Many agricultural products exported to Saudi Arabia have double-digit growth.

In the first 9 months of 2024, many key agricultural products exported to Saudi Arabia grew strongly, of which vegetables, rice, and pepper recorded double-digit growth.

On the occasion of the official visit of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh On October 29, 2024, the delegation of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam led by Deputy Minister Hoang Trung had a working session with the General Food and Drug Administration of Saudi Arabia (SFDA). Receiving the delegation of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development were Hishsam S. Aljadhey - Director General of SFDA and colleagues.

Export of fruits and vegetables to the Saudi Arabian market in the first 9 months of 2024 reached 10.9 million USD, an increase of 51.4%

At the meeting, Deputy Minister Hoang Trung highly appreciated the active cooperation of the Saudi Arabian management agencies, especially the SFDA, in recent times to promote agricultural, forestry and fishery trade between the two countries. Vietnam always recognizes Saudi Arabia as a large market and one of Vietnam's important partners in the Middle East region.

Most items agriculture, forestry and fishery Key exports to the Saudi Arabian market all grew strongly in the first 9 months of 2024, especially vegetables (10.9 million USD, up 51.4%), rice (22.7 million USD, up 43.7%), pepper (12.5 million USD, up 34%); only seafood products had a slight decline (59.1 million USD, down 0.2%).

On the basis of good cooperation and to promote agricultural, forestry and fishery export turnover between the two countries, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Hoang Trung requested SFDA to consider soon removing Directive No. 21174 dated January 23, 2018 on temporarily suspending the import of farmed aquatic products from Vietnam.

Mr. Hishsam S. Aljadhey affirmed that he will send a technical delegation to Vietnam to assess the actual food safety control system for the aquaculture production chain as soon as possible to have a basis to remove the entire temporary suspension of imports of aquaculture products from Vietnam.

Deputy Minister Hoang Trung works with the General Department of Food and Drug Administration of Saudi Arabia

Also at the meeting, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Hoang Trung shared information about the National Halal Conference with the theme "Promoting internal strength, enhancing international cooperation to promote the development of Vietnam's Halal industry" chaired by the Prime Minister and held on October 22, 2024. The Embassy and partners of Saudi Arabia in Vietnam also attended the Conference and shared very useful regulations and experiences for Vietnamese state management agencies and enterprises.

Within the framework of international economic cooperation, the Halal market is opening up many great cooperation opportunities with outstanding potentials. The global Halal market is forecast to reach a size of up to 10 trillion USD by 2028, spreading across the world, from Muslim to non-Muslim countries, in which the Muslim population is forecast to reach 2.8 billion people by 2050, accounting for nearly 30% of the global population.

Vietnam wishes to cooperate with Saudi Arabia in the production and certification of Halal products. Deputy Minister Hoang Trung asked Saudi Arabia to provide market and taste information to promote Vietnamese agricultural products to access the Halal food market in Saudi Arabia. He also asked SFDA to share policies and regulations on mutual recognition of Halal certification, focusing on agricultural, aquatic and livestock products.

Hishsam S. Aljadhey said that the Saudi Arabian Government is implementing the Vision 2030 Strategy, which focuses on diversifying food supplies. Therefore, cooperation on Halal products With Vietnam, especially agricultural, forestry and fishery products, is one of the top priorities of Saudi Arabia.

SFDA is willing to share its experience and regulations on Halal certification with the Vietnamese regulatory agency. Hishsam S. Aljadhey suggested that the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development consider signing a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in this field with Saudi Arabia.

Deputy Minister Hoang Trung agreed with SFDA's initiative and will direct agencies under the Ministry to exchange and discuss specifically with the Saudi Arabian Embassy in Vietnam and SFDA about the above proposal.

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