The Kingdom of Norway has expressed its interest to be part of the overall development plan for the aquaculture sector in Saudi Arabia, which aims to achieve total aquaculture production of 600,000 tons by 2030. The Norwegian Embassy is working to create an appropriate business environment and help Norwegian companies to discover investment opportunities in aquaculture sector in the Kingdom in cooperation with the National Fisheries Development Program and Saudi Aquaculture Society in line with the vision of the Kingdom 2030. As the sector is witnessing more investments to reach this goal according to plans adopted by the National Fisheries Development Program.

In this context, The Director General of the General Directorate of Fisheries & the CEO of the National Fisheries Development Program, Dr. Ali Bin Mohammed Alshaikhi, welcomed H.E. the Norwegian Ambassador in Saudi Arabia Oivend Stoke at the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture in Riyadh on May 15th, 2018. The meeting discussed prospects for cooperation between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Kingdom of Norway in the fields of aquaculture such as floating cages, closed systems, fish processing and opening new markets.

H.E. the Norwegian Ambassador expressed desire of companies from Norway to participate in the overall development of the sector and to transfer technology, which made Norway one of the best countries in the word in field of fish production in floating cage systems.

The Director General of the General Directorate of Fisheries & the CEO of the National Fisheries Development Program, Dr. Ali Bin Mohammed Alshaikhi expressed his thanks to the Norwegian Ambassador and expressed his happiness with this cooperation. He also confirmed that Norway was one of the first countries to enter Saudi market through the cooperation of one of the largest Norwegian companies for supplying floating cages equipment with one of the largest Saudi projects.

H.E. the Norwegian Ambassador also added that the Kingdom of Norway and the Norwegian companies had the largest presence in Yanbu Forum for investment opportunities in aquaculture held in January 2016, which included a meeting between Saudi investors and Norwegian companies sponsored by the Norwegian Embassy.

From his side, Dr. Ali Alshaikhi assured the supporting of National Fisheries Development Program to all Norwegian companies desiring to enter Saudi market, hoping to continue holding meetings between the two countries and adding that he wishes to see the Norwegian companies play a major role in supporting the development of fisheries sector in Saudi Arabia.