The first International Forum for Saudi Reef discussed the role of rural communities in achieving sustainable development goals in line with the Saudi Vision 2030, emphasizing the significance of public-private partnerships in realizing these goals and their effective contribution to the development of rural communities.
This was highlighted during the forum's opening panel session yesterday, which featured Governor of Al-Ahsa Prince Saud bin Talal bin Badr and Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Eng. Abdulrahman Alfadley.
The Governor of Al-Ahsa underscored the importance of the Saudi Reef Program in raising a new generation of youth with an interest in and awareness of agriculture.
He noted that the program also plays a key role in supporting and empowering rural women and productive families by providing a conducive work environment to achieve its objectives, alongside enabling agricultural regulations.
Prince Saud also pointed out that the agricultural sectors supported by the program constitute 43% of the total agricultural and female workforce in the Kingdom, contributing to increased agricultural production and high levels of self-sufficiency in many crops, thereby enhancing food security.
For his part, Alfadley stressed that the ministry's strategies and programs align with the objectives of the Saudi Vision 2030, where the "Saudi Reef Program" aims to achieve sustainable development by focusing on eight sectors and leveraging the comparative advantages of each region.
The minister said that the Kingdom's vast land area and diverse climates have contributed to social stability, increased income for over 80,000 beneficiaries of the program, and improved beneficiaries' quality of life.
He noted that the program provides services directly to beneficiaries in their areas, sparing citizens the burden of traveling to access its services.
