Saudi Arabia’s relief center prosthetic limbs project benefits 1,839 Yemenis

The KSRelief-funded centers treat landmine victims and train Yemeni cadres as well. (SPA)
Updated 25 February 2019
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Saudi Arabia’s relief center prosthetic limbs project benefits 1,839 Yemenis

  • 1.3 million patients to receive eye treatment
  • The Saudi Project for Landmine Clearance (MASAM) in Yemen cleared more than 43,000 mines in the war-ravaged country as of Feb. 15, according to the figures released by KSRelief

JEDDAH: The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSRelief) on Sunday revealed it provided prosthetic limbs for 1,839 civilians mutilated during the war in Yemen in the past three years, at a total cost of $2.3 million.
Prior to April 2017, a medical center backed by KSRelief and based in the city of Marib had fitted prosthetic limbs for 305 patients, and trained 5 Yemeni teams on prosthetic affixation techniques and patient rehabilitation, at a cost of $546,848.
By February 2018, 306 more patients had been treated, and 6 further teams were trained, costing $440,000, and by December 2018, 612 more limbs had been fitted with over 600 old ones replaced across Marib and Aden, coming in at $1.25 million.
The center has gone to great lengths to ensure both convenience and efficiency for patients on waiting lists for prosthetics, including maintaining regular lines of communication with people still awaiting treatment. The training program, established to teach Yemeni medics how to attach prosthetics themselves, is vital for the sustainable future of the center.
Amputations performed on civilians have been a prominent feature of the vicious war in Yemen, with men and many women and children requiring assistance from KSRelief after suffering life-changing injuries from bombs and landmines.
The Saudi Project for Landmine Clearance (MASAM) in Yemen cleared more than 43,000 mines in the war-ravaged country as of Feb. 15, according to the figures released by KSRelief. About a million mines have been planted by the Iranian-backed Houthi militias in Yemen over the past three years, claiming the lives of more than 1,000 civilians.

Eye hospital
KSRelief has started the first phase of a project to operate and prepare the Makkah Eye Specialist Hospital in Yemen’s Marib province to serve 1.3 million patients from across the country.
Dr. Abdullah Saleh Al-Moallem, director of the health and environmental aid department at KSRelief, said it signed on Feb. 9 an agreement to prepare and operate a specialized center for ophthalmology and eye surgery in Marib, which will last three years and cost $2.97 million.
The project aims to treat eye injuries, raise awareness on eye health, and establish a package of services in Marib to support Yemen’s Health Ministry and citizens. The second phase of the project, which will last three years, will focus on receiving patients.
Since its establishment in May 2015, KSRelief has implemented 692 projects around the world.
In Yemen, 325 programs have been run by KSRelief in partnership with 80 UN, international and local nongovernmental organizations. An estimated 2.5 million Yemenis have benefited from medical services provided by KSRelief in 2018, the SPA said.
Saudi Arabia has given $84.7 billion in foreign aid to 79 countries between 1996 and 2018.


UK-Gulf deals create 4,000 new jobs, raise UK living standards, Starmer says

Updated 10 December 2024
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UK-Gulf deals create 4,000 new jobs, raise UK living standards, Starmer says

  • ‘Now is the time for further investment into our country,’ says Starmer

RIYADH: Recent British deals with Saudi Arabia and the UAE have created 4,000 new jobs in Britain and are part of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s plans to raise living standards, he said during a recent visit to Riyadh.

Starmer was received by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at Al-Yamamah Palace in the Saudi capital this week, where discussions centered on enhancing bilateral cooperation in areas of mutual economic interest.

“The UAE and Saudi Arabia are key partners of ours. So I’ve been making the case that now is the time for further investment into our country, as far as Saudi Arabia is concerned,” Starmer told local press.

Saudi Arabia and the UK outlined plans to boost economic relations and investment during a high-level business roundtable held in Riyadh. (SPA)

“For example, some of the deals we’ve done in the last few weeks have yielded 4,000 jobs, and so I’m here driving growth with the sole intention of making sure that when I say living standards will go up in the UK, people will feel better off that we’ve got the plan to follow through and deliver on that, with acts, with investment around the world.”

The visit included a high-profile business roundtable on Monday featuring Saudi Minister of Investment Khalid Al-Falih, Minister of Commerce Majid Al-Kassabi, Saudi Ambassador to the UK Prince Khalid bin Sultan, and Starmer.
 
