The Deputy Minister for Environment Affairs, Dr. Osama Faqiha, welcomed today the Ambassador of New Zealand to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, James Munro.
In the meeting, both sides discussed aspects of cooperation between the two countries in the field of environment. The New Zealand side stated its willingness to provide expertise as needed in the field of sustainable management of national parks, forests, nature reserves, and coastal areas, as well as pasture and recycling.
Dr. Faqiha, for his part, briefed the Ambassador Munro on the efforts made by Saudi Arabia, represented by the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, to preserve the environment and its initiatives to rehabilitate the natural vegetation cover of the local environment through several programs, foremost among which is planting more than 10 million trees by 2020, in addition to the National Environment Strategy launched by the Ministry which aimed at reducing pollution, combating desertification and raising environmental awareness throughout the Saudi society.
At the end of the meeting, the two sides agreed to make joint efforts to enhance cooperation in the field of the environment. The Ambassador also extended an invitation to the Deputy Minister to visit the country and explore this field and all related services.