Malaysian entrepreneurs have been urged to seize the opportunities to participate in Saudi Arabia's food and beverage (F&B) industry.

Minister of International Trade and Industry, Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed, said the ministry hoped for a double-digit growth in exports for the sector.

He said Malaysia's F&B exports to Saudi Arabia were currently only ten per cent out of the total exports of RM3.0 billion last year.

"The potentials in Saudi Arabia should be explored as many of Malaysia's small and medium enterprises are involved in F&B sector.

"With expansion of facilities in Makkah, Saudi Arabia may allow more people to perform umrah and haj," he told reporters after launching the the SME Bank's Upward Migration and Acceleration Programme (i-SMART Programme) here today.

Mustapa said the potentials were huge and the country's F&B export should grow by double digits, from about RM300 million currently. - BERNAMA