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Saudi Arabia and UN agricultural arm agree to strengthen development cooperation

Saudi Arabia and UN agricultural arm agree to strengthen development cooperation

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The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and Saudi Arabia have approved almost $60 million worth of joint development projects over the next five years across the Middle Eastern country, the FAO announced today.

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and Saudi Arabia have approved almost $60 million worth of joint development projects over the next five years across the Middle Eastern country, the FAO announced today.

In an agreement signed at FAO headquarters in Rome, Saudi Arabia – which is funding the 14 designated projects – will draw on the UN body’s expertise and experience to make improvements in areas including agriculture, fisheries, animal health, and plant production and protection.

A recently established camel research centre will be upgraded, while the activities of the date palm research centre and the olive unit, as well as separate centres for Arabian horse breeding, fish farming, tropical fruits and citrus production, will also be strengthened.

Abdallah Olabi, Coordinator of the FAO Programme in Saudi Arabia, said in a press release that the new bilateral programme not only counts on the organization’s expertise but also on the training capacities that it can provide. FAO has worked with Saudi Arabia since the 1950s.