CAIRO: Undersecretary of the Saudi Ministry of Water, Agriculture and Environment Dr. Faisal bin Sultan Al-Subaihi headed Saudi Arabia’s delegation to the first joint meeting of Arab Water and Agriculture Ministers in Cairo. Al-Subaihi stressed the importance of this first meeting, as it represents an opportunity for policy harmonization and procedural coordination regarding the importance of achieving food and water security and in accordance with the sustainable development goals at the UN level. On the sidelines of the meeting at the headquarters of the Arab League in Cairo, Al-Subaihi said: “The Kingdom has always attached great importance to this matter, and has balanced policies between food and water security, represented by the cabinet’s approval of the national water strategy and near approval of the national agricultural strategy.” He added that many developments in the regulatory structures for water, agriculture and electricity have taken place at the ministry level. Now that it is unified under on ministry — that of Environment, Water and Agriculture — it has covered all relevant sectors, making policies more harmonious with the objectives. He also noted that the national agricultural strategy has taken into account the consistency and specificity in the national water strategy and the commitment to the same objectives. The Kingdom is about to achieve sustainable development taking into account food and water security and guaranteeing development, its resources and components for all the present and future generations. Al-Subaihi said the meeting aims to achieve a balance, developing techniques for the food and water security, rationalizing water use, increasing efficiency in the agriculture sector, developing the best agriculture practices in the sector and achieving balance between the two sectors.