RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has signed deals with the US worth more than $300 billion, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said at the Saudi-US Investment Forum in Riyadh on Tuesday. 

During an address at the event, Prince Mohammed said the Kingdom was looking at $600 billion of investment opportunities, adding that he hoped this would raise to $1 trillion.

He noted that the US was among the largest partners of the Saudi Vision 2030 reform agenda, adding that joint investments were one of the most important pillars of the economic relationship between the two countries.

“The US is a major destination for the Public Investment Fund, accounting for approximately 40 percent of the fund's global investments,” he said.

He also said that cooperation with Washington was not limited to economic cooperation, but also extended to “establishing peace in the region and the world.”

Also speaking at the event, US President Donald Trump praised the transformation underway in Saudi Arabia, as he attributed it to the leadership of King Salman and the crown prince.

Trump described the crown prince as a “very great man like no other” and “the greatest representative of his people,” and highlighted the role of Saudis in driving development in their own country and the region as a whole.

Trump pointed to Riyadh’s rise as a global business hub and noted that the Kingdom’s non-oil sector revenues had now surpassed those of the oil sector.

He said Saudi Arabia deserved praise for preserving its culture and tradition while also embracing its forward-looking, modern Vision 2030 reform agenda.

During his speech, Trump criticized the Biden administration for removing the Houthis from the US terrorist list, calling it a serious mistake.

He contrasted regional developments, stating: “Some (in the Gulf) have turned deserts into farms, while Iran has turned its farms into deserts,” and warned that if Iran rejected Washington’s outreach, the US would be forced to impose maximum pressure.

Condemning Hezbollah for destabilizing the region and looting Lebanon, Trump said: “The biggest and most destructive of these forces is the regime in Iran, which has caused unthinkable suffering in Syria, Lebanon, Gaza, Iraq, Yemen and beyond.”

He described Lebanon as a victim of Hezbollah and Iran and expressed a desire to help the country.

Trump also praised Saudi Arabia’s role in Russia-Ukraine peace talks and affirmed US support for the Kingdom, saying it has “a great future.”

Earlier on Tuesday, the two leaders signed a strategic economic partnership agreement in Riyadh, the first leg of Trump’s regional visit.

The partnership included the signing of Memorandums of Understanding in the energy, mining, and defense sectors. 

Defense cooperation between the two countries centered on the modernization of the capabilities of the Saudi armed forces, along with an agreement between the Saudi Space Agency and NASA.

Other agreements included an MoU on mineral resources; an agreement with the Department of Justice; and cooperation on infectious diseases.

Trump arrived in Saudi Arabia Tuesday on what he called a “historic” tour of the Middle East that will mix urgent diplomacy on Gaza with huge business deals.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman warmly greeted Trump as he stepped off Air Force One at King Khalid International Airport in the Saudi capital and kicked off his Middle East tour.

The two leaders then retreated to a grand hall at the Riyadh airport, where Trump and his aides were served traditional Arabic coffee by waiting attendants wearing ceremonial gun-belts.

Royal Saudi Air Force F-15s provided an honorary escort for Air Force One as it approached the kingdom’s capital. Trump and Prince Mohammed also were taking part in a lunch at the Royal Court, gathering with guests and aides. 

Later, the crown prince will fete Trump with a formal dinner. Trump is also slated to take part Tuesday in a US-Saudi investment conference.

Air Force One took off on a journey that will include visits to Qatar and the United Arab Emirates — and possibly talks in Turkiye on the Ukraine war.

* With AFP and AP

RIYADH: The Saudi Food Show 2025 at the Riyadh Front Exhibition and Conference Center from May 12–14 transformed the space into a vibrant hub as thousands explored, tested and experienced cutting-edge products and innovations.

The event was designed to showcase and elevate the nation’s billion-dollar food market.

Among those to gather were top business leaders and buyers from around the world who joined experts in the capital to embrace new opportunities and fuel the country’s food sector.

At a time where the Kingdom’s F&B market is projected to reach $24.29 billion by the end of this year, Fawaz Shakaa, CEO of Farm Dairy Company and board member of the Jordan Chamber of Industry, said that he was seeing the benefits of participation.

“Consumption patterns in the country are clearly evolving, as more consumers show a growing preference for international products. At the same time, the Kingdom is growing rapidly and is attracting different tourists from around the world, making it a key market. As such, the Saudi Food Show allows us to network and do business with one another, benefitting both Saudi and Jordan,” he said.

Bandar Okrin, CEO of Saudi-born Kinza, said that consumers were at the forefront of its strategy.

