British experts to qualify Saudis in railway sector

The agreement was signed in presence of Dr. Majed Al-Qasabi, Transport minister Saleh Al-Jasser, the UK Minister of Railways Wendy Morton, Dr. Rumaih Al-Rumaih, and Eng. Badr Abdullah Al-Dalami. (SPA)
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Updated 17 May 2022
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British experts to qualify Saudis in railway sector

  • More than 400 graduates were able to work in various disciplines in the rail transport business

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia aspires to strengthen its position as a global logistics hub connecting three continents, improve services and increase integration between logistics systems and modern modes of transportation.

Eng. Abdulaziz Al-Sugair, the director general of the Saudi Railway Polytechnic Institute, and Munir Jolamyehiya, the director general of the British X-Rail Group, signed a training agreement to train Saudis in the railway industry in the Kingdom.

The agreement was signed in presence of the chairman of the Saudi-British Joint Economic Committee, Dr. Majed Al-Qasabi, the Saudi Minister of Transport Saleh Al-Jasser, the UK Minister of Railways Wendy Morton, Dr. Rumaih Al-Rumaih, the chairman of the Public Transport Authority and the Saudi Railway Polytechnic Institute, and Saudi Deputy Minister of Transport and Logistics Services Eng. Badr Abdullah Al-Dalami.

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The agreement was signed in presence of the chairman of the Saudi-British Joint Economic Committee, Dr. Majed Al-Qasabi, Saudi Minister of Transport Saleh Al-Jasser, UK Minister of Railways Wendy Morton, Dr. Rumaih Al-Rumaih, the chairman of the Public Transport Authority and the Saudi Railway Polytechnic Institute, and Saudi Deputy Minister of Transport and Logistics Services Eng. Badr Abdullah Al-Dalami.

Al-Sugair said the collaboration with X-Rail Group is a new step towards the development of national skills in transportation, particularly rail transport services. He stated that the agreement intends to train and qualify high school graduates and equip them to work in a variety of industries. These include signaling, communication, and railway control systems, in order to assist the transportation labor market and meet the growing demand for specialist cadres in this industry.




Chairman of the Saudi-British Joint Economic Committee, Dr. Majed Abdullah Al-Qasabi pose for a group photo with Saudi and UK officials in Riyadh. (SPA)

The training term lasts 18 months, with 12 months spent at the institute and 6 months spent on the job at the company’s facilities, or on projects that it executes, operates, and maintains.

More than 400 graduates were able to work in various disciplines in the rail transport business since 2021, according to the institute.

Among the goals of the National Strategy for Transport and Logistics Services is to increase the total lengths of future railways to 8,080 km, including the “land bridge” project with a length of more than 1,300 km, which will have a capacity of more than 3 million passengers and more than 50 million tons of freight annually.

Other goals include connecting the Kingdom’s ports on the Arabian Gulf coast with the ports on the Red Sea coast. New and exciting opportunities for this line will be created by it passing through modern logistic centers, economic activity centers, industrial cities and mining operations, enhancing the Kingdom’s logistic performance index to be among the top ten in the world.

“Training plays a big role in employing job-seekers,” believes Awwad Al-Dhafeeri, CEO of Shabakat ABAD training Institute.




Awwad Al-Dhafeeri, CEO of Shabakat ABAD training Institute.

Al-Dhafeeri told Arab News that jobs that demand specific abilities necessitate greater training to master the work, pointing to the profound changes that have occurred in professions as a result of expanding technology.

In previous decades, job acceptance was based on simple skills, and employees would acquire further necessary skills with experience, but at the moment, most jobs are concentrated in the private sector, which prefers employees to already have the required skill, with the rate of job acceptance much higher for those who have training in modern-age areas than those who do not.

Al-Dhafeeri, who has spent about 15 years in the management of training centers, advises young people not to rely entirely on educational attainment during their years of study in order to get jobs, but rather to get the appropriate training during their studies, including universities so that they can compete after graduation.

Since “we live in an era of digital transformation and the use of technology in various areas of life where the machine has replaced the human,” and many employment opportunities have been lost, he said, young people must hone their skills through training related to technological skills, according to their competence.


Mawhiba to host ‘Beyond Creative Minds’ conference this month

Updated 14 November 2024
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Mawhiba to host ‘Beyond Creative Minds’ conference this month

  • The organization, which nurtures the talents of gifted students, says event is a ‘global platform for talented and creative youth to collaborate in building a prosperous future’
  • It is expected to attract experts and researchers in the fields of science, technology and innovation from more than 50 countries

RIYADH: Mawhiba, an organization that works to nurture the talents of gifted students in scientific fields, will hold its third international conference this month with the theme “Beyond Creative Minds.”

Its Global Conference for Giftedness and Creativity will take place from Nov. 24 to 26 at King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center in Riyadh. Khalid Al-Sharif, the organization’s acting secretary-general, described the event as a “global platform for talented and creative youth to collaborate in building a prosperous future through the exchange of ideas and expertise.”

He told the Saudi Press Agency: “The event reflects the Kingdom’s commitment to supporting and empowering talent and promoting a culture of innovation to address future global challenges.”

The conference is expected to attract experts and researchers in the fields of science, technology and innovation from more than 50 countries, many of whom will give keynote speeches, take part in panel discussions and lead workshops.

Al-Sharif said the event will include a “‘creathon’ aimed at finding creative solutions to contemporary challenges. Attendees will also have access to exhibitions and various cultural visits scheduled alongside the conference.”

