RIYADH — The Deputy Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Eng. Mansour Al-Mushaiti confirmed that the Ministry aims to reduce the unemployment rate in the rural areas from 10% to 6%. Eng. Al-Mushaiti's confirmation came during the launch of the first phase from the Reef program for entrepreneurship in the paths of rural development and rural tourism. He stressed that the small farmers produce the highest percentage of Saudi Arabia's total plant wealth, noting that rural products are an important resource for the food and processing industries. Eng. Al-Mushaiti clarified that Reef program aims to build an integrated entrepreneurship system in the rural sector. This would contribute in launching several new and sustainable programs and startups that work in finding solutions to combat the current challenges that are facing the sector. The program also aims to localize jobs and create new job opportunities through the two paths mentioned above, and also via several initiatives. The Reef program aims to integrate with partners in the environment, water and agriculture sectors, and link with partners in the entrepreneurship system in the Kingdom. It also seeks to increase the investor's awareness level with the importance of the rural development sector and the investment opportunities' volume, Eng. Al-Mushaiti said. From his side, Dr. Ali Al-Sabhan, general supervisor of the General Administration of Entrepreneurship at MEWA stressed that the targets of the agricultural sector is to reach a contribution of SR130 billion to Saudi Arabia's GDP by 2030. He said that the agricultural sector is huge and considered an opportunity for entrepreneurs to establish pioneering companies that contribute to its development and also that would place Saudi Arabia at the forefront in the region. Ghassan Bakri, secretary general of the Reef program, stated that the agricultural sector is a key pillar to achieve the goals of the Kingdom's Vision 2030, as it would enhance in achieving food security, developing the local content, in addition to providing new jobs.
