As part of its continued efforts to promote Sri Lankan exports and expand market access in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Riyadh facilitated an exclusive interactive session between the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) and Sri Lankan seafood exporting companies, together with the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DFAR) of Sri Lanka, on 30 June 2026. The meeting was aimed at further enhancing opportunities for Sri Lankan seafood exports to the Saudi market. 

The SFDA is the sole regulatory authority responsible for the approval and clearance of food and drug products entering the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The meeting was convened as a follow-up to the virtual workshop organized by the Embassy in collaboration with the SFDA and the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources on 10 February 2026. That workshop enabled Sri Lankan exporters to gain a comprehensive understanding of the Kingdom’s regulatory framework and export procedures for food and beverage products, including seafood. Building on that foundation, the latest interactive session focused on the registration process and the progress of applications already submitted by Sri Lankan seafood exporting companies seeking approval to export their products to Saudi Arabia.

During the discussion, senior officials of the SFDA provided updates on the ongoing review of the submitted applications by the Sri Lankan companies and offered valuable guidance on the registration process and the regulatory requirements necessary for obtaining approval.

In his concluding remarks, the Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Ameer Ajwad, expressed his sincere appreciation to the Director of the International Cooperation Department of the SFDA, Khalid Naif Almesfair, for promptly arranging the meeting at his request with a view to expediting the registration process for Sri Lankan seafood exports to the Kingdom. The Ambassador also thanked the Director of the Food Factory Inspection Department, Hassan Aba Alkhayl, the Director of International Bilateral Affairs, Maroof Althobaity, and the senior officials of the SFDA’s International Cooperation Department for their constructive engagement and encouraging updates during the interactive session.

The Ambassador emphasized the importance of maintaining regular dialogue between the relevant authorities and industry stakeholders to sustain the positive momentum in bilateral trade and further strengthen economic cooperation between Sri Lanka and Saudi Arabia.

He further stated that the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Riyadh would continue to play a proactive role by working closely with the SFDA and the relevant authorities in Sri Lanka to facilitate the registration process, address market access challenges, and create new opportunities for Sri Lankan seafood exporters in the Kingdom, in line with the Embassy’s broader economic diplomacy objectives.

The discussion was attended from Sri Lanka side by the Director General and senior officials of the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources of Sri Lanka, representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism of Sri Lanka, the First Secretary (Commerce) of the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Riyadh, and representatives of Sri Lankan seafood exporting companies that had submitted their registration and applications to the SFDA for approval to export their seafood products to Saudi Arabia.

The meeting reaffirmed the shared commitment of Sri Lanka and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to strengthening cooperation in the fisheries sector and promoting bilateral trade through closer technical collaboration, regulatory engagement, and enhanced market access.

Embassy of Sri Lanka
Riyadh

15 July 2026