SkyTeam Cargo, the largest alliance in the air cargo industry, has announced the appointment of Omar Hariri as the new chairman of its executive board.
The executive board of SkyTeam Cargo Alliance, which is made up of top executives from the group’s 12-member cargo airlines, endorsed Hariri’s new role during a recent meeting.
Hariri is a transportation and logistics veteran with 16 years of commercial, operations and transformation experience within blue-chip companies across Saudi Arabia and the region.
Having started his career with DHL in 2004, his abilities and results-driven approach moved him up the corporate ladder to vice president of the commercial division for DHL in Saudi Arabia within a decade.
During his tenure at DHL, he held different managerial positions, including national sales manager for Saudi Arabia and country general manager for Kuwait operations prior to heading the commercial function in Saudi Arabia as vice president.
Before joining Saudi Airlines Cargo Co. (Saudia Cargo), Hariri headed FedEx Express in the Kingdom as managing director, where he transformed the business by exponentially growing the top line within 18 months.
He currently leads Saudia Cargo and Saudi Arabian Logistics Co. as CEO. The multibillion-riyal group is served by more than 1,300 employees, is operated through 10 freighters and has a belly space of 160 passenger aircraft, along with 4 cargo terminals spread across the country.
Hariri obtained a master’s degree in procurement, logistics and supply chain management at the University of Salford, UK and is a member of the IATA Cargo Advisory Council and SkyTeam Cargo Committee.
Omar Hariri, chairman of SkyTeam Cargo Alliance
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Omar Hariri, chairman of SkyTeam Cargo Alliance
Japan ambassador attends manga exhibition in Riyadh
- ‘Manga Hokusai Manga’ exhibition held to mark 70 years of diplomatic ties between Saudi Arabia and Japan
RIYADH: Japan’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Yasunari Morino attended the opening ceremony of the “Manga Hokusai Manga” exhibition here on Tuesday.
Held at the Saudi Arabia Museum of Contemporary Art, the show is one of many upcoming events celebrating the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations.
The exhibition celebrates the work of renowned Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai.
In his speech, Morino said it was a “delight to see more and more Saudi people enjoying the Japanese culture from (the) traditional to contemporary.”
He added that he was happy to see “Saudi artists being inspired by the Japanese manga to create their artworks.”
“I sincerely hope this exhibition will make another footprint of the Japanese culture in KSA and give a great impact in the Saudi art scene,” he said.
The exhibition has been organized in cooperation with the Saudi Museums Commission and the Japan Foundation and is open to the public until Feb. 8.
A version of this article appeared on Arab News Japan.
Saudi aid agency KSrelief distributes over 2,000 food parcels in Pakistan
RIYADH: The Kingdom’s aid agency KSrelief has distributed 2,028 food parcels in Pakistan’s flood-affected Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa regions, benefiting 13,159 people, the Saudi Press Agency reported recently.
Sunday’s initiative forms part of this year’s Food Security Support Project in Pakistan.
The aid reflects the Kingdom’s ongoing humanitarian efforts through KSrelief to assist needy individuals in Pakistan.
Energy ministers discuss Saudi-Japan cooperation
RIYADH: Japan’s Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Yoji Muto held discussions on cooperation with Saudi Arabia’s Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz on Tuesday.
The officials reviewed current ties and stressed the importance of joint efforts in energy transitions, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The ministers welcomed the progress made under the Manar Initiative, which is a Saudi-Japan effort to promote clean energy.
The initiative was launched after former Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s visit to Saudi Arabia in 2023.
A version of this story originally appeared on Arab News Japan.
Saudi aid agency KSrelief treats hundreds at Aden prosthetics center
- The services included the manufacturing and fitting of prosthetic limbs, as well as physical therapy
RIYADH: The Kingdom’s aid agency KSrelief has helped to treat 452 Yemenis, who lost limbs because of the ongoing conflict, at the Prosthetics and Rehabilitation Center in Aden governorate, the Saudi Press Agency reported recently.
A total of 1,407 procedures were completed for men, who made up 65 percent of patients, and women at 35 percent.
In addition, 54 percent were displaced individuals and 46 percent residents.
The services included the manufacturing and fitting of prosthetic limbs, as well as physical therapy.
KSrelief continues to provide general and critical care for vulnerable Yemeni people, the SPA reported.
New study documents reptile species in King Abdulaziz Royal Reserve
- Researchers identified 31 species — 25 lizards and six snakes — following 1,551 field observations within the reserve
RIYADH: A groundbreaking scientific study has unveiled the first detailed list of reptile species in the King Abdulaziz Royal Reserve in Saudi Arabia, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.
Conducted by the reserve’s development authority, the study was published in the Amphibian & Reptiles Conservation journal.
Researchers identified 31 species — 25 lizards and six snakes — following 1,551 field observations within the reserve. Three species were also newly documented, raising the reserve’s known total to 34.
The research highlighted two endangered species, the Egyptian monitor lizard (Uromastyx aegyptia) and the Wolfgangboehmei gecko (Tropicolotes wolfgangboehmei), which both face threats from climate change and human activity, according to the study.
Spanning from November 2022 to October 2023, the study employed tools such as genetic barcoding and highlighted the reserve’s ecological diversity.
Aligned with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 program and the Saudi Green Initiative, the study is part of efforts to protect endangered species and sustain wildlife in Saudi Arabia. Researchers recommended enhanced monitoring and adaptive conservation strategies to mitigate environmental challenges.
