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Greeted with a hug: Saudi crown prince welcomed to India by PM Modi

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Modi said India was delighted to welcome the crown Prince to India. (SPA)
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Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was greeted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his arrival. (Indian Foreign Ministry)
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Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was greeted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his arrival. (Indian Foreign Ministry)
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Modi said India was delighted to welcome the crown Prince to India. (SPA)
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Modi said India was delighted to welcome the crown Prince to India. (SPA)
Updated 20 February 2019
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Greeted with a hug: Saudi crown prince welcomed to India by PM Modi

  • The crown prince will receive a ceremonial welcome at the presidential palace on Wednesday
  • Saudi ambassador to India says visit is historic opportunity to consolidate a 'historical friendship'
Updated 20 February 2019
Sanjay Kumar

NEW DELHI: Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman arrived in New Delhi for his first trip to India on Tuesday night. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a break from normal protocol, welcomed the Saudi prince at the airport with a warm hug, sending a clear message about the importance India is placing on this royal visit.

“India is delighted to welcome HRH Mohammed Bin Salman, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia,” Modi tweeted later.

The two-day royal visit takes place against the backdrop of an escalation in tensions between New Delhi and Islamabad after the Pulwama terror attack on Feb. 14, in which 44 security personnel lost their lives. Speaking in Islamabad on Tuesday, Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel Al-Jubeir said that the Kingdom would try to “de-escalate the tension” between the neighboring countries and find a “path forward to resolve those differences peacefully.”

On Wednesday, the crown prince will receive a ceremonial welcome at the presidential palace and meet the Indian foreign minister, before sitting down with Modi for talks that are expected to be wide-ranging. The prime minister will also host a lunch for the visiting dignitaries, while in the evening President Ram Nath Kovind will host a banquet in honor of the Saudi crown prince, who is accompanied by a high-level delegation that includes ministers, senior officials and leading Saudi businessmen.

The royal visit follows the Indian PM’s trip to Saudi Arabia in April 2016, during which the countries elevated the status of their relationship to a strategic partnership. Some reports have suggested that they might now be planning to set up a “Strategic Partnership Council” at a ministerial level, in addition to holding joint naval exercises and upgrading defense cooperation.

As well as the political engagement during the crown prince’s visit, 400 Indian and Saudi business leaders will meet in New Delhi, at the invitation of Saudi General Investment Authority, to explore business opportunities and cooperation.

India is the fourth-largest trading partner of Saudi Arabia, with bilateral trade worth $27.5 billion last year, and Riyadh supplies 20 percent of India’s crude-oil requirement. Last year, Saudi Aramco, in partnership with UAE company ADNOC, entered into a $44 billion joint venture for a stake in the Ratnagiri Refinery and Petro-Chemical project in the western Indian state of Maharashtra.

India considers Saudi Arabia a friend and part of its “extended neighborhood,” said Ahmad Javed, India’s ambassador in Riyadh.

“More than 7 million Indians work in the Gulf region,” he added. “Saudi Arabia and the other GCC states have been the time-tested, reliable source of our energy security. The security, stability and prosperity of the region are of great importance to us.

“We attach great priority to our friendly relations with Saudi Arabia. Our traditionally close ties are anchored in shared interests based on centuries-old economic and sociocultural ties, as well as vibrant people-to-people contacts.”

Topics: Crown Prince Asia tour Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Colors of Saudi Arabia Narendra Modi Eye on the Vision Vision2030 Saudi 2030 vision

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Climate change is a key driver of worldwide hunger, according to IFAD

Updated 45 min 59 sec ago
Haifa Alshammari
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Climate change is a key driver of worldwide hunger, according to IFAD

  • IFAD President Alvaro Lario: Food security is intertwined with the current extreme weather events, as it has impacted the world
  • Saudi Arabia has contributed over $536 million to IFAD since it started and is among the top 10 donors
Updated 45 min 59 sec ago
Haifa Alshammari

BAKU: Climate change is dangerously impacting crops and driving worldwide hunger, according to the head of the International Fund of Agricultural Development.

“Food security is intertwined with the current extreme weather events, as it has impacted the world,” IFAD President Alvaro Lario said in an interview with Arab News on the sidelines of the COP29 UN climate conference in Baku, Azerbaijan.

