The Middle East’s biggest dairy firm Almarai (2280.SE), plans to spend over 18 billion riyals ($4.8 billion) through 2028 under a new plan aimed at boosting growth while focusing on areas including supply chain capabilities and food security.
Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, Public Investment Fund, owns a stake of around 16% in the firm through one of its subsidiaries.
Almarai said its strategy aligned with Saudi Arabia’s economic transformation plan, Vision 2030, which aims to diversify the economy away from oil by developing sectors such as tourism and industry, expand the private sector and create jobs.
“Investment in the food industry contributes to achieving food security in the kingdom and the region while adding value to shareholders,” Almarai said in a bourse filing.
The five-year plan, which envisions investments in areas including supply chain capabilities and technology, will be funded through the firm’s operational cash flows.
