The “Saudi–French joint committee” reflects the common ambition to strengthen the Franco-Saudi strategic partnership and deepen our special relationship through the improvement of France’s trade and investment relationship and the identification of a new cooperation prospects within the framework of the National Transformation Program 2020 adopted by the Kingdom to implement the Saudi Vision 2030.
More than 600 people took part in the first Saudi-French business forum in Paris.
The second one in October 2015 was organized in Riyadh with the presence of French Prime Minister Manuel Valls.
More than 2000 participants were registered and 130 French firms came to the event: It was the biggest business delegation to visit the Kingdom.
They have shown a real interest in the Saudi market. The third one should take place next fall.
Indeed, France supports the Vision 2030. It is the occasion to show another face of the Saudi-French partnership by providing know-how transfer and capacity building.
For example, France works on energy but also in transportation: In their offer for the Makkah Metro Project, Alstom has included a proposal to build a regional hub in the Kingdom for the transportation industry. It means France is keen to promote localization.
French groups are dedicated to hire more and more young Saudi nationals and to welcome more students.
Furthermore, France is the first touristic destination in the world that draws more than 80 million tourists per year and tourism industry is another field of common interest to discuss.
Financial services are another field of French excellence that has to be shown in the Kingdom and can also contribute to achieve the target of “a country of investment”.
During Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s visit in Paris in last June, France and the Kingdom discussed several contracts and agreements in various fields such as defense, energy, health care, agriculture, transportation and infrastructure, culture, education and sport as well as sciences and technology, information, environment, housing, tourism and heritage.
A certain numbers of agreements and contracts are expected to be signed during the next session of the “Saudi – French joint committee”.
2016 Statistics of bilateral trade between France and Saudi Arabia
Although it is too early to announce statistics for 2016, it can be said that the bilateral trade between France and the Kingdom is going well.
As far as 2015 is concerned, France’s exports to Saudi Arabia increased by 6 percent up to 3.1 billion euros.
Conversely, our imports contracted by 25 percent to 5.3 billion euros because of the lower oil price.
With $15.3 billion of French foreign direct investment (FDI) in Saudi Arabia, France is the third biggest investor in the Kingdom.
More than 80 French subsidiaries have an active presence in Saudi Arabia, and most of the big groups of CAC40 (Paris Index) are represented in the Kingdom.
They employ about 27.600 people, including 10 000 Saudi nationals, a Saudization rate of 36 percent much higher than the average of the Saudi economy (16 percent).
Twenty-four Saudi companies are located in France (mostly by acquiring existing entities).
They employ 3200 persons directly and achieve a combined turnover of approximately EUR 350 million.
Saudi Vision 2030 and the National Transformation Plan will offer a lot of opportunities to develop new partnerships in many different fields: from tourism and culture to mining, including energy, transportation, agriculture, health, housing and many more, France is committed to bring the best of its technologies and know-how to accompany the Kingdom in its ambitious transformation program and to make it a success.
Paris can offer its expertise in privatization programs, especially in the water sector to Saudi Arabia.
Indeed France has long experience in PPP and privatization as it was the first country in the world to implement PPP in the 19th century with the first concessions for the water distribution networks.
French companies and state entities also have a long experience in privatization since the beginning of the 80s. France was at that time in the same configuration as the Kingdom today and can now share experiences in many fields such as energy, water, transportation and IT services for example.
An institutional cooperation could be implemented with ministries and national agencies.
France is one of the largest European countries that import large quantities of oil from Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia is first partner of Paris in the region and France is one of the leading European countries importing Saudi crude.
French imports are mainly composed of oil and oil products and France’s bilateral trade is in favor of the Kingdom.
Saudi investments in France
One of France’s priorities is to increase and diversify Saudi investments in France which total less than 1 billion euros, and are mostly directed toward real estate.
France is the leading destination for foreign investment in industry and the fourth largest FDI receiver in the world.
The entrepreneurial and innovation policy is also proving effective, since France has been ranked as the leading country for R&D support and for newly founded businesses.