IFAD reported that in 2023, about 735 million people suffered from hunger caused by climate change.

In addition, unusual rainfalls, according to IFAD, caused a decrease in wheat production and food quality in Europe.

Floods and heat waves caused damage to orange crops in Brazil. In Southern Africa, above-average temperatures led to below-average maize harvests, and in parts of West Africa, erratic rains affected cocoa production and cut output by half.

“We are seeing a lot of the crops are fully being impacted in Brazil, which has been hit by a historic drought, or in Ghana, for example, where there has not been enough rain, cutting the cocoa production by half.”

The IFAD is a UN specialized agency as well as a development finance institution. The organization provides concessional funds and grants to countries and invests in the private sector.

The organization’s key focus is to provide livelihoods and raise income as well as production in low- and middle-income countries.

“Our biggest investments are in the Sub-Saharan region. Fifty-five percent of our funding goes to Sub-Saharan Africa, and up to 60 percent into Africa. But we also operate in the Middle East, Asia, and Latin America. We are currently investing in 90 countries,” said Lario.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is one of the main contributors to IFAD. According to the organization, Saudi Arabia has contributed over $536 million to IFAD since it started and is among the top 10 donors.

In the last 10 years alone, the Kingdom has contributed a total of $96.6 million.

IFAD implemented the first phase of a project to support coffee and mango farmers in the Jazan region.

From 2018 to 2023, the project established 50 model coffee farms and five mango farms in the region, which benefited nearly 30,000 smallholder farmers, according to IFAD.

Furthermore, the project adopted strategic plans through a group of development solutions and pillars that include agricultural sustainability and innovation.

“Small-state islands are among the most vulnerable (to climate change),” said Lario. “We are seeing that sea levels are rising. They are also suffering from hurricanes and long droughts. They suffer from access to potable drinking water.”

Strategies to address the problem and implement adequate solutions have been developed by IFAD according to each country’s climate situation.

“For IFAD, we do have strategies on how we work and how we design our projects. All the strategies are to promote sustainable food systems, also to increase rural non-farm crops, so they can also diversify their income.”

One of the programs the organization is working on is in Belize, in Central America, for heat-tolerant and drought-resistant crops such as maize or beans. Another project involves mixing trees with crops that provide shade to conserve water and combat the rising temperatures in Cuba.

Topics: COP29 Green & Blue International Fund of Agricultural Development (IFAD)

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Forum focuses on women’s role in Saudi economy

Updated 19 November 2024
Arab News
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Forum focuses on women’s role in Saudi economy

  • Event features broad participation from experts, officials, academics and professionals, focusing on the women’s business sector
  • Prince Saud bin Naif highlighted the Saudi leadership’s commitment to empowering women across various sectors
Updated 19 November 2024
Arab News

RIYADH: Eastern Province Gov. Prince Saud bin Naif inaugurated the Women’s Economic Forum in Dammam on Tuesday.

The event, organized by the Asharqia Chamber through its Women’s Empowerment Center, features broad participation from experts, officials, academics and professionals, focusing on the women’s business sector.

Prince Saud highlighted the Saudi leadership’s commitment to empowering women across various sectors, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

He emphasized the importance of economic programs designed to enhance women’s contributions to the national economy.

The chamber’s chairman, Badr Al-Rizaiza, briefed the governor on the forum’s objectives and the key initiatives supporting Saudi women’s empowerment.

The forum featured four sessions examining the evolving role of Saudi women under Vision 2030.

Topics included women’s contributions to achieving Vision 2030’s goals, opportunities in the entrepreneurship ecosystem, strategies for business sustainability, and the significance of training in preparing women for leadership roles.

On Wednesday, the forum will host four workshops focusing on key areas, including the Dhahran Techno Valley system and its support for entrepreneurship, as well as tourism entrepreneurship.

The workshops will also cover fostering workplace diversity and inclusiveness, and creative leadership as a cornerstone for success in today’s dynamic business environment.

