Saudi Aramco participates in annual India Energy Forum

Saudi Aramco has participated at the second India Energy Forum, hosted by CERAWeek, from Oct. 14-16. (SPA)
Updated 16 October 2018
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Saudi Aramco participates in annual India Energy Forum

  • The annual event fosters national and international dialogue on opportunities, challenges and strategies to bring a new energy future for India

JEDDAH: Saudi Aramco has participated at the second India Energy Forum, hosted by CERAWeek, from Oct. 14-16.

The annual event fosters national and international dialogue on opportunities, challenges and strategies to bring a new energy future for India.

Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources and Saudi Aramco chairman, Khalid A. Al-Falih, took part in the Ministerial Dialogue on Oct. 15.

On the same day, Saudi Aramco Senior Vice President of Downstream Abdulaziz M. Al-Judaimi participated in a panel discussion titled: “Outlook for Refining and Petrochemicals.”

Al-Judaimi noted that relations between the Kingdom and India are growing more strategic. Adding that, being the largest supplier of energy to India, Saudi Aramco has always had a long-term commitment to the country’s energy security.

He said Saudi Aramco is tapping into India’s world-leading growth, by investing in its energy future as part of the company’s own downstream strategy.

He highlighted that the closer cooperation between Saudi Aramco and Indian energy entities was reflected in the partnership with ADNOC and the Ratnagiri Refinery & Petrochemicals Ltd (RRPCL) on the Ratnagiri mega-refinery and petrochemicals complex in Maharashta this year.

He noted that Saudi Aramco's spending on material services sourced from Indian suppliers has reached almost $2 billion in the past six years, and the opening of the Aramco Asia India office in 2017.

He also underscored Saudi Aramco’s role as a catalyst for helping grow India’s oil and gas sector, especially chemicals.

“Investing in India’s value chain from oil supply, marketing and refining to petrochemicals and lubricants is a key part of Saudi Aramco’s global downstream strategy,” said Al-Judaimi.

“Chemicals, especially, can enhance India’s energy sector, adding long-term value to the country’s resources, providing quality products for India’s and Asia’s rapidly expanding middle classes, and positioning India for accelerated economic growth as a manufacturing hub – all of which align with Saudi Aramco’s own intent to expand our global business portfolio and downstream network.”

Meanwhile, Saudi Aramco has participated in the 2nd Supply Chain and Logistics Conference organized by the Ministry of Transport in Riyadh.

Saudi Aramco’s Senior Vice President of Operations & Business Services Mohammad Saggaf has underscored the importance of creating a logistics hub in the Kingdom.

“The role played by the supply and logistics sector has gained increasing importance in both scope and value. The sector now represents about $4.3 trillion of the world’s economy. It impacts other industrial, commercial and service sectors and has adopted many new advanced technologies.”

He also revealed that Saudi Aramco’s partnership with the General Institution for Technical Trianing has led to the etsbalishement of more than 18 training academies as part of the company’s plan to train 300,000 trainees by 2030.


Experimental farm in Al-Lith looks into future of Saudi Arabian agriculture

Updated 02 February 2026
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Experimental farm in Al-Lith looks into future of Saudi Arabian agriculture

  • Research initiative reflects strategic transformation

JEDDAH: An experimental farm in Saudi Arabia’s Al-Lith Governorate is one of the research initiatives reflecting the strategic transformation taking place in the Kingdom’s agricultural sector.

The farm uses highly efficient, sustainable production models that combine scientific research with commercial application, contributing to strengthening the country’s food security system and the sustainability of water resources.

Located in the Ghumaiqa Center on an area of about 10 hectares, the cutting-edge farm is a testing platform for modern agricultural technologies that tackle the challenge of water scarcity.

The farm includes developed open fields and modern greenhouses, supported by smart irrigation encompassing drip and sprinkler irrigation alongside surface and subsurface technologies.

All the systems operate via smart controls that enable the monitoring of water consumption and ensure improved efficiency, thereby achieving a balance between agricultural production and water conservation.

The farm also uses treated and diluted low-salinity seawater.

It aims to diversify agricultural water sources, reduce reliance on freshwater, and open new horizons for agriculture in coastal and semi-arid environments.

A view of the experimental farm in Al-Lith. (SPA)

The project represents a promising investment opportunity in the field of smart agriculture, enabling the development of commercially scalable production models, particularly for high-value vegetables and fruits, while reducing operational costs associated with water and energy, enhancing the economic feasibility of future agricultural projects.

In addition, the project contributes to transferring and localizing agricultural expertise, supporting local food supply chains, and creating an attractive environment for agricultural investment.

This aligns with Sustainable Development Goals and enhances the efficiency of the private sector in adopting innovative agricultural solutions.

Yahya bin Abdulrahman Al-Mahabi, the director of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture office in Al-Lith Governorate, told the Saudi Press Agency that the project represented the future of agriculture in the Kingdom.

He explained that the vision was based on investing in technology, enhancing the return on water per unit, and integrating scientific research with investment opportunities.

Al-Mahabi spoke of the experimental farm as a modern, scalable and replicable model applicable in several regions of the Kingdom, particularly in coastal environments.

Al-Mahabi highlighted the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture’s commitment to supporting distinctive projects that contributed to achieving food security while developing rural areas and enhancing agricultural production efficiency, in line with the objectives of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.