Saudi Arabia is in favor of reducing the severity of hostilities in the war between Russia and Ukraine and its settlement under the auspices of the United Nations on the principles of respect for international law. The Kingdom supports all Ukrainians.
The Minister of the Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, paid an official visit to Ukraine. This is the first official visit of the Foreign Minister of the Kingdom to our country since the establishment of diplomatic relations. During the meeting, the parties discussed the Saudi side’s participation in Ukraine’s post-war recovery, as well as investments in promising projects, particularly in the agricultural and energy sectors.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman became a mediator in the exchange of prisoners between Ukraine and the country-terrorist russia. With his assistance, 10 foreigners who fought for Ukraine and had been captured were released.
Saudi Arabia also voted in favor of the UN General Assembly resolution condemning russia’s attempts to annex four regions of Ukraine. The government of the country believes that the Kingdom’s vote in favor of the resolution stems from its commitment to the principles deeply rooted in the UN Charter and international law, respect for state sovereignty and good neighborliness, as well as the resolution of conflicts through peaceful means.
Saudi Arabia has sent a $400 million aid to Ukraine, which includes $300 million in petroleum products and $100 million in humanitarian aid. The country sent warm blankets, hygiene products, and 135 powerful generators ranging from 20 to 400 kW on three planes. The aid is to be distributed in six regions of Ukraine.
The Kingdom has previously provided emergency medical and humanitarian aid worth $10 million for refugees from Ukraine in neighboring countries, including Poland, in coordination with the Polish Government and the UN. The aid includes construction materials, power generators and medical supplies.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is one of Ukraine’s most important trade partners in the Middle East region. In 2021, the trade turnover between Ukraine and the KSA amounted to $957.1 million. Ukrainian exports amounted to $768.60 million (+6.9% compared to 2020), while imports from the KSA amounted to $188.5 million (+85%).
Ukraine’s exports were mainly made up of the following product groups: cereals, meat, edible offal, fats, oils of animal or vegetable origin, ferrous metals, tobacco and industrial tobacco substitutes etc.
The main products imported from Saudi Arabia to Ukraine were plastics and polymeric materials, fertilizers, organic chemicals, machinery, equipment and mechanical devices, tanning or dyeing extracts, etc.
Promising areas for Ukrainian-Saudi cooperation are energy (oil and gas, renewable energy sources and their development), construction (infrastructure projects), transportation (air, sea, urban), water management (housing and utilities), and mechanical engineering. At the same time, it is important to attract Ukrainian technologies to the Kingdom, combine the capabilities of Ukraine and the KSA to implement joint projects in both countries and third countries.
Saudi Arabia remains an important trade partner for Dnipropetrovsk region. The growing level of partnerships is evidenced by the bilateral analysis of external activities.
Saudi companies are most interested in ferrous metals and products made from them, agricultural products, etc. The volume of goods exported from Dnipropetrovsk region amounted to $33.93 million, which is 4.4% of Ukraine’s total.
27 companies in Dnipropetrovsk region exported their products to the Saudi market, including metallurgical, food, agricultural and machine-building companies.
In terms of exported products, TOP-5 companies are the following:
In turn, 28 importing companies of the region bought Saudi goods most of all, namely plastics and polymeric materials, tanning extracts, organic chemical compounds, and others. Imports of goods from Saudi Arabia to Dnipropetrovsk region increased by 34% to $25.41 million. The region’s share in Ukraine’s imports of goods from Saudi Arabia is 13.5%.
By volume of imported products, the following importers are among TOP-5:
Import operations were mainly carried out by chemical and processing companies and trade enterprises.
Source: Information for this article was taken from open online sources and the website of the Main Department of Statistics in Dnipropetrovsk region.