Topics: Prince Saud bin Naif Women’s Economic Forum 2024 Dammam Saudi Vision 2030

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Pakistan PM receives Saudi deputy interior minister in Islamabad

Saudi Deputy Interior Minister Nasser bin Abdulaziz Al-Dawood is received by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Updated 19 November 2024
Arab News
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Pakistan PM receives Saudi deputy interior minister in Islamabad

  • Al-Dawood also met with Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Raza Naqvi and discussed boosting security cooperation
Updated 19 November 2024
Arab News

RIYADH: Saudi Deputy Interior Minister Nasser bin Abdulaziz Al-Dawood was received by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad on Tuesday.

They reviewed bilateral relations and discussed topics of mutual interest, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Al-Dawood also met with Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Raza Naqvi and discussed boosting security cooperation.

Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf bin Saeed Al-Malki was among the Saudi officials in attendance.

Topics: Saudi Arabia Pakistan

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AlUla Trail Race offers challenges for adventure enthusiasts of all levels

Updated 19 November 2024
Arab News
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AlUla Trail Race offers challenges for adventure enthusiasts of all levels

  • Participants of all ages and fitness levels are invited to engage in this sporting challenge in a vibrant, competitive environment
  • Several races will be held at the event, organized by AlUla Moments, ranging from a 1.6 km Kids’ Run to a 100 km ultra-marathon
Updated 19 November 2024
Arab News

RIYADH: The AlUla Trail Race will take place on Jan. 23 and 24, 2025, offering a challenge with stunning scenery for adventure enthusiasts.

Participants of all ages and fitness levels are invited to engage in this sporting challenge in a vibrant, competitive environment, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Several races will be held at the event, organized by AlUla Moments, ranging from a 1.6 km “Kids’ Run” to a 100 km ultra-marathon, providing options for all skill levels across AlUla’s desert landscape and ancient oases.

The AlUla Trail Race 2025 features seven distinct races, with participants viewing iconic AlUla locations, including Elephant Rock, Maraya (the world’s largest mirrored building), and the UNESCO World Heritage site of Hegra.

The 1.6 km race, for children aged 6 to 12, offers a safe and fun introduction to competitive running. The “Sunset Run” (3 km) allows participants aged 13 and older to explore AlUla’s oasis at sunset.

The 10 km “AlUla Oasis” race is open to runners aged 13 and older, suitable for beginners or those seeking a moderate challenge.

The “Elephant Rock” 23 km race is aimed at more experienced athletes aged 16 and older, and is equivalent to more than half a marathon.

The 50 km “Al-Mejdar” race is the toughest trial for runners aged 18 and older, while the 100 km “Hegra” event is the ultimate challenge for professional runners aged 18 and older, testing endurance in one of the most scenic and demanding races.

The event spans two days. On the first day, participants will register, receive race numbers and equipment, and attend a briefing before heading to the starting locations. Day one will also feature races for children, families and after-sunset events.

On day two, the 10 km, 23 km and ultramarathon races will be held, concluding with a ceremony to honor the winners and distribute awards.

In addition to the competitive atmosphere, the sports village will provide a range of food and beverages, including premium coffee, along with live music and entertainment.

Physiotherapy and rehabilitation spaces will be available for runners post-race.

Topics: AlUla Trail Race AlUla Moments

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Riyadh library launches cultural tourism initiative

Updated 19 November 2024
Arab News
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Riyadh library launches cultural tourism initiative

Updated 19 November 2024
Arab News

Riyadh: The King Abdulaziz Public Library in Riyadh has launched an initiative to position Saudi Arabia as a top global destination for cultural tourism by attracting visitors worldwide to explore the library’s diverse branches, both within and outside the Kingdom.

This project aligns with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 by strengthening national identity, fostering cultural exchange, and supporting sustainable development, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Through its efforts, the library seeks to showcase Saudi Arabia’s rich heritage, folk arts, and traditions, while deepening citizens’ connections to their cultural roots and contributing to economic diversification.

The library’s general supervisor, Faisal bin Muammar, affirmed its commitment to advancing the Kingdom’s cultural and tourism objectives.

The library’s cultural tourism approach goes beyond traditional collections, offering access to historical and rare manuscripts, art and more.

Topics: Saudi Arabia Riyadh

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