RIYADH: Saudi Deputy Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture, Mansour Al-Mushaiti, says that the Kingdom’s coffee industry has undergone a qualitative shift over the past decade, growing from a local to global scale.
The remarks were made during his speech at the opening ceremony of the International Saudi Coffee Exhibition on Wednesday in Jazan, Saudi Press Agency reported.
There are over 2,000 coffee farms in the Jazan region producing more than 1,000 tons of coffee a year, according to the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture.
Al-Mushaiti described the coffee exhibition as a pivotal platform for advancing the industry, offering specialized training for coffee farmers, workshops and cultural and artistic gatherings aimed at bolstering the regions’ coffee cultivation.
The Jazan Development Strategic Office organized the exhibition to share farming knowledge and best practices, to support initiatives aimed at encouraging coffee cultivation in the region, and to help accelerate Jazan’s transformation into a global trade hub.
Al-Mushaiti also emphasized the agricultural sector’s pivotal role in boosting national development.
The minister highlighted the focus on coffee projects, reflecting the diverse agricultural landscape of Saudi Arabia’s southwestern region. Initiatives include plans for new coffee processing facilities in the Al-Dayer governorate, model coffee nurseries across Jazan and Asir, as well as a pioneering coffee city in Al-Baha.
The Kingdom’s Sustainable Agricultural Rural Development Program has provided more than SR155 million ($41.3 million) to 7,256 beneficiaries across various agricultural industries, with coffee farmers constituting a significant portion of these.
Local farmers at the exhibition told SPA that cultivating and harvesting coffee beans is a fun activity for them and their families, and that they inherited their fathers’ enthusiasm for the job.
Coffee cultivation, they said, requires patience because one tree takes three to four years to produce fruit. They noted that the ministry assists them in increasing coffee production, encouraging other farmers to follow in their footsteps.
Saudi coffee has grown on global scale, minister says
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Saudi coffee has grown on global scale, minister says
- There are over 2,000 coffee farms in the Jazan region producing more than 1,000 tons of coffee a year
Saudi and Ukrainian foreign ministers discuss Russia-Ukraine conflict
- Discussion came amid escalating hostilities in Ukraine, with Russian forces launching overnight attack involving 87 Shahed drones
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister held a phone call on Sunday with his Ukrainian counterpart Andriy Sybiha to discuss relations and the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, Saudi Press Agency reported.
Prince Faisal bin Farhan and the Ukrainian minister exchanged views on developments in the war and efforts to resolve the crisis, as well as other matters of mutual interest, SPA added.
The discussion came amid escalating hostilities in Ukraine, with Russian forces launching an overnight attack involving 87 Shahed drones and various types of missiles.
The assault followed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s announcement of a “victory plan,” which he plans to present at the Oct. 12 Ramstein group meeting, where nations supplying arms to Ukraine will gather.
Zelensky’s plan, which includes Ukraine’s NATO membership and the provision of long-range missiles, was shared with US President Joe Biden last week.
Zelensky praised Ukraine’s troops for their resilience, stating that their capabilities were enhanced with sufficient weaponry. He urged Ukraine’s allies to take more decisive action to accelerate the end of the conflict.
“(The troops) demonstrate what Ukrainians are capable of when they have enough weapons and sufficient range,” he said in a statement on social media.
“We will keep convincing our partners that our drones alone are not enough. More decisive steps are needed — and the end of this war will be closer.”
Saudi FM meets with Solomon Islands officials in Riyadh
- An agreement on mutual exemption from short-stay visa requirements for holders of diplomatic, special, and official passports was signed between the two countries
RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan received the prime and foreign ministers of the Solomon Islands Jeremiah Manele and Peter Shanel Agovaka in Riyadh on Sunday.
During the meeting, the officials reviewed relations between the Kingdom and the Solomon Islands and ways to enhance and develop them in various fields.
They also discussed intensifying joint coordination on many issues of interest to the two countries.
An agreement on mutual exemption from short-stay visa requirements for holders of diplomatic, special, and official passports was signed between the two countries during the meeting.
Prince Faisal also met with Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland separately on Sunday.
During the meeting, the officials discussed opportunities to enhance Saudi-Commonwealth cooperation and topics of common interest.
