Day: August 1, 2024

Saudi Minister of Investment Eng. Khalid Al-Falih and Egyptian Deputy Prime Minister for Industrial Development and Minister of Industry and Transport Kamel El-Wazir met Thursday in Egypt’s city of Alamein.

Saudi Ambassador to Egypt Saleh bin Eid Al-Husseini and a delegation of Saudi investors were present at the meeting.

Participants discussed fostering collaboration between Saudi Arabia and Egypt and explored avenues to enhance investment opportunities within the industrial, transportation, and logistics sectors.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Minister of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance Sheikh Dr. Abdullatif bin Abdulaziz Al Al-Sheikh today received the Grand Mufti of Lebanon, Abdullatif bin Fayez Derian, and his accompanying delegation in his office in Jeddah. The delegation included several muftis from different Lebanese provinces and cities and several officials.

During the meeting, the minister and the grand mufti discussed various topics related to Islamic affairs and ways of cooperation between the ministry and Dar Al-Fatwa. Dr. Al-Sheikh underscored the importance of serving Islamic issues and noted the solid mutual understanding and collaboration between the two sides, emphasizing their shared commitment.

He also highlighted the significant role played by scholars and muftis in promoting the values of moderation and tolerance in Islam, emphasizing that Islam carries a noble message of harmony, love, and tolerance and contributes to building homelands and fostering harmony among people of different cultures.

The grand mufti of Lebanon
praised the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as the destination of Arabs and Muslims and a source of pride and honor. He also commended the Ministry of Islamic Affairs in the Kingdom for its efforts to strengthen the unity of Muslims, unify their voice, and promote moderation and balance through communication with its counterparts.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

The top ten students who won gold medals at the National Olympiad for Programming and Artificial Intelligence (ATHKA) final were chosen to partake in the Oxford Scholars Programme (OSP) at Oxford University in the United Kingdom. The Olympiad was arranged by the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity (Mawhiba).

Aged 14-18 and hailing from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, these students will join peers from across the globe in the OSP training. The opportunity will enable them to obtain a certificate accredited by the British Accreditation Council (BAC) and potentially secure an academic recommendation for admission to the esteemed Oxford University.

The OSP is just one of the rewards provided by SDAIA and its partners to the 10 gold medalists, who were selected from a pool of 298 finalists out of 260,000 Saudi middle and high school students who applied for the ATH
KA Olympiad, sponsored by the Saudi Technology and Security Comprehensive Control Company (Tahakom).

The initiative is part of SDAIA’s commitment to nurturing and fostering the cognitive and practical abilities of Saudi youth in data and AI. The objective is to cultivate a generation of Saudis capable of spearheading a national economy driven by data and AI, thereby further bolstering the Kingdom’s standing in this state-of-the-art technological field and aligning with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

The fourth annual Shaqra Pepper Festival is attracting large crowds with its lively pepper auction. The event showcases a diverse range of agricultural products and supports local charities with its proceeds.

The auction is a major highlight, drawing farmers, producers, and visitors from across the region. Participants compete in a fun and engaging atmosphere, creating excitement and anticipation among attendees.

This year’s festival is receiving significant attention from both local and regional visitors, as well as official recognition from the Shaqra Governorate, Riyadh Municipality, and various government entities. The event provides a significant boost to the local economy, offering entertainment, tourism, and opportunities for local farmers to sell their produce.

The festival’s commitment to social responsibility is evident in the allocation of auction proceeds to charitable organizations, further highlighting its positive impact on the community.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Minister of Media Salman bin Yousef Al-Dossary today received in his office in Riyadh today Ambassador of the Republic of Trkiye to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Prof. Dr. Emrullah Isler.

During the meeting, they discussed ways to develop media relations and enhance cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Trkiye.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Inspired by the rich cultural heritage of Saudi Arabia, the French businesswoman Cecilia has opened a new venture called Bonjour Saudi in the heart of the Samhan district in Diriyah. The project aims to showcase the Najdi art, cuisine, handicrafts, and architecture that have captured the entrepreneur’s imagination since relocating to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Cecilia has assembled a team of over 25 Saudi artists, artisans, guides, and chefs to offer cultural experiences at the site. Activities include sadu weaving workshops and opportunities to try traditional Saudi cuisine prepared by local chefs.

“I’ve always been captivated by heritage, particularly handicrafts,” Cecilia expressed. “Living in Saudi Arabia has allowed me to truly value the remarkable history and customs of the local culture. We aim to link visitors with enthusiastic individuals who can impart their culture and positively influence cultural tourism through offering distinctive experiences,” she explained.

With Diriyah’s status as a pro
minent cultural tourism destination, Bonjour Saudi provides a platform for Saudi creators to showcase their work and engage with visitors. Cecilia says the goal is to promote mutual understanding between cultures and offer an enriching experience blending the past and present.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Over 124,000 establishments have taken advantage of the General Organization for Social Insurance (GOSI) initiative to waive late payment and violation penalties, with 30 days remaining until the deadline.

This initiative is part of GOSI’s efforts to help establishments rectify their insurance status and settle outstanding dues. It offers a full waiver of penalties in exchange for paying due contributions through the “Taminaty Business” platform.