By easing the entrepreneurial process and fostering innovation, the French industry offers a lot of different investment opportunities for Saudi investors (public and private), and represents a major know-how transfer potential in a long term cooperation perspective.
French companies ready to participate in Saudi Arabia’s needs for solar plants.
Indeed, Energy sector is a cornerstone of our strategic partnership.
Various French companies are willing to work with Saudi Aramco, Saudi Electricity Company and KACARE.
Many delegations came to the Kingdom in order to work on renewable energy especially for solar projects.
The role of France to reduce carbon impact all over the planet must be reminded. Indeed, the COP 21 was a great success and Paris is determined to pursue those efforts by offering the best solutions. TOTAL, EdF and numerous groups already made proposals to work on solar investments.
Saudi housing projects
In this framework, French companies can also contribute to the Saudi housing projects by bringing their experience (delivery housing units on an industrial scale since the 50s), knowhow (rich eco-system of companies) and new technologies (smart cities, Internet of things, good build materials, etc…) in order to tackle the growing need of housing units in the Kingdom but also to have energy efficient units.
To build smart should be as important as to build quick and affordable.
France can contribute to the changing landscape of subsidies as described in the National Transformation Plan.
Thus, cheaper access to housing units for nationals of low and middle income categories will not comply with the Vision 2030 if these units perform poorly in operating cost notably for the end user when he will have to pay for electricity and water.
A common ambition to strengthen Saudi-French strategic partnership
A common ambition to strengthen Saudi-French strategic partnership
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
- 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, 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
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.
Film review: ‘Gladiator II’ — entertaining, and a fun romp
RIYADH: After years of waiting, “Gladiator II,” a sequel to the epic saga “Gladiator” (2000), has finally hit the screen.
The film, released in VOX Cinemas, Saudi Arabia on Nov. 14, had a premiere at VOX Cinemas, Roshn Front in Riyadh on Tuesday evening.
Directed by legendary filmmaker Ridley Scott, “Gladiator II” continues the epic saga of power, intrigue and vengeance in Ancient Rome.
Starring Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington and Fred Hechinger, the action genre release offers full entertainment, and serves as a follow-up to Scott’s “Gladiator,” released almost 25 years ago.
Years after witnessing the death of the revered hero Maximus at the hands of his uncle, Lucius (Paul Mescal) is forced to enter the Colosseum after his home is conquered by the tyrannical emperors who now lead Rome with an iron fist.
With rage in his heart and the future of the empire at stake, Lucius must look to his past to find strength and honor to return the glory of Rome to its people.
With “Gladiator II” expected to have its work cut out trying to prove it can stand toe to toe with Scott’s highly regarded epic, the film is not exactly what fans have been expecting. It is no patch on the original, to be sure, but it is still a good fun time at the movies, with Mescal and Washington stealing the show. It is entertaining, and a fun romp.
Scott’s return to the Roman arena is something of a repeat, but it is still a thrilling spectacle and Mescal a formidable lead.
Set about 25 years after “Gladiator,” we are reintroduced to Lucius (Mescal), the now grown son of Lucilla (Connie Nielsen) and Maximus (Russell Crowe). He lives with his wife and child in Numidia as a respected warrior, but a far cry from his birthright. When a battalion of Roman soldiers, led by General Marcus Acacius (Pedro Pascal) invades his land, his wife is killed in the battle, resulting in Lucius’ capture and enslavement. Passed along, he ends up in Rome, seen as fodder for the masses.
Obviously inspired by the similar predicamen t of Maximus, Lucius quietly resolves to fight as a gladiator in the Colosseum. His silent reasoning and overwhelming abilities are noteworthy, capturing the attention of Macrinus (Denzel Washington), a former slave. Macrinus has designs on the throne of Rome, plotting to overthrow young emperors Caracalla (Fred Hechinger) and Geta (Joseph Quinn), taking Lucius under his wing in the process. As all of these people come together and realize Lucius’ connection; blood is spilt and lives are lost, but in the end Lucius takes his revenge.
“Gladiator II” is a good time at the multiplex, both for fans of the first one and those who do not have any extra affection.