Riyadh hosts forum on Arabic language computing
- The event drew participants from local, regional, and international institutions, along with researchers from 22 countries
- he conference aims to foster collaboration between computational experts and linguists
RIYADH: The King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language launched its third international conference on Sunday in Riyadh, called “Arabic Language Computing and Linguistic Data Enrichment.”
The event drew participants from local, regional, and international institutions, along with researchers from 22 countries, who focused on computational linguistics, computer science, and the Arabic language.
The conference aims to foster collaboration between computational experts and linguists, bridging knowledge gaps and showcasing key projects in Arabic language computing.
It seeks to enrich Arabic language datasets to enhance artificial intelligence models and support Arabic language processing.
Abdullah Al-Washmi, the academy’s secretary-general, spoke of the need to improve academic practices in the Arab world and provide a platform for discussing challenges and opportunities in linguistic data quality and accessibility.
Topics include machine learning, speech-to-text conversion, and automated text recognition, as well as the use of computational linguistics in Arabic language learning, digital dictionary techniques, and linguistic corpus analysis.
Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Mahyobi, an associate professor of computational linguistics at Imam Mohammad ibn Saud Islamic University, said that research would result in more objective and precise language analysis results.
He noted that automation eliminated subjective guesswork, leading to reliable and verified outcomes.
Al-Mahyobi added that automating language processing could revolutionize machine translation, error detection, speech recognition, and text compression and indexing.
He said that Arabic’s structured morphological, syntactical, and lexical systems made it particularly suited for advanced digital processing.
Saudi woman transforms Arabic learning for children with interactive calligraphy game
- Lujain Abulfaraj established “Akwan” (universes in Arabic) to enrich language learning for children a
RIYADH: Driven by her passion for the Arabic language, Saudi woman Lujain Abulfaraj has embarked on a mission to make it more engaging for children. After noticing her son’s disinterest in Arabic, she sought a solution.
In 2015, Abulfaraj enrolled in a design program dedicated to exploring the beauty of Arabic calligraphy and its potential as an educational tool, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.
Realizing its ability to be both entertaining and instructive, she created a game featuring large Arabic letters that could be arranged into words for play.
This led her to establish a venture aimed at enriching language learning for children. In 2020, she introduced “Akwan” (universes in Arabic), a set of magnetic bricks inspired by Arabic calligraphy, designed to make learning interactive and enjoyable for children.
At the Riyadh International Book Fair, Abulfaraj highlighted the boundless creative possibilities “Akwan” offers children, SPA reported.
She praised the Ministry of Culture for its efforts in revitalizing Saudi culture, particularly the language, and for supporting young talent in the country.
In recognition of her dedication, the Ministry of Culture nominated Abulfaraj for the 2023 Cultural Awards in architecture and design, where she became one of the top three finalists in the Kingdom.
Her work also earned the “Designed in Saudi” seal.
Deal signed to promote falconry on Hawi platform
- The deal was signed on the sidelines of the International Saudi Falcons and Hunting Exhibition
- The agreement will help enthusiasts form falconry clubs and produce supplies via the Hawi platform
RIYADH: Saudi Falcons Club’s CEO Talal Al-Shamaisi, and Khalid Al-Baker, the Quality of Life Program’s CEO, have signed a memorandum of cooperation to support falconry and establish amateur clubs through Hawi, the national hobbies portal.
The deal was signed on the sidelines of the International Saudi Falcons and Hunting Exhibition, which is being held in Malham, Riyadh, until Oct. 12, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.
The agreement will help enthusiasts form falconry clubs and produce supplies via the Hawi platform. It will also facilitate knowledge exchange and collaboration to promote falconry and enhance the community’s cultural and recreational life.
Hawi, an initiative of the Quality of Life Program, aims to stimulate the hobbies sector by creating clubs while providing a supportive environment.
The memorandum supports the club’s goals to increase the number of falconry practitioners, preserve cultural heritage, promote environmental awareness, and position Saudi Arabia as a global hub for falconry.
Separately, the Saudi Falcons Club and King Khalid University have signed a memorandum of cooperation to implement awareness initiatives and rehabilitation programs related to falcons and falconry.
The agreement also includes research and training programs in falconry. It aims to attract investors, share data and studies, and collaborate on events, exhibitions, and conferences.
