RIYADH: Almarai has announced plans to increase its investments to SR 15.6 billion and employ 12,000 Saudi nationals at its various factories and sectors within five years.
CEO Abdulrahman A. Al-Fadley said the company’s total investment had reached SR 8 billion. This includes SR 2 billion to expand the dairy sector, SR 4 billion for the development of the poultry sector and SR 1 billion to set up the Kingdom’s first baby milk plant.
“The total output of Saudi dairy companies meets only 45 percent of the local demand while Saudi poultry farms meet 56 percent of demand,” he told a press conference.
Currently, Almarai has more than 4,700 Saudi employees on its payroll, said the CEO.
He said career development programs equip Almarai employees with more technical skills to enable them to increase their efficiency.
Almarai has set up a food processing academy established in conjunction with a reputed international organization, he said.
Almarai is also involved in the University Students Co-operation Training program, said the CEO.
Addressing a press conference, company CEO Abdulrahman A. Al-Fadley disclosed Almarai’s decision to purchase three fodder farms in Argentina, while voicing concerns over the rising prices of animal feed.
Al-Fadley also predicted a dramatic increase in demand for food products in Saudi Arabia and other countries of the region.

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