Day: May 12, 2022

London, The UK Home Office has announced that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Kingdom of Bahrain will join other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states with electronic visa waiver status, as of June 1, 2022, which will contribute to deepening the partnership and strengthening diplomatic relations and economic prosperity.

In a statement issued today, the UK Home Office affirmed that “an electronic visa waiver allows the holder to travel to the UK without obtaining a visa provided they complete an online waiver for each visit. A small fee will be applied, and it is quicker than applying for a visa as there is no need to provide biometric information (photo and fingerprints), attend a visa application center or hand in your passport in advance of travel.”

UK Home Secretary Priti Patel said that “This visa waiver for Bahrain and Saudi Arabia will better connect the people of our countries and boost economic prosperity. The electronic visa waiver is a quick, digital alternative to the regular visit visa and ensures all the necessary security checks are carried out in advance of travel. The visa improvements announced today will provide greater security for our citizens while making it easier and cheaper for visitors from the GCC to travel here for leisure and business.”

For her part, UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said that “this visa waiver will strengthen our relationships with Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, making it easier for visitors from the Gulf to come to the UK. Our friendships with both countries are of great importance, built on shared priorities such as trade, investment and security.”

It is noteworthy that eligible individuals can provide notification of travel with an electronic visa waiver up to three months before travel and as late as 48 hours before travel.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Kabul, King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) distributed yesterday 550 food baskets to the neediest groups in Afghanistan, benefiting 550 families.

This aid comes as part of the relief and humanitarian efforts provided by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, represented by the KSrelief, to the affected countries and peoples around the world.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Makkah, The Muslim World League (MWL) condemned the terrorist attack that targeted a security point in North Sinai in Egypt, which resulted in the death and injuries of a number of Egyptian soldiers.

MWL Secretary-General and Chairman of the Association of Muslim Scholars, Sheikh Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, condemned this heinous criminal attack, which confirms the urgent need to continue the joint international effort, on various fronts, to defeat extremism and terrorism and eliminate their sources, reiterating that these treacherous attacks will only increase Egypt’s determination to confront and eradicate terrorism.

Al-Issa stressed, on behalf of MWL and its global councils, bodies and institutions, full solidarity with Egypt in its war against terrorism and anything that would undermine or threaten its security and stability, expressing his sincere condolences to the families of the victims, and the Egyptian leadership, government and people, wishing the injured a speedy recovery.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Riyadh, Saudi Stock Exchange’s main index ended trading lower here today, losing 543.78 points to close at 12,835.30 points.

The total value of the trading reported was SAR 10 billion, while the toll of shares traded was over 209 million, divided into over 485,000 deals.

The Saudi Parallel Equity Market Index (NOMU) ended the day losing 27.38 points, to close at 22,646.74 points, with a valuation of SAR 31 million and an overall tally of more than 429,000 stocks traded and divided into as many as 2,171 deals.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Riyadh, The Digital Cooperation Organization today welcomed the joining of the National University for Science and Technology in Pakistan to the organization as an official observer.

This announcement is based on the inaugural visit of Secretary General Dima Al-Yahya to Pakistan in November 2021, as part of the organization’s efforts to empower the youth, women and the entrepreneurship community, and a continuation of the mission to allow digital prosperity for all.

The organization will work with the university to support sharing the capabilities of research and innovation in Pakistan and other member countries in the organization, in addition to focusing on digital economy initiatives that support the youth, entrepreneurs, and women at the international level, where the organization represents more than 500 million people, including 70% as youth under the age of 35.

University Rector Javed Mahmood Bukhari said: “We are proud of the university as a new member at the Digital Cooperation Organization that brings together the best Pakistani talents and minds to enhance the digital world that we live in, and that the connection of our students in the viable digital network is an affirmation to the technical aspirations of Pakistan, and will provide new job opportunities for our youth and graduates. The university looks forwards to further cooperation with members of the organization to bridge the digital gap.”

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Riyadh, Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Al-Khorayef has met with several ministers, senior government officials and investors participating in Africa Mining Conference (Mining INDABA 2022) during his official visit to the South Africa, heading the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s delegation to the conference.

Al-Khorayef met with concerned ministers from Niger, Angola, Mali, South Africa, Chad, Senegal, and Sierra Leone, on the sidelines of the conference held in Cape Town.

The minister, during the meetings, reviewed promising investment opportunities and the conditions of the mining sector in the Kingdom, briefing them on the mining investment system, the volume of mineral wealth in the Kingdom and the plans that the ministry is working on to maximize the benefits of the sector, referring to the top updates on the systems and laws in the sector to prepare the necessary climate to attract investments.

