Riyadh – Mubasher: Abdulrahman bin Abdulmohsen Al-Fadley, Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the General Authority for Food Security and SALIC Group, sponsored on Tuesday the launch ceremony of the National Grain Supply Company (Sabil), the first local investment fully owned by SALIC Group. The ceremony was attended by a number of officials and representatives of relevant government agencies.

In a statement, Sable explained that the company's launch comes within the framework of implementing the Cabinet's decisions to transform the General Authority for Grains into the General Authority for Food Security and to form a steering committee to transfer operational tasks to SALIC, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Public Investment Fund. Sable will be responsible for implementing operational tasks related to silo management and the strategic wheat storage system.

The Governor of the General Authority for Food Security, Ahmed bin Abdulaziz Al-Fares, explained that the launch of Sable represents a pivotal stage in the institutional transformation of the grains sector and embodies national trends aimed at enhancing the efficiency and sustainability of food supply chains.

Al-Fares explained that during the transitional phase, the authority will continue to oversee the procurement of local and imported wheat, while Sabil has begun handling wheat from ports to milling companies, as well as managing and operating storage silos across the Kingdom.

For his part, Sulaiman bin Abdulrahman Al-Rumaih, CEO of SALIC Group, explained that the establishment of Sabil comes as part of efforts to enhance food security by building an integrated operational system that covers all stages of the food supply chain, starting from the origin of basic commodities, through ports and maritime transport, to storage capabilities and logistics services, and ending with the food manufacturing stages. He emphasized the importance of integration between relevant entities to ensure efficient performance and continuity of supplies.

For his part, Sable CEO Abdulrahman bin Saud Al Owais explained that the company aims to support the food security system by adopting best operational practices, providing quality solutions that enhance performance efficiency, raise the level of preparedness, and build strategic partnerships with relevant entities.

It is noteworthy that Sabil will operate 14 silo branches across the Kingdom, including four branches in ports (Jeddah Islamic Port, King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam, Yanbu Commercial Port, and Jazan Port), with a total storage capacity exceeding 2.7 million tons.

It is worth noting that the National Grain Supply Company (SABL) is a subsidiary of the SALIC Group, which is wholly owned by the Public Investment Fund. SALIC established it pursuant to Cabinet Resolution No. 440 of January 17, 2023, which transformed the General Authority for Grains into an entity called the General Authority for Food Security and transferred operational activities of the storage silos, including wheat procurement and strategic storage, from the Authority to SALIC.

Sable manages grain operations at all silo branches across the Kingdom, while maintaining the overall level of strategic reserves required in accordance with the Kingdom's food security requirements. Sable also aims to improve operational efficiency to empower local farmers and milling companies to ensure sustainable supply chains.