Trade and investment: Key drivers

Trade between the UK and Saudi Arabia has seen robust growth in recent years, with bilateral trade valued at £14 billion annually. The UK is a key exporter to the Kingdom, supplying machinery, vehicles and pharmaceuticals, while Saudi Arabia exports crude oil, petrochemical products and significant investments in non-oil sectors.

FASTFACTS

• The Kingdom has been actively fostering global partnerships, as reflected in its agreements with the UK.

• Sectors such as green energy, digital transformation and healthcare innovation are seen as crucial for the next phase of bilateral economic engagement.

Recent discussions placed a particular emphasis on diversifying this trade relationship. Sectors such as green energy, digital transformation and health care innovation are seen as crucial for the next phase of bilateral economic engagement.

The growing Saudi-UK trade relationship is fostering collaborations in education and training. (SPA)

Saudi Arabia’s investments in its ICT sector, projected to reach $37.5 billion by 2024, present significant opportunities for British firms.

“The Kingdom’s investment in ICT is a clear signal of its ambitions. For UK technology firms, this is a market of immense opportunity,” said Sarah Walker, CEO of ZainTECH UK, in a previous interview with Arab News.

Renewable energy at the forefront

A cornerstone of the Saudi-UK partnership lies in renewable energy. Saudi Arabia has emerged as a global leader in clean energy, particularly in green hydrogen, where it aims to become a dominant producer.

James Penlington, CEO of London-based Renewable Edge, told Arab News previously: “Saudi Arabia’s investments in green hydrogen are unmatched globally. As a UK company, we are keen to contribute our expertise to support the Kingdom’s sustainability goals.”

The Kingdom’s focus on renewable energy is in line with its Vision 2030 target of generating 50 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by the end of the decade. This ambitious goal has attracted significant interest from UK firms specializing in solar, wind and hydrogen technologies.
 
Expanding educational and training partnerships

The growing Saudi-UK trade relationship is also fostering collaborations in education and training.

British universities and institutions are increasingly playing a role in developing Saudi Arabia’s workforce, particularly in high-tech fields such as artificial intelligence, robotics and health care.

These partnerships are critical to Vision 2030’s goal of building a skilled and diversified workforce.

“Educational collaboration is an area where UK institutions can bring real value,” Lucy Harper, managing director of Tech Frontier UK, told Arab News on Tuesday.

“With Saudi Arabia focusing on human capital development, we are seeing opportunities to engage in programs that drive innovation and prepare the workforce for future challenges.”
 
Building on Vision 2030 success

Since the launch of Vision 2030 in 2016, Saudi Arabia has achieved significant progress in economic diversification.

According to official data, 87 percent of its 1,064 initiatives are either completed or on track, demonstrating the Kingdom’s dedication to transforming its economy and creating new opportunities for international investors.

This progress has positioned Saudi Arabia as a key destination for foreign investment.

The Kingdom has been actively fostering global partnerships, as reflected in its agreements with the UK. For example, trade between Saudi Arabia and the UK reached £17.2 billion in 2022, marking a 68 percent increase compared to the previous year.

With Saudi Arabia advancing its Vision 2030 reforms and the UK pursuing new trade partnerships post-Brexit, the bilateral relationship has continued to strengthen.

The focus on renewable energy and technology aligns with Saudi sustainability goals, while UK businesses have benefitted from opportunities in the Saudi Arabia’s $37.5 billion ICT market.

These agreements signal a clear commitment to innovation and sustainable economic growth.

 


Saudi crown prince receives phone call from Canadian PM

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. (File/SPA/AFP)
Updated 10 December 2024
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Saudi crown prince receives phone call from Canadian PM

  • During the call, Prince Mohammed and Trudeau discussed developments in Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories and developments in Syria

RIYADH: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman received a phone call from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Tuesday, Saudi Press Agency reported. 

During the call, Prince Mohammed and Trudeau reviewed aspects of relations between their countries and ways to enhance them in a number of areas.

They also discussed developments in Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories, developments in Syria, and topics of common interest.

The need to support efforts aimed at reducing escalation and achieving security, peace, and stability in the region was also discussed. 


Saudi, Malaysian foreign ministers chair cooperation meeting in Riyadh

Updated 10 December 2024
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Saudi, Malaysian foreign ministers chair cooperation meeting in Riyadh

  • Prince Faisal and Hasan signed a memorandum of understanding on mutual visa exemption
  • Prince Faisal and Hasan stressed the brotherly relations that connect Saudi Arabia and Malaysia

RIYADH: Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan and his Malaysian counterpart chaired the first meeting of the Saudi-Malaysian Coordination Council in Riyadh on Tuesday.

