Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) was invited to join CFC’s new Agricultural Commodity Transformation (ACT) Fund
Riyadh, 8 February 2026 – Ambassador Sheikh Mohammed Belal, Managing Director of the Common Fund for Commodities (CFC), met with Mr. Abdulaziz A.S. Alturki, Executive Director of the Financial Sector at the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) and Governor of the CFC for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and Mr. Saeid M. Alkahtani, General Director of Financial Operations at SFD and Alternate Governor of the CFC for Saudi Arabia to present CFC’s innovative financial initiatives and explore avenues for strategic cooperation.
The discussions focused on CFC’s response to the increased global demand for sustainable development finance in the post-COVID era. Ambassador Belal provided a comprehensive briefing on the newly established Agricultural Commodity Transformation (ACT) Fund, a flagship initiative designed to drive inclusive and sustainable change in agricultural value chains. He highlighted the Fund's successful formation and the significant milestone of launching its first call for proposals last week.
Ambassador Belal formally invited SFD to consider joining the ACT Fund and its accompanying Technical Assistance Facility as a strategic partner. This collaboration would align Saudi Arabia's development leadership with CFC’s mission to empower vulnerable commodity producers worldwide.
The Governor acknowledged the significant progress and breakthrough achievements made by CFC under Ambassador Belal's leadership. He informed the delegation of the ongoing, extensive reforms within the SFD, which aim to enhance the Fund's strategic partnerships and operational scope. Within this new framework, he assured that CFC would be "a highly eligible candidate" for future cooperation and support from the Saudi Fund.
As a constructive interim step, the SFD expressed its commitment to exploring ways to support CFC’s Technical Assistance Facility. This facility is critical for building the capacity of beneficiaries and ensuring the sustainable impact of ACT Fund projects.
The discussions concluded on a forward-looking and cooperative note, with both parties agreeing to maintain a close dialogue. The engagement lays a positive foundation for future collaboration, with the shared goal of transforming agricultural commodity sectors to build resilient livelihoods.
About CFC:
The Common Fund for Commodities (CFC) is an intergovernmental financial institution that provides financing for projects in commodity value chains in its Member States, with a focus on sustainable development and poverty reduction.
About the Saudi Fund for Development:
The Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) is a government agency that provides development assistance and soft loans to support sustainable development projects in developing countries, reflecting the Kingdom's commitment to international cooperation and solidarity.
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