Riyadh expo focuses on sustainable aquaculture 

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Event inaugurated by Abdulrahman Al-Fadhli, minister of environment, water and agriculture, and chairman of the board of directors of the National Livestock and Fisheries Development Program. (AN photo/Haifa Alshammari)
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Event inaugurated by Abdulrahman Al-Fadhli, minister of environment, water and agriculture, and chairman of the board of directors of the National Livestock and Fisheries Development Program. (AN photo/Haifa Alshammari)
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The third Saudi International Marine Exhibition began on Sunday in Riyadh. (AN photo/Haifa Alshammari)
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Event inaugurated by Abdulrahman Al-Fadhli, minister of environment, water and agriculture, and chairman of the board of directors of the National Livestock and Fisheries Development Program. (AN photo/Haifa Alshammari)
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Updated 04 February 2024
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Riyadh expo focuses on sustainable aquaculture 

  • Agriculture minister announces $266m investment to achieve food security in Kingdom

RIYADH: The third Saudi International Marine Exhibition began on Sunday at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center, highlighting international expertise and the latest technologies in aquaculture, fisheries and seafood industries.

The three-day event was inaugurated by Abdulrahman Al-Fadhli, minister of environment, water and agriculture, and chairman of the board of directors of the National Livestock and Fisheries Development Program.

Al-Fadhli emphasized the government’s commitment to the aquaculture sector, announcing direct government spending of about SR1 billion ($266 million). This investment is aimed at enhancing infrastructure, research and localization to underscore the sector’s pivotal role in achieving food security, supporting the local economy and increasing exports in alignment with the goals of Vision 2030.

The event features the participation of 35 countries represented by more than 120 international and local companies, with the attendance of 3,000 local and international businessmen.

Al-Fadhli highlighted the Kingdom’s efforts to address challenges through thoughtful solutions, improved practices, sector incentives, streamlined procedures, land provision, necessary regulatory frameworks, and oversight.

He stressed the necessity of developing aquaculture to achieve food security due to increasing population growth and the adverse effects of marine environmental practices on fish stocks.

The exhibition serves as a showcase for investment opportunities in the sector and offers an opportunity for business professionals to engage with decision-makers in the Kingdom about the fishery industry.

Ben Gepp, an architect based in Australia who has been working with NEOM for the past few years to develop concepts for secular economies and net zero waste aquaculture, said: “We are now developing virtuality of simulations to give people a greater understanding of how they will soon be integrated into the national environment, and how they can actually enhance the national environment to reach zero discharges into the Red Sea.”

Asaad Mohamed, aquaculture program director at King Abdullah University for Science and Technology, spoke to Arab News about the program and anticipated outcomes that the university aims to achieve.

“In alignment with the directives of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture to realize the ambitious vision for the year 2030, aiming to produce 530,000 tons of marine fish, a project has been initiated to enhance fish farming in Saudi Arabia,” he said.

“Accordingly, we are currently working on developing new species in the fish sector in the Kingdom, studying them and presenting them to the industry to increase the diversity of fish in the local market.”

The fisheries sector is one of the fastest growing areas in the world, with a growth rate of up to 6 percent, and it is an economic tributary to support national domestic products, provide job opportunities and develop rural communities in light of the goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

During the exhibition, more than 20 technical workshops will be organized, featuring the participation of international speakers, companies and universities.

The event will also feature the signing of memoranda of understanding between the National Livestock and Fisheries Development Program and local as well as international parties.

For the first time during the exhibition, chefs will compete for the best dish in the “Chef of the Seas” competition. It will be supervised by renowned international chefs and judges.

The exhibition will host a masterclass, “Master Class — Culinary Experience with the Chef,” with the participation of more than 120 cooking enthusiasts, showcasing seafood dishes using traditional and specific cooking methods. The program also includes a business networking segment.

An exhibition featuring farmed fish products will be organized as part of the event.


Officials detained as investigators smash drug-smuggling operation at Al-Jouf Airport

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Officials detained as investigators smash drug-smuggling operation at Al-Jouf Airport

  • 9 people arrested, including Ministry of Interior employee, 4 people associated with the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority, and a Saudi Electricity Company worker

RIYADH: A drug smuggling operation at Al-Jouf International Airport in Saudi Arabia, in which several government and other public-sector officials allegedly were involved, has been shut down following an extensive investigation.

An official source at the Ministry of Interior said on Thursday that nine people were detained, including a ministry employee, four people associated with the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority, and one from the Saudi Electricity Company.

Their alleged roles in the smuggling network included helping to get the drugs into the Kingdom, ensuring shipments bypassed inspections, transporting them, and concealing them in homes and at other locations.

They also engaged in the promotion and distribution of the narcotics in the country, the Saudi Press Agency reported. The amount and type of drugs involved was not immediately apparent.

The Ministry of Interior said it remains committed to confronting all threats to national security and will take stringent action against anyone who jeopardizes the safety and stability of the country.


