The agreements focus on advancing technologies in the environmental, water, and agricultural sectors
Saudi Arabia and the Netherlands have formalized several agreements and memoranda of understanding (MoU) with investments surpassing SAR428 million ($114.1 million) in Amsterdam.
These agreements were established between various Saudi and Dutch companies, aimed at advancing and localizing modern technologies in the environmental, water, and agricultural sectors, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.
During his recent visit to the Netherlands, Saudi Deputy Minister of Environment, Water, and Agriculture Eng. Mansour Al-Mushaiti attended the signing ceremony, which featured 27 agreements and MoUs. The event was graced by several Dutch government officials, along with senior executives and business leaders from both public and private sectors.
Among the key agreements was a MoU between the Saudi National Program for the Development of the Livestock and Fisheries Sector and the Dutch company VigGuard, aimed at driving collaboration to localize livestock disease control research. Additional MoUs were signed involving the National Center for Sustainable Agriculture Research and Development, the Dutch Greenhouse Alliance, as well as companies like Hoogendoorn, Hudson River Biotechnology, and Wageningen University. These agreements will initiate projects in agricultural technology and research, while also establishing partnerships for capacity-building in agricultural innovation, greenhouse farming solutions, and green biotechnology.
Read more: Saudi Arabia, China strengthen financial cooperation in tax policy and capital markets
Investment in crop protection biotechnology
The partnerships also encompassed a MoU between the National Agricultural Services Company and Delphi to boost agricultural innovation. Further MoUs were finalized between the Makkah Region Development Authority, Van der Hoeven Projects for Protected Agriculture and Horticulture, and Horizon 11, focusing on the transfer and localization of biotechnology.
A notable MoU was signed between Al-Yasin Agricultural Company and the Cobret Experimental Center, establishing a partnership valued at up to one million euros to promote biotechnology in crop protection and control. Another MoU was executed between the Saudi Greenhouse Management and Agricultural Marketing Company and Plantae and Certhon, aimed at investing in the localization of innovations within the agricultural sector.
Additionally, a memorandum of understanding was signed involving the Lehaa Group of Companies for Trade and Agricultural Investment, the Dutch Royal HZPC Group, and the Gal Sahara Potato Production Company, with investments exceeding SR76 million. This collaboration will enhance potato production in the Kingdom, alongside the establishment of a French fries factory equipped with state-of-the-art processing technologies.
Eng. Mansour Al-Mushaiti also observed the signing of six MoUs between Dafa Agricultural Company and various firms specializing in vegetables, fruits, fertilizers, greenhouses, and software project supply, with investments totaling over SR292 million.
This visit is significant, aligning with the strategic plans and vision of the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture to enhance the global capacity of the Saudi agricultural sector. It aims to expand the production and export of local agricultural products, promote increased trade volume between the Kingdom and the Netherlands, and strengthen international partnerships, all contributing to the objectives of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.