GOSI urges establishments and employers to seize this opportunity and apply for the waiver before August 31, 2024. Numerous workshops have been held to raise awareness of the initiative and explain how to benefit from it.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

The Saudi Authority for Industrial Cities and Technology Zones (MODON) has recently sealed nine substantial contracts with the private sector, totalling over SAR1 billion. These contracts will significantly boost the development of industrial cities across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

This initiative is strategically designed to establish and enable an industrial and investment environment that perfectly aligns with MODON’s vision to become the preferred destination for investment growth and the primary partner in the industrial sector, in line with the objectives of the National Industrial Strategy and the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.

The new projects include signing a contract to finalize infrastructure development projects for the initial phase in the third industrial city in Jeddah and another contract for infrastructure development in the initial phase of the second industrial city in Makkah, along with allocating 4.3 million square meters of land for investment to enhance its investment system, in line with
the expectations of local and international investors. A contract was also signed to develop the infrastructure in the third industrial city in Dammam and allocate 2.5 million square meters of land to meet the growing demand for industrial investment in the Eastern Province.

MODON also sealed a deal to establish 132 kV overhead lines in the industrial city of Tabuk, with a capacity of 100 MVA, and another contract for the establishment of 115 kV overhead lines in the industrial city of Hafar Al-Batin, also with a capacity of 100 MVA, to improve operational efficiency and fulfil the electrical energy requirements of industrial investors.

MODON is dedicated to developing industrial cities that adhere to international standards, supporting Saudi Arabia’s transformation into a prominent industrial force and logistics hub. At the beginning of 2024, it launched “Modon Oasis” in Jeddah as part of its initiatives to attract quality industries, promote entrepreneurship projects, and assist small and medium-sized ent
erprises.

Since its inception, MODON has successfully developed over 209 million square meters and has implemented a comprehensive infrastructure system. It currently oversees 36 industrial cities, including six industrial oases across the Kingdom, housing over 6,500 industrial facilities that bolster the industrial sector and contribute to significantly increasing national exports.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Minister of Transport Razzaq Muhaibis Al-Saadawi stressed the importance of the quadripartite agreement with Turkey, Qatar and the Emirates regarding the development road.

A statement by the ministry said, “The Minister of Transport met in his office in Baghdad with his Turkish counterpart Abdul Qadir Oral Oglu and the accompanying delegation represented by Banil Bora Inan, the Turkish Ambassador to Baghdad, the Director General of International Relations at the Turkish Ministry of Transport and a number of officials, to discuss joint transportation projects between the two countries, most notably the strategic development road project and Turkey’s readiness to start implementing it.”

The statement added, “Al-Saadawi stressed during the meeting the interest of Prime Minister Mohammed Shiaa Al-Sudani and the services government in the necessity of completing the country’s service and strategic projects, the most important of which is the development road project, in the service of Iraq, its people and the re
gion as a whole.”

According to the statement, Al-Saadawi explained “the importance of the quadripartite agreement with Turkey, Qatar and the Emirates, which emphasizes the continuation of the meeting of representatives of the four countries within the specified time frames stipulated in the memorandum of understanding for the member states and holding the upcoming ministerial council meeting.”

Al-Saadawi stated, according to the statement, that “the activation of the Grand Faw Port, the first phase of which will be completed next year 2025, will be via old land and railway roads, stressing the ministry’s seriousness in working to restore and organize the internal railway network and benefit from it in operating the port until the completion of the development road project within the specified timeframes.”

The statement continued: “During the meeting, the exchange of expertise was discussed regarding civil aviation and air transport, and Turkey’s determination to send specialized experts to help Iraq meet t
he requirements for lifting the European ban to implement the requirements of international civil aviation organizations.”

In turn, the Turkish side, according to the statement, presented a future roadmap, indicating that “the goods that will arrive in Turkey through the development road project will be distributed through Turkey’s ports by land and sea.”

The statement indicated that “Oglu, for his part, confirmed that his country has completed all the infrastructure and requirements to start implementing the development road project for railways and land roads in Turkey, with the exception of 300 km, and next year will witness the completion of the project’s infrastructure completely.”

“Turkey welcomes establishing partnerships with Iraq in the field of railways and strengthening economic relations between the two sides, considering that the railway sector in Turkey is developed and it is possible to exchange experiences in this field,” Oral Oglu added, stressing “the necessity of holding the quadripartit
e ministerial meeting of the member states after the coordination committee completes its meetings within the timeframes stipulated in the quadripartite memorandum of understanding and emphasizing the importance of holding a meeting of the permanent committee within the strategic framework agreement between the two countries.”

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

The fifth week of the Esports World Cup kicks off with the “Rainbow 6 Siege” tournament. The competition runs until August 4 at the SEF Arena within the Qiddiya Arena. Sixteen clubs, divided into two groups of eight teams, are vying for the championship title. The total prize pool stands at $2 million.

European squads dominated the opening day’s group stage. Swiss outfit Team BDS, Dutch powerhouse Team Liquid, South American contenders FURIA Esports, and Southeast Asian side Bleed Esports all secured their spots in the finals, which commence tomorrow.

In Group A, Team BDS became the first team to qualify for the finals after dispatching Team Cruelty 7-4 and W7M Esports 7-2. Team Liquid claimed the second seat, defeating PSG Talon 7-2 and Team Bliss 7-4.

Over in Group B, FURIA Esports qualified for the finals by overcoming Into The Breach 7-4 and DarkZero 8-7. Bleed Esports also booked their spot in the finals with twin 7-0 victories over SCARZ and FaZe Clan.

Source: Saudi Press Agency