The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Riyadh recently hosted a pioneering virtual workshop aimed at educating Sri Lankan exporter companies on the regulatory procedures and requirements for exporting food and beverage products to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This event was organized in collaboration with the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) and the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB).
The initiative for the workshop came from Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Ameer Ajwad, following his discussions with the CEO of the SFDA, Prof. Hisham S. Aljadhey. The workshop, held on February 10, 2026, addressed key export sectors such as fisheries, poultry, processed foods, fruits and vegetables, beverages, and herbal products. The aim was to respond to numerous inquiries received by the embassy and provide guidance to Sri Lankan exporters.
In his opening remarks, Ambassador Ajwad expressed gratitude to Prof. Hisham S. Aljadhey, CEO of the SFDA, for facilitating this crucial information-sharing event. He also acknowledged the support of Khalid Almesfair, Executive Director of International Cooperation, and the SFDA expert team. The Ambassador emphasized the strengthening economic ties between Sri Lanka and Saudi Arabia, citing the establishment of the Saudi–Sri Lanka Business Council and the remarkable growth in bilateral trade. He reiterated that interactions like this workshop could help eliminate obstacles, promote smoother trade, and broaden Sri Lanka’s export offerings in the Saudi market. He also noted the strong participation of Sri Lankan exporter companies, which underscores the potential for enhanced trade cooperation between the two nations.
Mangala Wijesinghe, Chairman of the Export Development Board, participated virtually and underscored Sri Lanka’s global export performance. He provided insights into the Saudi–Sri Lanka trade relationship and highlighted recent economic achievements.
Khalid Almesfair, in his introductory address, briefed participants on the SFDA’s role in fostering international partnerships under Saudi Vision 2030. He reiterated the authority’s robust support for Sri Lankan companies aspiring to engage with Saudi businesses and affirmed his commitment to reinforcing and expanding trade relations between the two friendly countries.
The SFDA expert team, comprising Faris M. Abdullah, Abdulaziz Al Rabeah, Abdullah AlMulhim, Fahad Alazmi, Abdulaziz AlTuraifi, Abdulmalik Bin Saeed, Mohammed Al-Harthi, and Ali Aljumayd, delivered insightful presentations on regulatory procedures, product registration, facility approvals, inspections, and clearance processes for exporters.
Over 80 Sri Lankan food and beverage exporter companies participated in the workshop, along with representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Foreign Employment and Tourism, the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB), the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources of Sri Lanka, the Department of Animal Production and Health of Sri Lanka, and the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Riyadh.
This workshop provided Sri Lankan food and beverage exporters with essential clarity on compliance requirements, assisting them in navigating the regulatory landscape for exporting to Saudi Arabia’s expanding market.
