G20 leaders should include Labour 20 recommendations in final communique, says Saudi representative

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Updated 09 September 2023
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G20 leaders should include Labour 20 recommendations in final communique, says Saudi representative

  • Nasser Al-Jaryad says workers’ rights and protections needed in the face of global challenges
  • Chairman of the Saudi National Committee of Workers Committees participated in June’s L20 summit in Patna

RIYADH: As the Indian capital New Delhi hosts the Group of 20 leaders’ summit, expectations are high among delegates that world leaders will achieve consensus on a forward-looking approach to common challenges and issues, including workers’ rights.

Speaking to Arab News, Nasser Al-Jaryad, Saudi Arabia’s representative to the Labour 20 and chairman of the Saudi National Committee of Workers Committees, said he hopes world leaders will take the L20’s recommendations on board.

“As we know, the G20 summit is a big platform where important issues are discussed by leaders,” said Al-Jaryad ahead of the two-day summit, which opens in New Delhi on Saturday.

“There are big challenges, especially from our side, for workers all over the world, and we as L20 representatives are looking forward to this summit considering all the issues of workers and addressing our concerns regarding the future of the economy and what is impacting workers.

“That’s why we are looking forward to all the recommendations. We send them directly to the leaders and we hope all of our recommendations will be considered in the final communique.”




Nasser Al-Jaryad, Saudi Arabia’s representative to the Labour 20 and chairman of the Saudi National Committee of Workers Committees. (AN photo)

The L20 is a group of unions from G20 countries that aims to ensure the G20 process takes into account the interests and needs of workers. After a series of meetings and consultations earlier this year, the L20 presented a set of recommendations to world leaders.

Its key objectives include promoting job creation, strengthening social protections, ensuring the protection of workers’ rights and promoting gender equality in the workplace. The L20 also advocates for fair and decent wages, safe and healthy working conditions and the elimination of forced and child labor.

Al-Jaryad participated in the L20 summit in Patna, a city in northeast India, in June, where delegates agreed on a multilateral mechanism among G20 member states and associated countries to establish five task forces to address key issues related to the world of work.




Dr. Rimah Saleh Al-Yahya, right, Saudi representative to Labor 20 Summit in Patna, India, poses with other delegates to the G20 working group on June 23. (Photo courtesy of G. Vijayeshwar)

These included universal social security, women and the future of work, international migration and the portability of social security benefits, the changing world of work, and skill development.

“All of these recommendations coming from us will be considered in the final discussion and the leaders’ summit,” he said.

Al-Jaryad believes the theme of this year’s G20 summit, “One Earth, One Family, One Future,” should be understood as a call for closer cooperation, not only between nations but within societies, where the needs of working people are occasionally overlooked.

“It gives us a message that we need to think together and try to have a solution for this issue, especially the economic issue, which is impacting all of us in the world, especially the workers, who we think are a weaker section overall in many countries, especially the poor countries and African countries,” he said.




L20 delegation met with UAE's Minister for Labor & Employment. (Twitter/L20)

“We never forget anyone and do not want to leave anyone behind. We want to cover all of the needs of this workers’ group. This is what we concentrated on during the discussion in all our meetings of the L20 in 2023 when we started our meeting in India.

“We concentrated on the impact on workers … This is what we need to mention to the leaders, and we hope this summit will cover all of that and think about what we can build in our future, how we can create jobs, how we can cover all of this loss. This is mentioned in our recommendation.” 

The global economy has been buffeted in recent years by numerous crises, first by the lockdowns of the COVID-19 pandemic, followed by the ripple effect of the war in Ukraine, which has contributed to inflation in the prices of food and energy.

The effects of these crises have fallen disproportionately on the shoulders of the world’s workers and poorest, who have seen the price of borrowing rise, the cost of living inflate, and the availability of jobs evaporate, forcing millions more worldwide below the poverty line.

Added to this are anxieties over the impact of new technologies on many manual and clerical jobs, with advances in automation and artificial intelligence poised to replace human workers in many fields.

