RIYADH: The National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification held an event in Riyadh recently to promote the ecotourism sector through investment partnerships.
The gathering was a part of the NCVC’s efforts to support Vision 2030 and the Saudi Green Initiative for sustainable economic growth.
Ahmad Alayadh, acting CEO of the center, highlighted in his opening speech the Kingdom’s investment opportunities worth SR500 million ($133 million) in 27 locations across several national parks, over 40 sq. km.
Huda Albugami, general manager of investment at the NCVC, told Arab News: “Today at the Sustainability Forum in National Parks, we launch 27 investment opportunities across 10 main provinces in the Kingdom.”
She said the plan is to attract investments in ecotourism, including camping, caravanning, processing invasive plants, and recycling waste from wild-tree pruning.
Albugami said the NCVC also seeks to promote nurseries and agroforestry and that these opportunities are being presented on the Furas platform for the first time since the center’s establishment.
She said that the launch involves partners from other government agencies, including the Saudi Tourism Authority, the Tourism Development Fund, and the Environment Fund, to enable and develop the sector.
Alayadh said the initiative is expected to generate an economic impact of more than SR1.7 billion and create over 500 jobs, contributing to long-term economic growth.
Fawaz Al-Ghadhib, an investor and CEO of the Northern Agricultural Reconstruction Co., shared his perspective on modernizing traditional farming.
He said they are currently working on two projects with the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, as well as the NCVC, related to intensive livestock farming.
