Business & Money | Friday 30 August, 2019 6:00 am |

Saudi Arabia is to pump $2 million (SR7.5 million) into efforts to improve agricultural output and food security among Muslim countries.
The Kingdom’s Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Abdulrahman Al-Fadhli, who is also chairman of the general assembly of the Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS), said the contribution was aimed at enhancing the organization’s work and the adoption of food security strategies by all its member countries.
Al-Fadhli’s announcement of the funding came during the second session of the IOFS’ general assembly in Jeddah. The minister said that Saudi Arabia attached great importance to agricultural development, environment and food security in all its policies relating to national, regional and global food security.
Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Dr. Yousef Al-Othaimeen said that the organization was working to implement a comprehensive policy to develop agricultural products and food security and improve Islamic environmental cooperation in the food and agriculture sectors.
He added that food security was one of the highest priorities of the OIC, particularly as the economies of most of its member states were based on agriculture, with the sector accounting for about 12 percent of their GDP.
Al-Othaimeen thanked the government of Saudi Arabia under the leadership of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for hosting the meeting in Jeddah and for the Kingdom’s $2 million donation to support the work of the IOFS.