“We already discussed it in the last L20 summit in June, in which we mentioned very clearly that we need a very strong future plan to cover all of this loss,” said Al-Jaryad.

As the only Arab country among the G20 member states, Saudi Arabia is uniquely placed to act as an ambassador for the wider interests of the Gulf region, particularly in relation to the oil and gas industries, Al-Jaryad said.

“Saudi Arabia is one of the biggest countries in the G20, and as we know, it is the only one from the Arab world and the Gulf,” he said. “We are sure all of these recommendations on the decisions from this summit will impact all of the economies of the Gulf.

“That’s why we think all of the ideas that we discussed as a Saudi representative should be considered (as coming) from the region, and all the recommendations to be issued from the summit should consider this.

“We, all of the Gulf countries, are petroleum-producing countries. All the decisions for the global economy will impact the petroleum-producing countries too …

“We need to know how we can plan our future for our workers and our countries and how we can meet all of these targets to have a strong future for our economies.”

Finally, Al-Jaryad noted that Saudi Arabia and India share very cordial relations, which are set to develop further in the wake of India’s G20 presidency.

“As we know, India is the seventh largest trading partner of Saudi Arabia. This will have a very strong impact especially in the economy and on how we can strengthen relations between India and the Kingdom,” he said.

“India is the fifth largest investor in the Kingdom, which means it is one of the biggest trading partners (with) an investment in Saudi Arabia.

“We know there are many Indian workers in Saudi Arabia. They helped build many of our projects and supported development. The G20 summit will really strengthen our relations and economies.”

 


KSrelief signs education, housing agreements for conflict-hit Yemen, Syria 

Updated 37 min 26 sec ago
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KSrelief signs education, housing agreements for conflict-hit Yemen, Syria 

RIYADH: Saudi aid agency KSrelief signed cooperation agreement with civil-society organizations in Yemen and Syria to address critical needs in the war-torn countries.  

The $1.5 million agreement in Yemen will implement the second phase of a project aimed at educating illiterate students and those with disabilities, the Saudi Press Agency reported. 

It will focus on building the institutional capacities of centers and public schools working in the fields of protection, care, and rehabilitation of people with disabilities, as well as literacy schools.

The project will be carried out in the governorates of Aden, Lahij, Al-Dhale, Shabwa, Hadhramaut, and Al-Mahra, benefiting a total of 8,975 individuals.

In Syria, KSrelief signed a joint executive program with a civil-society organization to provide 300 temporary housing units for the 2023 earthquake victims in several camps in the Jandairis area of Aleppo. The initiative will benefit 300 families comprising 1,330 individuals. 

Under the agreement, existing fabric tents in targeted camps will be replaced with 300 temporary housing units, each comprising two rooms, a hall with a kitchen, and a bathroom, covering an area of 30 square meters. 

Additionally, 300 solar energy systems and 300 water tanks with a capacity of 500 liters will be installed. 

The agreements, signed by KSrelief Assistant Supervisor General of Operations and Programs Eng. Ahmed Al-Baiz, are part of Saudi Arabia’s ongoing efforts to secure basic needs of people in conflict hit zones.


How a Saudi startup is pioneering the cultivation of algae in the desert

Updated 21 September 2024
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How a Saudi startup is pioneering the cultivation of algae in the desert

  • From reducing carbon emissions to providing alternative food sources, algae represents a cornerstone of sustainability
  • Green Desert Tech uses innovative sensor technology to grow the crop at scale in the water-scarce Kingdom

RIYADH: If you have ever brushed against slimy green algae while swimming in the sea, you might not realize that this humble organism holds the key to some of the most promising innovations in food, energy and sustainability.

For Abdulmajeed Hashem, a Saudi chemist and founder of Green Desert Tech, algae is nothing short of revolutionary.

“Algae is the most water-efficient, land-efficient and protein-productive crop to exist in the world,” he told Arab News.

Hashem’s Jeddah-based startup is pioneering new methods to grow algae in the desert, using innovative outdoor cultivation systems that rely on advanced monitoring technology to overcome the environmental challenges of Saudi Arabia’s arid climate.

