Saudi Arabia’s agriculture and food sectors are expected to sustain a combined annual growth of 18.5 percent, driven by a rising population and strong consumer spending.

Food sales in the Kingdom account for around half of the domestic retail market and are expected to be worth almost $70 billion (SR262.5 billion) by 2016. Industry players emphasize the need for platforms to discuss key issues, discover new business and investment opportunities, and interact with major stakeholders.

A Saudi man shops at a supermarket in Jeddah. (AN photo by Khaled Al-Khamees)

The upcoming Saudi Agriculture 2013, the 32nd international agriculture, water and agro-industry show, and Saudi Agro-Food 2013, the 20th international trade show for food products, processing and packaging technologies, will unveil the latest products, practices and techniques to meet the Kingdom’s surging food demands.

The concurrent exhibitions represent the biggest business-to-business agriculture and agro-food event in the Middle East and will run from Sept. 15 to 18 at the Riyadh International Convention & Exhibition Centre. Another related platform, Saudi Food-Pack 2013, the 2nd international exhibition for food processing and packaging, will run alongside the two shows as well.

Saudi Agriculture draws exhibitors from Saudi Arabia and the rest of the Middle East, Europe, the Americas and Asia to its wealth of networking and business-to-business opportunities. More than a trade platform, Saudi Agriculture also contributes solutions and techniques for the Saudi government to consider as part of the Kingdom’s food security and self-sufficiency strategies. Saudi Agriculture 2013 will be held with the support of the Ministry of Agriculture and is accredited by UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry.

“These are crucial times as far as the Kingdom’s agriculture and food sectors are concerned. Saudi food requirements are rising to an all-time high, the government is intensifying efforts to come up with sound food security measures, and consumers with increasing spending power are demanding more diversity and quality. Saudi Agriculture 2013 and its associated events offer a timely, strategic meeting place to discuss and address vital issues, find out the latest and best trade solutions, and direct sustained and efficient industry growth,” said Zeyad Al-Rukban, AGM, Riyadh Exhibitions Company.

 *This article was published by ArabNews. Read the original article here.