OIC discusses draft humanitarian funds statute

Updated 14 November 2024
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OIC discusses draft humanitarian funds statute

  • It discussed the draft humanitarian funds statute
  • Taha added that it was important to make every effort to finalize the statute of these funds

JEDDAH: The general secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation held a meeting of the open-ended Group of Governmental Experts in Jeddah on Thursday.
It discussed the draft humanitarian funds statute, in accordance with the Council of Foreign Ministers.
OIC Secretary-General Hussein Ibrahim Taha said that the meeting was held amid difficult and harsh humanitarian circumstances that required concerted efforts and collective action to adopt actions to help contain humanitarian crises and hardships.
In his speech, Taha added that it was important to make every effort to finalize the statute of these funds, undertake the necessary reforms to their working mechanism and support them with the financial resources to enable them to fulfil their role.
The statement delivered by assistant secretary-general for humanitarian, cultural and social affairs, ambassador Tariq Ali Bakhit, on behalf of OIC’s secretary-general, highlighted the significant challenges faced by member states in the humanitarian field.


KSrelief distributes shelter supplies in Afghanistan

Updated 14 November 2024
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KSrelief distributes shelter supplies in Afghanistan

  • KSrelief will distribute 4,882 shelter items, such as tents, blankets, plastic mattresses and other supplies

KABUL: The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center has launched a shelter project for people returning from Pakistan to Afghanistan and victims of the 2024 floods.

It will distribute 4,882 shelter items, such as tents, blankets, plastic mattresses and other supplies across the provinces of Kabul, Ghazni, Bamyan, Badakhshan, Kunduz, Baghlan, Parwan, Kapisa, Panjshir, Herat, Nimroz, Nangarhar and Laghman. The project will help 29,292 people.

The scheme is part of the Kingdom’s humanitarian and relief efforts, through its humanitarian arm, KSrelief, to alleviate the suffering of the Afghan people.


KSrelief wins Global Humanitarian Achievement Award

Delano Roosevelt, CEO of National Council on US-Arab Relations, presents the award to the supervisor general of KSrelief.
Updated 14 November 2024
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KSrelief wins Global Humanitarian Achievement Award

  • Delano Roosevelt, the council’s second president and CEO, presented the award to the supervisor general of KSrelief, Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, in Washington
  • Dr. Al-Rabeeah said the award is an international acknowledgement of Saudi Arabia’s leading role in relief efforts

WASHINGTON: The Saudi aid agency KSrelief was honored with the Global Humanitarian Achievement Award by the National Council on US-Arab Relations, in recognition of relief efforts that have made a substantial impact in crisis regions around the world.

Delano Roosevelt, the council’s second president and CEO, presented the award to the supervisor general of KSrelief, Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, in Washington, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Dr. Al-Rabeeah said the award is an international acknowledgement of Saudi Arabia’s leading role in relief efforts.

He underlined the Kingdom’s commitment to assisting people in need, supporting those affected by crises, and assisting refugees wherever possible.

He also affirmed that Saudi Arabia has consistently been a leader in charitable and humanitarian initiatives and is at the forefront of donor countries on regional and international fronts.


4th Saudi Green Initiative Forum hosted in COP16 Green Zone in Riyadh next month

Updated 14 November 2024
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4th Saudi Green Initiative Forum hosted in COP16 Green Zone in Riyadh next month

RIYADH: The Saudi Green Initiative announced on Thursday that the SGI Forum 2024 will take place on Dec. 3-4 under the theme “Action is in our nature.” 

The flagship climate and environment action event, now in its fourth year, will return to Riyadh for the first time since its launch in 2021 by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, prime minister and chairman of the Supreme Committee for the Saudi Green Initiative.

The SGI Forum 2024 will coincide with the 16th session of the Conference of the Parties, or COP16, of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, or UNCCD. 

According to an SGI press release, the Riyadh COP16 (Dec. 2-13) will be the largest-ever UNCCD conference, the first to be held in the Middle East region, and the largest multilateral conference hosted by Saudi Arabia.

At this year’s SGI Forum, hundreds of policymakers, business leaders and subject-matter experts from across the world will convene in a dedicated SGI Pavilion in the UNCCD COP16 Green Zone. 

Dozens of tailored sessions will explore best practices, innovations and progress against SGI targets, with the goal of deepening collaboration and scaling up action for a greener future.

Since the launch of SGI, a significant positive impact has been achieved, with 4+ GW of renewable energy capacity installed, more than 95 million trees and shrubs planted, and more than 1,660 endangered animals re-wilded across the Kingdom.

For the duration of COP16, the SGI will welcome the public to a 4,000 sq m SGI Pavilion, where visitors can enjoy an interactive journey through Saudi Arabia’s whole-of-society climate and environment efforts in the SGI Gallery. 

A multimedia showcase and a broad range of experts will enable guests to learn more about the more than 80 initiatives already launched as part of SGI. 

Visitors can also attend and exchange ideas during daily SGI Talks, an expert-led speaker series that launched in 2023.

The SGI was launched by the crown prince in 2021 to drive climate action across all levels of society and achieve Saudi Arabia’s ambition to achieve net-zero emissions by 2060. 

The initiative demonstrates the Kingdom’s dedication to improving the quality of life for current and future generations and addressing the region’s environmental challenges, including high temperatures, low rainfall, dust storms and desertification.

In 2022, the SGI Forum was held in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, in tandem with UNFCCC COP27. The event revealed major climate action projects, including the launch of a circular carbon economy knowledge hub, and the establishment of a regional center for advancing emissions reduction with UNESCWA.

In 2023, the third SGI Forum took place in conjunction with UNFCCC COP28 in Dubai.

During the event, the Kingdom unveiled a 300 percent increase in installed renewable energy capacity since 2022, and more than 43 million trees were planted toward the goal of 10 billion.