His journey began in Boston, where he earned a degree in chemical science before pursuing a master’s in organic chemistry at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia.

Hashem’s initial focus was on macromolecule synthesis, but his passion for groundbreaking technologies led him to abandon his PhD to explore something that had “a bit more impact.”

Spirulina, a high-protein and nutrient-dense superfood, has been consumed by humans for centuries. (Greentech photo)

The turning point came from a conversation with his PhD adviser, Basem Moosa, who emphasized the untapped potential of algae as a renewable resource.

The notion fascinated Hashem, and after gaining hands-on experience in greenhouse technology at Red Sea Farms, another KAUST startup, he decided to launch Green Desert Tech.

Hashem’s choice to focus on algae was strategic. “If you look at the protein productivity per meter squared of algae, it’s higher than anything else that exists,” he said.

Algae’s water use is another major advantage. It can be grown using a fraction of the water required by traditional crops — about one-10th to one-15th — and the water it does consume can be fully recycled.

Diagram showing the Green Desert tech's pond.

In a water-scarce region like the Arabian Peninsula, where many essential crops are imported, algae’s water efficiency is a game changer. Moreover, algae thrives in high temperatures and abundant sunlight — two resources that Saudi Arabia has in spades.

The challenge, however, lies in the need for high humidity, something less common in the region. Despite this, Hashem is confident that with the right technology, algae cultivation can flourish.

Green Desert Tech’s primary innovation lies in its sensor technology, which monitors and controls environmental variables in algae pools.

DID YOU KNOW?

• From reducing emissions to providing alternative food sources, algae represents sustainability.

• Algae can grow using a fraction of the water needed for traditional crops.

• Green Desert Tech’s sensor box monitors real-time environmental variables, improving productivity.

Hashem said current methods for cultivating algae are outdated and inefficient.

Open pool systems, while simple and cost-effective, are not optimized for maximum productivity. On the other hand, photobioreactors — closed systems with controlled lighting — are highly efficient but expensive to scale.

“If you think of a future where algae is our main source of biofuel, food and feed, it can’t be done through bioreactors,” Hashem said. “Scaling algae production will have to happen through open pools.”

Open pool systems, left, are simple and cost-effective but not optimized for maximum productivity. Photobioreactors (right) are highly efficient but expensive to scale. (Green Desert & Shutterstock photos)

The company’s first step toward optimization is better monitoring. If you are to optimize a system, “you have to know what’s going on,” Hashem said.

Green Desert Tech has developed a sensor box that provides real-time data on the pool’s conditions, from temperature to algae density, with readings every 10 seconds. 

“All of these sensors already exist,” Hashem said. “This is not something very novel. The way we integrate it into our system is.”

The sensor technology uses optics and transmittance to monitor algae growth. As algae grows, it absorbs more light, blocking signals from reaching a detector. By tracking the changes in these signals, the system can determine growth rates over time.

Green Tech's sensor technology uses optics and transmittance to monitor algae growth. (Green Desert photo)

In the future, Hashem hopes to implement microscopy for even more accurate monitoring. It will not just provide a quantitative sense of the algae growth rate but also qualitative information, he said.

With microscopy, Green Desert Tech could track cell health, detect contaminants, and even observe potential damage to algae cells in real time.

Once the system gathers data, it uses control mechanisms to adjust conditions in the pool, ensuring optimal growth. For example, when pH levels fluctuate, the system automatically dispenses sodium bicarbonate to stabilize the environment.

For Hashem, the significance of algae extends far beyond its agricultural potential. He believes it offers a viable solution to some of the world’s most pressing environmental challenges.

One of the most exciting aspects of algae cultivation is its ability to absorb carbon dioxide at rates far higher than traditional plant life. 

A hectare of algae is 10 to 20 times more efficient at absorbing carbon dioxide than a hectare of trees, Hashem said. This makes algae a powerful tool in the global effort to combat climate change.

