RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s environment minister has opened an exhibition in Riyadh which showcases a range of date products and their history.

Abdulrahman Al-Fadli, the Saudi minister of environment, water and agriculture, officially opened the International Dates Conference and Exhibition 2024, organized by the National Center for Palms and Dates. It runs until Nov. 28 with about 100 local and international entities participating.

It is a “global platform to showcase Saudi dates, drive innovation in their processing industries, and enhance their global export potential,” according to organizers.

The exhibition aims to enhance the competitiveness of Saudi products, contributing to the development of the palm and dates sector as a key pillar in driving economic growth.

Visitors can taste date varieties from the different regions of the Kingdom, including Al-Ahsa, Al-Qassim, AlUla, and Al-Jouf.

The exhibition also includes a variety of entertainment activities such as folklore shows, regional poetry, and cooking competitions.

On the sidelines of the opening ceremony, a carbonated sugar-sweetened date drink was launched by Al-Madinah Heritage Company, a subsidiary of the Public Investment Fund.

The exhibition also features a museum which takes visitors on a journey through time to explore the history of palm trees and dates over 1,000 years.

The museum showcases manuscripts and agricultural tools that highlight the significance of dates in daily life and literary culture.

It also houses archaeological collections showing the different uses of palm trees through the ages, including as tools.

In addition, there is a live cooking area that brings together local and international chefs to present a range of date-based dishes.

Al-Fadli, along with several officials and foreign delegations, toured the exhibition’s pavilions and explored a range of date-based products, such as juices, baked goods, and date chocolate.

JEDDAH: The Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Friday concluded the Global Entrepreneurship Week forum.

The two-day event held at the chamber’s headquarters featured the participation of strategic partners such as King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, the Prince Mohammed bin Salman College of Business and Entrepreneurship, Monshaat, the Social Development Bank, the Entrepreneurship National Committee, and other private entities.

The forum emerged from the chamber’s keenness to participate in supporting and motivating more individuals to enter the world of entrepreneurship and to spread the innovation culture among local community members.

Participants established their pavilions where they displayed the latest technologies and sustainable solutions reflecting the development of the entrepreneurial sector, one of the most prominent development pillars in the Kingdom.

At the end of the forum, participants were given the opportunity to establish partnerships and agree contracts with local and international companies, the aim being to promote economic growth throughout the Kingdom in line with Saudi Vision 2030.