Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Eng. Bandar Alkhorayef opened the first edition of the Saudi Food Show 2023 at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center. The show drew strong turnout from hospitality and food and beverage professionals in the Kingdom, with 500 exhibiting companies from 100 countries taking part.

In his opening speech, the minister stressed that food security is one of the most important pillars of Saudi Vision 2030, noting that the food industry is among the most important target sectors in the National Industrial Strategy.

He explained that Saudi Vision 2030 has created an outstanding model for identifying local needs and building on strengths, enabling the Kingdom to become a true partner to the world by supplying many industrial products, led by food products, and to become an important hub for building industrial capacity, serving the local market and reaching global markets.

He added that the National Industrial Strategy has focused on food and pharmaceutical security through a large package of incentives and facilities, most notably ensuring the availability of industrial sites and clusters and financing industrial, agricultural and logistics projects, to help create more investment opportunities in the food industry and meet the needs of Saudi consumers.

Saudi Arabia was one of the fastest-growing economies in 2022, creating distinctive opportunities in the food and beverage sector, as reflected in the number of participants the show attracted. Hundreds of global brands are taking part in the Saudi Food Show across 20,000 square meters, including Pepsi, Americana, Al Jameel, Lactalis, Gulf West, Seara Foods, IFFCO and NADEC.

The Saudi Food Show 2023 was launched through a strategic partnership between the Saudi Authority for Industrial Cities and Technology Zones (MODON) and Kaoun International, the organizer of Gulfood, the largest specialized food and beverage exhibition, to build on the global standing of a show that has earned the trust and loyalty of the food and beverage sector over three decades.