The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Riyadh, in collaboration with the Coconut Development Authority of Sri Lanka, facilitated the participation of ten Sri Lankan companies manufacturing coconut-based products, in the 41^st edition of the Saudi Agriculture Expo 2024, for the first time. The event was held in Riyadh from 21 to 24 October 2024. Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Ameer Ajwad officially inaugurated the Sri Lanka pavilion at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center.

Addressing the gathering, Ambassador Ameer Ajwad pointed out that the participation of a large number of Sri Lankan companies manufacturing coconut-based products in the well renowned and recurrent Saudi Agriculture Expo in the Middle East region was a significant breakthrough. The Ambassador also urged other companies in the Sri Lankan Agriculture sector to make use of the opportunity to showcase their products in the years to come. He stressed that such participation would immensely help to boost Sri Lanka’s export products at international markets and facilitate the expansion of Sri Lanka export basket. Further, the Ambassador underscored the relevance of the participation of Sri Lankan companies that export coco peat in the Saudi Agriculture Expo, in the light of Saudi Arabia’s ambitious ‘Green Initiative’ which aims to plant 10 million trees as part of its Vision 2030. Sri Lanka’s high-quality coco peat, a preferred growing medium in arid climates, could be promoted to support such green initiatives.

At the invitation of the Ambassador, Prince Mutab bin Fahd bin Farhan, Advisor to the Chairman of the Board of Directors of King Abdulaziz Reserve and King Salman Reserve, Assistant Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Environment and Agriculture of Saudi Arabia, Dr. Ali Alshaikhi and the Vice President of the Federation of Chambers of Saudi Arabia and the Chairman of Saudi NAF Group of companies, Fayez Al-Shaheeli visited the Sri Lanka pavilion and held productive discussions.

Further, the Sri Lankan trade delegation also had a networking session with representatives of the Saudi Green Building Forum, on the sidelines of the Expo. Ambassador Ameer Ajwad hosted a luncheon in honour of the Sri Lanka trade delegation to the Saudi Agriculture Expo and held a session to receive the feedback of the delegation.

More than 370 exhibitors from 29 countries participated in the 41^st edition of Saudi Agriculture Expo where leading Agri-sector companies from all around the globe participated to showcase their products, particularly those involving cutting-edge technologies and solutions in the agriculture sector. Insightful conferences and discussions led by industry experts and entrepreneurs had been organized as part of the Expo for networking and to create new trade opportunities among the participants from the agricultural sector.

Sri Lankan companies who participated in the Saudi Agriculture Expo 2024 were Dew Cocos Lanka (Pvt) Ltd., Earthscape (Pvt) Ltd., Eco Soil Substrates (Pvt) Ltd., FNF Exports Ltd., Hardy Export Company (Pvt) Ltd., M.C. Enterprises (Pvt) Ltd., Thuselco holdings (Pvt) Ltd., Tropical Green Exports (Pvt) Ltd., Eco Trends (Pvt) Ltd. and Hayleys PLC.