Saudi investment minister: Energy, stability key to future Gulf prosperity

Minister of Investment Khalid Al-Falih at the World Economic Forum. (Screengrab/@MEPSaudi)
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Updated 16 January 2024
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Saudi investment minister: Energy, stability key to future Gulf prosperity

  • ‘The most important thing is political stability, long-sighted vision and consistency,’ Khalid Al-Falih tells WEF
  • Kuwaiti finance minister: Sovereign wealth funds ‘one of the examples of the strength of the GCC countries’

LONDON: The energy transition will be at the core of the Gulf region’s strategy to continue to fuel its growth, Saudi Arabia’s investment minister said on Tuesday at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

“The most important thing is political stability, long-sighted vision and consistency,” Khalid Al-Falih told a panel titled “Gulf Economies: All In.”

He added: “Saudi Arabia is very committed to working with our GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) partners … and our private sector companies are fully embedded in each and every nation of the GCC as we create value to each other.”

Al-Falih said the region will “transition more to a decarbonized, environmentally suitable mix of energy that will have oil and gas continuing for a long, long time, but of course will bring the green, blue and other forms of energy that’s emerging.

“That’s a huge growth potential for the Kingdom, but I believe it’s going to be done at a regional level.

“We’ve seen Saudi companies invest heavily in the Emirates, in Bahrain, in Kuwait and in Oman as we built this sector of renewable energy and hydrogen.”

Al-Falih also noted the progress being made elsewhere as Gulf economies seek to diversify away from fossil fuels to strengthen their economies.

“The other trend, of course, is digital transition. With everything from cloud computing, AI (artificial intelligence) recently, and all of the capabilities that digitization brings, I think that the region is going to continue to lead in this area,” he said.

“I think connectivity, speed and what have you (are) all big enablers for industries, for logistics, for travel and tourism to come to the Kingdom — and to the region — and take advantage of this digital platform.”

Al-Falih touched upon the Gulf’s location at the crossroads between Europe, Asia and Africa, coupled with its rapidly improving infrastructure, as reasons to remain bullish on GCC prosperity, adding: “We have the infrastructure to allow global value chains to be reengineered.”

Bahrain’s Finance Minister Salman bin Khalifa Al-Khalifa said the GCC’s growth is opening up numerous economic possibilities.

The GCC “is moving towards being a $3 trillion per annum GDP (gross domestic product) economic zone by 2030, and moving towards being a $6 trillion per annum economic zone by 2050. That’s the macro trend at conservative numbers,” he added.

“Saudi Arabia is 50 percent of that GDP and a big driver of that growth, and that growth across the region is being driven by sound policy, by excellent execution, and by making sure that we’re simplifying doing business and having a very rapid decision-making process, and we’re seeing the results in that growth.”

He said Bahrain, like Saudi Arabia and others, is diversifying its income streams and investments as it looks towards its future.

“There are six sectors that we’re focused on, and those six sectors are banking, telecoms and digital services, manufacturing, logistics, oil and gas, and tourism, and we’re putting everything into those sectors,” he added.

“Today in Bahrain, 83 percent of GDP is non-oil, and the largest sector in the economy is banking and finance. 

“What we’ve found is that whenever you simplify procedures, whenever you go in and get government out of the way and allow the private sectors to move at the pace that they want to move … things thrive.”

Al-Khalifa rejected suggestions that the Gulf states could be hampered by competition between each other, saying: “The pie currently is growing so fast that competition isn’t even on the table. Everybody is trying to grow their service sectors, grow their participation, grow their GDP, and there’s a lot of synergistic benefits.”

Kuwait’s Finance Minister Ali Ahmed Al-Kuwari noted the role that sovereign wealth funds have to play in driving growth across the Gulf, calling them “powerhouses” and “one of the examples of the strength of the GCC countries.” 

He said they are vital for the future of Gulf economies as “they’re able to invest and co-invest in the private sector” in areas where investment could perhaps be deemed unattractive in the short-to-medium term to drive growth over lengthier periods.

Al-Kuwari equated this to the various national development strategies of states such as Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, saying this “long view” is key to continued success.

However, he warned that regional insecurity poses a threat to this prosperity, citing the current conflict in Gaza as a cause for concern.


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.