UN’s Agricultural Development Fund aims to attract Saudi investors in sustainable bonds, says special envoy
RIYADH: The UN’s International Fund for Agricultural Development is working to attract Saudi investors as part of its sustainable bond initiative, building on more than $1 billion in bonds issued in capital markets since 2022 to generate social and environmental impact.
Dina Saleh, IFAD’s special envoy for the Middle East, confirmed in an interview with Al-Eqtisadiah the fund’s focus on investing in Saudi Arabia’s rural sectors and supporting supply chains to boost coffee and mango production in Jazan.
She said the fund’s partnership with Saudi Arabia is now stronger and more dynamic than ever, with both sides exploring ways to deepen cooperation on water security, value-chain development, innovation, and investment in food-insecure countries.
Saleh pointed to significant potential for collaboration through Saudi-led green initiatives and regional development platforms, and to building more resilient food systems by combining Saudi resources with IFAD’s expertise in rural transformation.