Algae could offer a nutritious and eco-friendly substitute to fish being used as animal feed. (Green Desert photo)

Algae also has potential as an alternative animal feed. Currently, about 70 percent of fish produced globally are used to make fish feed, which is unsustainable in the long run. Hashem believes algae could offer a nutritious and eco-friendly substitute.

“You have a process that essentially takes nothing from the Earth and even gives back,” he said. Algae not only cleans the air by absorbing carbon dioxide but also produces a high-value biomass that can replace traditional feed or energy sources.

Green Desert Tech is now moving from the prototype stage to a larger production scale. Having successfully tested its technology in a 50-square-meter prototype facility in Tahlia, Jeddah, the company is expanding to a new 10,000-square-meter facility in Huda Al-Sham.

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This new site will serve as a production center and a research and development hub, where the team can continue refining their technology while producing algae for commercial purposes.

Hashem envisions a future where several industries can benefit from algae. The goal is to make it easy and economically feasible for producers to grow algae, he said. 

Green Desert Tech has already started selling sensor boxes to algae pool owners, sharing its cutting-edge technology with the broader industry. Hashem hopes that as more algae pools adopt these sensors, they can collectively build a vast data bank on algae cultivation.

Green Desert Tech founder Abdulmajeed Hashem. (Supplied)

“With AI (artificial intelligence) and generative AI models becoming more prevalent, the data is one of the most valuable commodities we will produce,” he said. As more data flows into the system, AI could help refine algae production methods, driving further efficiencies.

For Hashem, algae represents a cornerstone of sustainability. From reducing carbon emissions to providing alternative food sources, he believes it has the potential to reshape industries and ecosystems worldwide.

Green Desert Tech’s mission is to unlock that potential, making algae cultivation more efficient, scalable and accessible.


 


Art, music, fireworks shows on for Saudi National Day celebrations

Updated 20 September 2024
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Art, music, fireworks shows on for Saudi National Day celebrations

  • Events taking place in Riyadh, Jeddah, AlUla over 4-day holiday
  • Traditional arts, theater events also on the schedule nationwide

RIYADH/JEDDAH/ALKHOBAR: With the Saudi National Day holiday running from Friday to Monday, what better way to mark the annual Sept. 23 occasion than by immersing oneself in the Kingdom’s most breathtaking landscapes as well as fireworks, music and art shows.

The General Entertainment Authority has announced there will be fireworks displays across Saudi Arabia. On Sept. 22, Umm Ajlan Park in the capital is hosting, for free, the nation’s biggest fireworks display, a drone show, and a folklore event, starting at 9 p.m.

Saudi folklore shows, air shows and many other events are taking place across the Kingdom as part of Saudi National Day celebrations. (SPA)

There will also be fireworks displays at Jeddah Promenade from Friday to Monday starting at 6 p.m. On the same day, as a part of the festivities, there will be an air show at Jeddah’s North Corniche with planes flying in formation and leaving green smoke trails across the sky.

Having started on Sept. 19, the Mishkat Interactive Exhibition is hosting the “Energy of Glory” celebration until Sept. 21, from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., focusing on Saudi Vision 2030 and the nation’s sustainable energy goals.

September 23 will feature a local band performing traditional and modern songs, a Saudi folklore show, and a marine show at the Jeddah Yacht Club. (Supplied)

At Nakheel Mall Riyadh, Fontana Circus will be performing with gravity-defying aerialists. There will also be a musical fountain on display.

At The Globe, one of Riyadh’s most iconic dining spots, which is a glass-enclosed venue with panoramic city views, diners can enjoy afternoon tea from Sept. 20 to 23.

In Alkhobar, the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture will have a series of curated interactive cultural programs from Sept. 20 to 23. (Supplied)

Other dining options in the capital include the Mandarin Oriental and Al-Faisaliah where cuisine from the Kingdom’s 13 regions is on the menu.

At Jeddah Yacht Club and Jeddah Art Promenade, a local band will perform traditional and modern songs, in addition to a Saudi folklore show, and a marine show on Sept. 23.

