Relations between Russia and Saudi Arabia are actively developing, with bilateral trade increasing by 85% over the past year. This was stated by Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak in comments to journalists.
“Saudi Arabia is one of our key partners in the Middle East. Our relations have been actively developing over the past 10 years. Our trade turnover has grown tenfold, and in the last year alone, it has increased by 85%. There are main areas of cooperation shaping this growth—energy, including mutual supplies and the implementation of joint projects, primarily in petrochemicals,” he said.
Novak noted that there is a broad spectrum of cooperation between Russia and Saudi Arabia.
“This includes expanding supplies of agricultural products from Russia to Saudi Arabia, primarily meat, grain, halal products, and processed goods. <…> Over just the past three years, our agricultural trade has increased two and a half times,” he emphasized.
Furthermore, according to Novak, key cooperation areas include digital technologies and the development of artificial intelligence, as well as their application across various sectors, including energy and urban development.
“Today we also discussed issues of cybersecurity, another important direction in the current climate. Of course, we touched upon humanitarian cooperation in the social sphere, healthcare, and education. <…> Tourism is an important sector. Today, I can note that over the past five years, the number of tourists traveling to Saudi Arabia and from Saudi Arabia to Russia has grown exactly tenfold,” the deputy prime minister stated.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Federation Council
Based on materials from TASS