“We focus more on the consumer’s preferences as we believe they are key to success in the future. We are placing more emphasis on utilising Saudi ingredients in our products, which is a top priority, while empowering local talent to grow our brand and contribute to the Vision 2030 strategy.”

Guadalupe Miranda, CEO of Mexico’s iAURA, said that they engaged with more than 100 potential buyers, generating significant interest in its portfolio of products, and confirmed they will return next year after being impressed with the scale of the event.

He said: “We have already decided that we will return every year as we have seen strong interest from businesses in our chickpeas, which are exclusively produced in Mexico. This is no surprise as it is widely used for hummus — one of the most popular dishes in this region.”

At the Saudi Food Summit, the audience gained a fascinating insight into the trends and growth opportunities in the retail sector from expert speakers in the public and private sectors.

Justin Emmanuel Steinbach, CEO of IFFCO Professional, Manuel Garabato, marketing director of Global Emerging Markets, General Mills, Bobby Rajendran, CEO of Tamimi Markets, and Jens Sievert, director — international design and branding — Daymon, spoke about why organizations needed to embrace AI in their day-to-day operations, explaining how it could speed up experimentation, simulation and decision-making.

The interactive Top Table Saudi continued with both Saudi and international chefs delivering engaging masterclasses, and showcased signature dishes while providing a glimpse into the future of gastronomy.

Top Chef Middle East participant and esteemed Saudi cuisine ambassador, Areej Al-Shareef, was among the highly influential culinary experts present, captivating the crowds with her expertise and showcasing the rich, authentic flavors of the Kingdom.

“Cooking is my passion, I don’t really focus too much on recipes and I try to give the real flavour but with a different kick,” she said. “There are so many fresh ingredients in Saudi Arabia which I use, and people will now know which they can put in their dishes.”

Another chef, Azzam Al-Sowayan, sous chef at the Fairmont Riyadh, said: “Saudi cuisine has incredibly rich and abundant ingredients. Blending global cuisine with Saudi flavours may seem easy to attempt but can be challenging to perfect. My advice for anyone wanting to become a chef is that patience and endurance are key to overcoming the challenges that go side-by-side to becoming a successful chef.”

Matthews Matthew, managing director of Matt Media LLC and editor of Food Business Gulf & Middle East, Gulf Agriculture, and Livestock and Poultry Middle East Magazine told Arab News: “Saudi Food 2025, the region’s premier F&B exhibition, was an exceptional platform for networking and relationship-building. We connected directly with industry leaders, including manufacturers, suppliers, distributors and decision-makers. It also strengthened our media partnerships, enabling us to build collaborations with event organizers.”

The winners of the Saudi Food Excellence Awards were also announced. Euroaliment Proveedor Alimantos Calidad took the best gourmet product prize for their Pons Janiroc Lecciana Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Neon Sanayi Ve Gida won best coffee innovation for their Turkish Coffee Mocha with Orange Essence. Best Innovative Packaging went to Le Bonheur for their set of three pralines featuring a musical barrel organ.

Coppola Foods won best food innovation for their Fabulous Organic Hazelnut and Cocoa Spread. Best Saudi-made went to Gandour’s Tamria cakes, crafted using premium dates sourced exclusively from Saudi farmers.

Spice Affair/Nutrivilla Foods Inc. was named winner of best health product for their Golden Booster Latte & Smoothie Mix, while Parmafood Group won best plant-based product for their cashew “Tina” plant-based ricotta cheese alternative.

Best dairy product went to Gundogdu for their Poucheese Bohca Peyniri. Best beverage product was awarded to Habso Drinks for their Black Seed Sparkling Infusion; and best snack product went to Nestle for their Fitness Fiber no-added-sugar cereal bar.

The food show, which ended on Wednesday, was inaugurated on Monday by Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, supervisor-general of KSrelief, who was accompanied by Majed bin Rafid Al-Argoubi, CEO of the Saudi Authority for Industrial Cities and Technology Zones, or MODON, as they toured the exhibition.

Speaking at the food summit, Al-Argoubi said that the Kingdom’s efforts to localize the food industry and ensure food security reflected its commitment to contributing to global food security by empowering research, development and innovation, and strengthening supply chains — positioning Saudi Arabia as a vital partner in securing food for the world.

He added that the number of food manufacturing facilities within MODON’s cities has surpassed 1,400 factories, contributing to the creation of more than 90,000 jobs.

The food show, held in partnership with MODON, has attracted more than 1,300 exhibitors from around the world. The first day saw the signing of several food industry and logistics contracts exceeding SR600 million ($160 million), with Kudu and Yousef Abdul Latif Jameel Group among the organizations to put pen to paper.