, confirmed: “The funding comes within the fund's initiative to finance the import of agricultural products targeted in the food security strategy, in line with its objectives of supporting and developing the agricultural sector, strengthening and stabilizing the food security system, maintaining agricultural activities, contributing to the continuation of supply chains, and compensating for any shortages which may occur in Commodities and products. Also, he is assuring that the fund is continuing to implement this initiative and is receiving funding requests to support agricultural supply chains, logistics services, and other needs.”

Similarly, Mr. Ahmed bin Mansour Al-Sudairy, Chairman of Mansour Al-Mosaid Company, said: “Over the past forty years, Mansour Al-Mosaid Company has played a key role in importing and trading barley in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and we are delighted to cooperate with two of the Kingdom's largest companies. we affirm our commitment to supporting joint efforts to achieving the Kingdom's Vision 2030 goals, particularly ensuring food security, and creating stability in the agricultural sector.”

It is worth noting that this cooperation between SALIC and Bahri companies is the second of its kind after their strategic partnership in 2020 AD in the establishment of the National Grain Company to establish a Yanbu grain handling station in Yanbu Commercial Port and comes in the context of maximizing the added value of the Public Investment Fund companies, which wholly owns SALIC and 22. 55% of Bahri.