JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources confirmed the readiness of the food industries sector for the Hajj season, noting that Hajj represents a strategic opportunity to introduce millions of visitors to Saudi products.
During a tour of production lines at factories in Jeddah to review preparations for the Hajj season, Bandar Alkhorayef said the sector plays a vital role in serving pilgrims due to its strong level of maturity and operational efficiency. He added that the sector recorded significant export growth last year, with exports reaching SR15 billion ($3.99 billion).
The food industry sector is estimated at approximately SR200 billion and is the second largest industrial sector in the Kingdom in terms of employment, with the number of factories in the sector reaching 1,900.
According to the minister, the industrial system is working to ensure that companies operating in the food industry sector meet their requirements ahead of Hajj and to overcome challenges, in order to provide food at appropriate prices and quantities with a variety that satisfies all tastes.
Alkhorayef anticipated that the number of factories in the world’s largest food cluster would rise to 800 with investments reaching SR20 billion by 2035, after it recorded a leap in 2024 by adding 375 facilities.