Following the meeting, Prince Faisal and Dato’ Seri Utama Hajji Mohamad bin Hajji Hasan, Malaysian minister of foreign affairs, signed a memorandum of understanding on mutual exemption from a short-stay visa for holders of diplomatic, private or official passports.

A second memorandum on social development was signed by Hasan and the Saudi deputy minister of human resources, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The Saudi-Malaysian Coordination Council discussed aspects of cooperation in political, security, trade, investment, Islamic affairs and socio-cultural sectors.

Prince Faisal and Hasan stressed the brotherly relations that connect Saudi Arabia and Malaysia and pledged to continue their joint coordination and support for their mutual interests in bilateral, regional, and international issues.

Mesaad Al-Sulaim, Saudi ambassador to Kuala Lumpur, and several other senior Saudi and Malaysian aides and officials, attended the meeting.


Deputy FM receives US ambassador to Saudi Arabia

Updated 10 December 2024
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Deputy FM receives US ambassador to Saudi Arabia

  • They discussed bilateral relations and ways to enhance them in various areas of cooperation, as well as prominent developments in regional and international arenas

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed Elkhereiji received the US Ambassador to the Kingdom Michael Ratney in Riyadh on Tuesday.

During the meeting, they discussed bilateral relations and ways to enhance them in various areas of cooperation, as well as prominent developments in regional and international arenas, the Foreign Ministry wrote on X.

Elkhereiji recently also met with Sudan’s Ambassador to the Kingdom Dafallah Al-Hajj Ali, and discussed the current developments in Sudan and the efforts addressed in their regard.

 


Saudi Arabia showcases innovation in healthcare at Riyadh exhibition

Updated 10 December 2024
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Saudi Arabia showcases innovation in healthcare at Riyadh exhibition

  • Event, held from Dec. 10-12, brings together more than 400 exhibitors from 100 countries and over 150 speakers from the pharmaceutical industry
  • Aligns with the goals of the health sector transformation program, outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, which aims to foster a vibrant society with a healthy life

RIYADH: The Saudi Ministry of Health is showcasing its latest projects in therapeutic and pharmaceutical healthcare at the CPHI Middle East exhibition in Riyadh.

The event, held from Dec. 10-12, brings together more than 400 exhibitors from 100 countries and over 150 speakers from the pharmaceutical industry.

It aligns with the goals of the health sector transformation program, outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, which aims to foster a vibrant society with a healthy life.

Among the key highlights are advancements in biotechnology, highlighting the ministry’s support for the national biotechnology strategy, which seeks to position Saudi Arabia as a regional and global biotechnology hub while enhancing self-sufficiency in the sector.

The pavilion also presents investment opportunities in biotechnology, aiming to enable sector growth and establish the Kingdom as a global leader, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Key initiatives include implementing strategic incentives to attract international companies, promoting sustainable marketing, enhancing financing capabilities, fostering joint investments and driving infrastructure investments.

Minister of Health Fahad Al-Jalajel said: “Hosting the CPHI Middle East exhibition in the Kingdom underscores our dedication to enhancing Saudi Arabia’s role as a hub for pharmaceutical industry innovation in the region.

“This aligns with the Kingdom’s efforts to implement the National Biotechnology Strategy, which aims to contribute 3 percent to gross domestic product, totaling SR130 billion ($34.6 billion) annually by 2040.”

Al-Jalajel oversaw the signing of agreements worth SR10 billion and announced partnerships with major companies, including Vertex Pharmaceuticals for a project valued at around SR1 billion, and Tabuk Pharmaceuticals with an investment of SR100 million.

Vice Minister of Health for Planning and Development Abdulaziz Al-Ramaih praised the transformation of the healthcare sector and the expanding role of private industry in the pharmaceutical industry.

He highlighted the Kingdom’s goal to lead the biotechnology sector in the Middle East and North Africa by 2030 through the National Biotechnology Strategy, which aims to create numerous jobs by supporting research, innovation and integrated biomanufacturing, while boosting the sector’s growth and competitiveness.

Al-Ramaih noted the pivotal role of the pharmaceutical sector in enhancing public health, strengthening health security, fostering economic growth and bolstering the Kingdom’s global standing.