Lahore:
The head of the regional committee of the Pakistan and Industry Chamber of Commerce, Shahid Imran, said on Wednesday that Saudi entrepreneurs showed a strong interest in forging joint ventures with Pakistani partners in the food sector, in particular in the segment of rapid growth.
He heads a Pakistani delegation on tour in Saudi Arabia in Djeddah. Imran noted that during recent meetings, the two parties underlined an immense potential and the need to offer innovative and high quality snacks to meet growing demand.
The Pakistan delegation presented the country’s forces in traditional snacks, including NIMCO, roasted chickpeas and spicy mixtures, as well as modern products such as flavored chips, cookies, cookies and energy bars. The delegation underlined how these offers align well with the evolution of consumer tastes in Saudi Arabia. Imran said Saudi investors want co-branding, technology transfer and Halal certification. They know that the Pakistani snacks are affordable, tasty and manufactured with expertise.
The interest is involved in the middle of solid growth in the food and drinks landscape (F&B) of Saudi Arabia (F&B). According to Statita, a German data platform, the global food market in Saudi Arabia is expected to reach around $ 57.4 billion in 2025, increasing around 4% per year over the next five years. The largest segment will be bread and cereal products, with a planned market volume of $ 10.46 billion in 2025.
This push is motivated by rapid urbanization, a young and more and more easy population, and the Saudi initiative Vision 2030, which emphasizes tourism, hospitality and the economy of entertainment. Saudi authorities aim to attract millions of tourists by the end of the decade, feeding the demand for convenience dishes, fast -service restaurants and packaged snacks.
Pakistani exporters believe that their products can line up with these trends while offering value. “We can offer articles that meet both traditional tastes and modern health trends, such as alternatives cooked in the oven, organic bars and low -fat fries,” said Ahmed Rauf, food exporter. He added that joint ventures could help establish processing units, improve packaging and obtain halal and other certifications to meet Saudi regulatory standards and consumer expectations.
Food exports from Pakistan, according to Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), are currently amazing $ 7.116 billion during financial year 25. Although it is a significant part of the country’s overall exports, snacks and allied categories contribute very little. On the other hand, Saudi Arabia is based strongly on food imports due to agricultural limitations and water shortage, which represents a substantial part of domestic demand. These factors make the kingdom an attractive market for manufacturers of Pakistani snacks.
Some economists warn that obtaining a good part on the food and drinks of Saudi Arabia will not be easy. “While Pakistan’s food exports are going through $ 7 billion a year, the share of processed snacks and allied products is still very modest,” said Dr. Kamran Siddiqui, economist. “This means that Pakistani exporters will be faced with a difficult task in the development of space on the highly competitive snack market in Saudi Arabia, which is already dominated by global giants. To succeed, they will need significant investments in the brand image, packaging, quality certifications and marketing campaigns to the size of consumers in Gulf. Added.
Despite the challenges, Pakistani exporters remain prudently optimistic about the breakthrough on the Saudi market. Industry leaders admit that competition with multinational snack brands will not be easy, but they argue that Pakistan’s strength lies in affordability, authenticity and Halal insurance, which strongly resonates with consumers in the Gulf.
“It is not only a question of commercial numbers; it is a question of establishing long -term partnerships which strengthen the two economies. This model of cooperation could open the way to similar companies in other food categories and drinks such as dairy products, drinks and transformed meats – expanding the horizons of bilateral trade. The road can be long, but partners snacks in a serious actor in golf.
