RIYADH — Saudi Arabia, represented by the General Authority of Foreign Trade (GAFT), held a virtual technical meeting on Thursday with the European Union (EU), co-chaired by GAFT Deputy Governor for International Relations Abdelaziz Al-Sakran and Head of Unit for Middle East at the European Commission's Directorate General for Trade and Economic Security Ignacio Díez. The meeting discussed key trade and technical challenges and barriers between Saudi Arabia and the European Union, as well as ways to develop solutions that would facilitate market access for products on both sides. Saudi Arabia is the EU's leading trading partner in the region, with trade between the two sides reaching approximately $84.2 billion in 2025. The meeting was attended by Vice Governor of Conformity and Operations at the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO) Eng. Abdulmajeed Al-Wohaibi, Assistant CEO for Executive Affairs at the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) Alaa Sindi, and Head of the Economic Section at Saudi Arabia's Mission to the EU Khalid Al-Anazi. The meeting was attended by representatives of GAFT, SFDA, SASO, and Saudi Arabia's Mission to the EU.