He added that Mawhiba, more formally known as the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity, will continue to develop talent, support creativity and provide resources to nurture the potential of gifted individuals. He thanked Minister of Education Yousef Al-Benyan for the substantial support he provides for the biennial conference.


Saudi and French ministers discuss cultural cooperation

Updated 14 November 2024
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Saudi and French ministers discuss cultural cooperation

  • Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan and Rachida Dati discussed cultural exchanges and cooperation relating to museums, libraries, theater, the arts, cuisine, heritage and film production

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s minister of culture, Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, and his French counterpart, Rachida Dati, held talks in Paris on Wednesday on cultural cooperation.

They discussed cultural exchanges between their countries and cooperation relating to museums, libraries, theater, the arts, cuisine, heritage and film production.

Riyadh and Paris are looking to strengthen partnerships, nurture talent through training programs for workers in cultural sectors, and exchange expertise, the Saudi Press Agency reported. The Kingdom’s assistant culture minister, Rakan Al-Touq, also took part in the meeting.


Riyadh governor receives Albania’s envoy

Updated 13 November 2024
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Riyadh governor receives Albania’s envoy

Riyadh Gov. Prince Faisal bin Bandar received Ambassador of Albania to the Kingdom Saimir Bala in Riyadh on Wednesday.

They discussed various topics of common interest, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Meanwhile, Eastern Province Gov. Prince Saud bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz met with Ukrainian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Anatolii Petrenko in Dammam on Wednesday.

Prince Saud welcomed the ambassador to the Eastern Province. During the meeting, the two exchanged friendly talks and discussed a number of topics.
 


Biofach offers look into Saudi Arabia’s agricultural growth, future

Updated 13 November 2024
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Biofach offers look into Saudi Arabia’s agricultural growth, future

  • The Kingdom and MENA region represent an emerging market for organic food, says organizing official

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia is among the Gulf Cooperation Council nations taking significant steps to invest in developing its organic food and beverage sector, which has experienced a growth surge in recent years.

The three-day Biofach Saudi Arabia, which was held alongside Saudi Organic Food Day and concluded on Wednesday, is a key platform showcasing the Kingdom’s commitment to developing its agricultural future.

Biofach was organized by 1st Arabia Tradeshows and Conferences in collaboration with NurnbergMesse, with support from the Saudi Ministry for Energy, Water and Agriculture and the Saudi Organic Farming Association.

Christian Beyer, manager of international events at NurnbergMesse, highlighted the potential of the Middle East and North Africa region: “The MENA region, especially Saudi Arabia, represents an emerging market for organic food that was estimated at USD 7 billion in 2022 and can expect ongoing growth.”

Recognizing the importance of organic farming for food security and environmental sustainability, Saudi authorities are focusing on enhancing rural production and improving supply chains to ensure organic products reach consumers efficiently.

The exhibition’s knowledge-exchange platform addressed local challenges, including effective water and fertilizer management, which are crucial for the region’s arid climate.

Among the exhibitors was the Saudi company Aamal Al-Andalus, which provides organic fertilizers to address soil degradation and declining fertility. Their products are said to help treat and reduce environmental stress, increase agricultural production, and improve the quality of crops to enhance export opportunities.

Youssif Abdulqader, sales manager and engineer at Aamal Al-Andalus, told Arab News: “Food around the world is increasingly going organic, particularly when all inputs in the plants come from organic and safe sources.”

He noted that this shift is largely driven by the health issues linked to consuming fruits and vegetables produced through conventional farming methods, which are often less beneficial or even harmful to human well-being.

Abdulqader explained: “Conventional farming practices are generally well-structured and effective; however, they face challenges such as the excessive use of pesticides and their persistence in the soil.”

Farmers often encounter bacterial issues within their crops that need to be addressed cost-effectively to maximize profitability.

“This is where organic alternatives can be prohibitively expensive, prompting conventional farmers to seek cheaper, often internationally banned options,” he added.

He added that the use of pesticides results in chemical residues that can remain in the plant’s environment.

These residues pose significant health risks when consumers ingest vegetables like cucumbers and tomatoes.

“There is a concern that these chemicals may contain heavy metals that the human body cannot process, leading to serious health issues such as cancer, kidney failure, and liver diseases, which are frequently associated with traditional farming practices,” he explained.


Prophet’s Mosque imam attends India peace forum

Updated 13 November 2024
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Prophet’s Mosque imam attends India peace forum

  • More than 50,000 Muslims attended the event, which was broadcast on several media platforms and garnered more than 4 million views

RIYADH: The imam and khatib of the Prophet’s Mosque, Sheikh Abdullah Al-Baijan, took part in a peace conference themed “Islam is the Religion of Humanity and Peace” during his recent visit to India

More than 50,000 Muslims attended the event, which was broadcast on several media platforms and garnered more than 4 million views, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.

As guest of honor, Al-Baijan delivered a speech in which he said that Islam was a religion of security and peace. He warned against divisions among Muslims and said that such discord threatened national unity, led to chaos and could incite wars.

Minister for Wakf and Haj in the government of Kerala Shri. V. Abdurahiman also spoke at the event, praising Saudi Arabia for its efforts in promoting Islam, peace and moderation.

Al-Baijan also joined the 35th All India Ahle Hadith Conference in New Delhi, where he commended Saudi Arabia’s efforts, led by its leadership, to promote security, peace, stability and the safeguarding of human dignity globally.