One of the standout events this weekend is “Shojaa,” a family-friendly musical show at The Club in Al-Shallal Theme Park. Running from Sept. 20 to 23, this performance celebrates Saudi Arabia culture with music, storytelling, and a homage to the Year of the Camel.

In Jeddah’s Historic District, the cultural history of Saudi Arabia will be presented at the Tariq Abdulhakim Center. From Sept. 21 to 24, the center will host museum tours, karaoke sessions, art workshops, face painting for children, and an Arabic calligraphy booth.

Zawiya 97 in the Historic District will have an artisan souq on Sept. 23, with handmade crafts for sale, and educational and cultural offerings. From Sept. 22 to 23, there will be performers playing traditional music on the oud at Social Shot Lounge & Bar.

In AlUla, the Azimuth Festival is on from Sept. 19 to 21 at Wadi Al-Fann, featuring international and regional artists. Also, Hero Experiences Group is offering hot-air balloon flights above AlUla’s ancient landscapes

Also on offer is the Sharaan Platinum Dinner Safari, a tour of the nature reserve led by expert guides in the afternoon. There will be tours of canyons with ancient petroglyphs and rock formations. Canapes will be available as the sun sets over the valley.

In the evening, a traditional South African braai, or barbecue, will be on offer in a canyon aglow with lanterns, and later a stargazing session under the vast desert sky.

In Alkhobar, the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture will have a series of curated interactive cultural programs from Sept. 20 to 23. The activities include live performances, workshops, exhibitions and film screenings which highlight Saudi heritage.

In addition, there will performances of traditional Saudi art forms, including the Al-Ardah dance.

From Sept. 19 to 23, Alkhobar’s new performing arts center, Fantakah, will stage an original play titled “The Law of Attraction.” Fantakah founder and chief operating officer, Husain Zaber, is the writer and director.

 


Saudi tourism practices in spotlight in Jazan

Brainstorming sessions were conducted to promote critical thinking and idea generation during the event. (SPA)
Updated 20 September 2024
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Saudi tourism practices in spotlight in Jazan

JAZAN: The Higher Institute for Tourism and Hospitality, in cooperation with UN Tourism’s regional office in Riyadh, recently organized a workshop called “Innovative Approaches for Sustainable Tourism Practices” at the institute’s headquarters in Jazan.

The workshop featured an introduction to sustainable tourism, under the supervision of Luis Nicolas Barrios, regional manager for innovation, education and investments at the UN Tourism Regional Office.

Brainstorming sessions were conducted to promote critical thinking and idea generation during the event. (SPA)

Those participating in the event undertook brainstorming sessions aimed at promoting critical thinking and the generation of ideas.

Ali bin Saeed bin Jaber, director of the institute, explained that the initiative was part of the body’s ambitious plans for providing job opportunities for Saudi youngsters while helping them toward meeting the needs of the international hotel and tourism industry through the institute’s programs. These had been designed in cooperation with international academic institutes and the local private sector.

 


4 Ethiopians arrested for drug smuggling in Saudi Arabia’s Asir

Saudi authorities have arrested individuals carrying illegal drugs in Jazan. (SPA)
Updated 20 September 2024
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4 Ethiopians arrested for drug smuggling in Saudi Arabia’s Asir

  • In Al-Ardah, also in Jazan, they thwarted an attempt to smuggle 435 kg of qat

ABHA: The Kingdom’s Border Guard land patrols in Dhahran Al-Janub, Asir, arrested four Ethiopians for illegal entry and attempting to smuggle 40 kg of hashish into the country.

The initial regulatory procedures were completed, and the seized narcotics were handed over to the relevant authority.

Meanwhile, Border Guard land patrols in Al-Dayer, Jazan, thwarted an attempt to smuggle 165 kg of qat.

In Al-Ardah, also in Jazan, they thwarted an attempt to smuggle 435 kg of qat.

Security authorities urge citizens and residents to report all information regarding activities related to drug smuggling or selling by calling the numbers 911 for Makkah, Riyadh, and the Eastern Region, and 999 for the rest of the Kingdom.