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RIYADH: ����ֱ��’s Small and Medium Enterprises General Authority will unveil $2 billion in initiatives and agreements across technology, tourism, entertainment, education, and financial services at the Biban 2025 Forum 

Scheduled for Nov. 5–8 at Riyadh Front Exhibition and Conference Center, the event will be held under the theme “A Global Destination for Opportunities.” 

The Kingdom has been actively expanding its entrepreneurial ecosystem under Vision 2030, targeting an increase in SME contributions to gross domestic product from 30 to 35 percent. With over 1.8 million SMEs currently operating, the government has implemented policies, funding programs, and strategic partnerships to support startups and attract international investment.  

In 2024, ����ֱ�� led the Middle East in venture capital funding for SMEs, securing roughly $750 million. 

In a release, Monsha’at stated: “The agreements and projects are expected to cover the technology, tourism, entertainment, education, and financial services sectors, enhancing integration between the public and private sectors and providing a stimulating environment for the growth and expansion of startups inside and outside the Kingdom.”  

It added: “This reflects the rapid development of the Saudi entrepreneurship ecosystem as a major driver of the national economy.” 

Biban 2025 will also feature international agreements with countries including Japan, South Korea, and Qatar, designed to attract regional and global companies to ����ֱ�� and position the Kingdom as a hub for startups and investment. 

“This will contribute to enhancing funding opportunities and building quality partnerships that support innovation and growth in the local market,” the release said. 

It added that the agreements seek to attract leading regional and global companies to the Saudi market, reinforce the Kingdom’s position as a global investment hub, foster a supportive environment for entrepreneurship, and establish it as a key destination for talent and startups worldwide. 

Through Biban 2025, Monsha’at is continuing to strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem by launching targeted programs and forming strategic partnerships with key stakeholders. 

The initiative aims to enhance the role of SMEs in the national economy, promote innovation and growth, and support the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 in building a thriving economic future. 

JEDDAH: ����ֱ��’s agricultural sector contributed $31.5 billion to the country’s gross domestic product in 2024, driven by rising production and initiatives that strengthened food self-sufficiency, according to official data. 

Total agricultural and food production exceeded 16 million tonnes last year, reflecting progress toward building resilient, sustainable food systems, the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture said in a release. 

Despite roughly 90 percent of the country being desert, ����ֱ�� has expanded domestic crop production and reduced reliance on imports. The Kingdom has already reached full self-sufficiency in dates, fresh dairy products, and table eggs. 

Speaking at the 42nd Saudi Agriculture Exhibition in Riyadh, Ali Al-Zahrani, director of MEWA’s National Agriculture Strategy Implementation Department, said the sector has grown at a compound annual rate of more than 7 percent over the past five years.  

Al-Zahrani said the country’s agriculture strategy has played a key role in developing ����ֱ��’s agricultural sector and addressing major challenges over the past years, including water scarcity, harsh climatic conditions, low productivity in certain areas, and difficulties in marketing and distributing agricultural products. 

“He explained that the strategy sets clear objectives to ensure the sustainability of the agricultural sector and enhance its contribution to food security, economic growth, and social and environmental development,” the release added, citing the official. 

Al-Zahrani added that this is achieved through the effective management of natural resources, adoption of innovative agricultural technologies, protection of farming systems and food safety, empowerment of small farmers, as well as the development of national capacities and expansion of investments and international partnerships.  

He pointed out that the ministry has launched 38 pioneering national initiatives under the strategy, including 11 to boost agricultural productivity, and five to restructure the sector and build capabilities, as per the ministry’s statement. 

The strategy includes five initiatives to support sustainable rural development programs, another five to strengthen plant and animal health under a One Health approach, and four to build resilient and sustainable food systems.  

Three initiatives, the official added, focus on enhancing natural resource sustainability and climate adaptation, while three others aim to improve marketing and agricultural services. 

In addition, two initiatives are designed to protect local products and promote exports, further supporting the sector’s growth and contribution to ����ֱ��’s food security and economic development goals. 

He added that the implementation of efficient irrigation systems has reduced the use of non-renewable water in agriculture by 52 percent compared with 2016, while soft agricultural loans from the Agricultural Development Fund have exceeded $1.9 billion. 

He highlighted investment opportunities for the private sector in plant and animal production, including integrated seed and seedling production projects, fruit and vegetable processing, intensive livestock farming, aquaculture, and large-scale poultry production. 

Al-Zahrani noted that the total domestic fruit production, including dates, surpassed 2.9 million tonnes, achieving 64 percent self-sufficiency, while vegetable production exceeded 3.5 million tonnes, reaching 78 percent self-sufficiency, with significant expansion of greenhouse systems alongside traditional open-field farming. 

The statement concluded that the ministry continues to offer incentives, including streamlined land rental and simplified licensing, to encourage investment and the adoption of innovative, sustainable agricultural practices.