Saudi Arabia mulls privatization of water entities, boosts self-sufficiency, says minister

Saudi Minister of Agriculture Abdulrahman AlFadley said that the ministry has a program for privatizing water companies and plants owned by the Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC), and nationals will be able to own shares in them.

During the 2021 Budget Forum, AlFadley said the water desalination plants implemented by SWCC and other sectors is one of the Kingdom's great breakthroughs over the last 50 years.

He also indicated that the ministry pays great attention to transportation and technology and will transport water to producers.

The Kingdom produces more than 7 million cubic feet of desalinated water per day, and it will be among the top countries in technology through localizing water production technologies.

Commenting on the COVID-19 epidemic, AlFadley noted that the ministry managed to fulfill the market's needs for national products, adding that the Agricultural Development Fund (ADF) was supported with SAR 2 billion in 2020.

The Kingdom raised self-sufficiency of some food products such as chicken from 42% to more than 65%, as well as 65% for vegetable products, the minister said, indicating that the Kingdom aims to rank among the best 20 countries in food security.