He also discussed cooperation aspects and investment opportunities between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and African countries, in a way that reflects on the growth and development of the mining sector in Africa and the region and to benefit the development of skills, enhancing innovations and improving the quality of life.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, through its participation, seeks to highlight its efforts in developing the mining sector that achieved revenues exceeding SAR 727 million (USD 194 million) in 2021 and succeeded in attracting investments worth over SAR 30 billion (USD 8 billion).

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Jeddah, The General Secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) strongly condemned the terrorist attack against several elements of the armed forces of the Togolese Republic deployed on a forward post of the Operation Koundjoare (Kpendjal, Savanes Region).

OIC Secretary General Hissein Brahim Taha extended his condolences and sympathy to the families of the victims, the Government and the people of Togo, wishing a speedy recovery to the injured.

The General Secretariat reiterated the full solidarity of the OIC with the Togolese Republic and its support to the Togolese Government in its efforts to combat terrorism.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Jeddah, The General Secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has strongly condemned the terrorist attack that targeted a security checkpoint in northern Sinai, Egypt, on Wednesday, 11 May, 2022, which claimed the lives and injured a number of soldiers.

The General Secretariat expressed deepest condolences to the government of the Arab Republic of Egypt, the families of the victims and the Egyptian people, wishing a speedy recovery for those injured.

The OIC reiterated solidarity with the Arab Republic of Egypt and its support for the Egyptian government’s measures taken to protect its security and stability and eliminate terrorism and extremism.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

The net income during the first quarter totaled SAR 6.47 billion ($ 1.73 billion). This was higher than the net income of SAR 4.97 billion ($ 1.32 billion) in the previous quarter and the net income of SAR 4.86 billion ($ 1.30 billion) in the first quarter of 2021.

SABIC Vice Chairman and CEO Yousef Al-Benyan said: “SABIC’s Q1 financial performance was robust, building further on last quarter’s good results. Our financial performance this quarter was driven by several factors, including higher product prices, our diversified portfolio and our strong, global presence.”

He added: “As we move forward, we will realize our global growth strategy by capturing competitive feedstock resources and expanding our global presence. In doing so, we will also commit to strengthening our financial position, maintaining our operational resilience, and meeting our Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) requirements.”

Among the major developments this quarter, SABIC announced the successful start-up of the Gulf Coast Growth Ventures (GCGV) world scale manufacturing facility in San Patricio County, Texas. It also completed its purchase of Clariant’s 50% share in Scientific Design, a leading catalysts producer and licensor of high-performance process technologies. This will unlock new growth potential for SABIC by strengthening and complementing the high-performance capabilities of its Specialties business.

During the first quarter of 2022, SABIC continued to drive greater sustainability and innovation across the global chemicals industry. The company recently introduced a new bio-based and ISSC+ certified LNP™ ELCRIN™ copolymer to help the consumer electronics industry achieve net-zero carbon emission goals.

In the reporting period, five innovative technologies created by SABIC were named among the winners of the annual Edison Awards, which honor the world’s most innovative new products, services and business leaders. The awards in four different categories reflect SABIC’s diverse range of innovative solutions.

SABIC’s commitment to adopting the highest Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Standards was also recognized during the first quarter of 2022, with the company claiming the “Best ESG” Award at the Saudi Capital Market Awards 2021.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Al-Jawf, King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) distributed yesterday 150 tons and 763 kilograms of food baskets to the displaced and needy families in Al-Jawf Governorate, Yemen, benefiting 4,227 individuals.

This comes within the food security project 2022, which is implemented by the KSrelief in Yemen, and aims to distribute more than 192,000 food baskets weighing more than 20,000 tons to needy and affected families in 15 Yemeni governorates.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Riyadh, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) for Arab States Dr. Nayef Falah Mubarak Al-Hajraf has strongly condemned the terrorist attack that targeted a security checkpoint in northern Sinai, Egypt, which claimed the lives and injured a number of soldiers.

The secretary general also expressed his condemnation of such recurrent coward terrorist acts and voiced his rejection for all types of violence that targets tampering with security and stability and contradict humanitarian values and principles.

Dr. Al-Hajraf renewed the position of GCC countries and their solidarity with the Arab Republic of Egypt in combating terrorists and supporting Egypt in all procedures taken to protect its security and stability against these attacks, where he expressed his deepest condolences to the government of Egypt and victims’ families and wished the injured a speedy recovery.

Source: Saudi Press Agency