The Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB), in partnership with the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Riyadh and the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA), recently held a successful webinar focusing on the registration procedures and regulatory requirements for exporting products to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). This event saw participation from over 90 Sri Lankan export companies.
Organized as a timely follow-up to discussions from Foodex Saudi 2025, the webinar aimed to address regulatory challenges faced by Sri Lankan exporters and provide practical guidance on compliance with SFDA requirements.
The session covered the regulatory framework and company registration procedures applicable to a diverse range of product categories, including poultry and meat products, fisheries products, processed foods, frozen fruits and vegetables, beverages such as fruit juices and king coconut water, as well as herbal products like herbal cosmetics, herbal beverages, and herbal medicinal products.
The webinar began with opening remarks from SFDA representatives, followed by insights from the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Saudi Arabia and the Chairman/CEO of the Export Development Board of Sri Lanka. The Chairman emphasized the strengthening trade relations between the two countries, highlighting that Saudi Arabia ranked as the 23rd export destination for Sri Lanka in 2025, with export earnings reaching USD 137.85 million. This figure represents the highest level recorded in recent years, showing a 13.3% increase compared to 2024.
Officials from the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) served as resource experts for the session, providing presentations and clarifying technical procedures related to product registration, facility approval, inspection processes, and clearance operations. The SFDA officials who led the presentations included:
- Hisham S. Aljadhey – CEO, SFDA
- Khalid Almesfair – Executive Director of International Cooperation
- Faris M. Abdullah – Investment Department
- Abdulaziz Al Rabeah – Head of Food Products Specifications Section
- Abdullah AlMulhim – Head of Food Products Registration Section
- Fahad Alazmi – Senior Products and Facilities Inspection Expert
- Abdulaziz AlTuraifi – Senior Clearance Operations Support Expert
- Abdulmalik Bin Saeed – Senior Product Registration Support Expert
- Mohammed Al-Harthi – Senior Products and Facilities Inspection Expert
- Ali Aljumayd – Senior Registration and Licensing Expert
The event also featured participation from officials of the Department of Fisheries, Department of Animal Health, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka, showcasing strong institutional support aimed at facilitating smoother market access for Sri Lankan exporters.
After the SFDA officials’ technical presentations, an interactive Q&A session provided participants the opportunity to address specific concerns and receive direct guidance from the experts. The high level of engagement underscored the strong interest of exporters in complying with Saudi regulations and expanding their presence in the KSA market.
This initiative represents another significant step in strengthening bilateral trade cooperation and supporting Sri Lankan exporters in navigating regulatory frameworks, thereby enhancing their ability to access and sustain exports to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
