Day: June 30, 2022

Jeddah– The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud has sent a cable of congratulation to President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of the Federal Republic of Somalia on the anniversary of his country’s Independence Day.

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques wished the President constant good health and happiness and the government and people of the Federal Republic of Somalia security and stability.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Jeddah– His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Deputy Prime Minister, has sent a cable of congratulation to President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of the Federal Republic of Somalia on the anniversary of his country’s Independence Day.

In his cable, HRH the Crown Prince wished the President constant good health and happiness and the government and people of the Federal Republic of Somalia further security and stability.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Jeddah– The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud has sent a cable of congratulation to President Evariste Ndayishimiye of the Republic of Burundi on the anniversary of his country’s Independence Day.

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques wished the President constant good health and happiness and the government and people of the Republic of Burundi steady progress and prosperity.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Jeddah– His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Deputy Prime Minister, has sent a cable of congratulation to President Evariste Ndayishimiye of the Republic of Burundi on the anniversary of his country’s Independence Day.

In his cable, HRH the Crown Prince wished the President constant good health and happiness and the government and people of the Republic of Burundi steady progress and prosperity.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Makkah– The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, in cooperation with the relevant authorities, is working to secure alternative flights and additional seats for pilgrims wishing to travel to Saudi Arabia from Britain, the United States of America and European countries. It is also ensuring the immediate issuance of visas to enter the Kingdom.

The ministry is in regular contact with those affected by the limited seating capacity and the technical difficulties experienced by pilgrims using the electronic portal. This urgent package of solutions aims to solve all challenges facing pilgrims, to ensure that every pilgrim who has been chosen for this year 1443AH, has the opportunity to perform the Hajj and visit the holy sites.

The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah welcomes pilgrims who have completed their procedures through the electronic portal, as well as those who have arrived in the Kingdom. The ministry assures that all entities working to serve pilgrims shall at all times follow up the conditions of pilgrims in the Kingdom and abroad, to ensure their arrival is facilitated before performing the rituals, and to provide care services for all pilgrims during the 1443 AH season.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Riyadh– A delegation from the United States of America, headed by Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism Ambassador Deborah Lipstadt, was briefed on the programs and activities implemented by King Abdulaziz Center for National Dialogue on Tuesday, Dhu al-Qa’dah 29, 1443 AH corresponding to June 28, 2022.

The delegation, which was received by Secretary General of the Center Dr. Abdullah bin Mohammed Al-Fawzan and a number of the Center’s leaders, listened to a brief presentation of the Center’s efforts in tolerance through its various activities, indicator, programs, and meetings. The delegation was also briefed on the results of the first index of tolerance of its kind in the region, carried out by the Center, which showed scientific standards that Saudi society is tolerant of different cultures and civilizations.

The Secretary General welcomed the delegation at the beginning of the meeting, stressing the importance of activating communication and dialogue with the other to build bridges of understanding with different cultures as part of the efforts made by the Kingdom by the Saudi Vision 2030 in the field of supporting tolerance and promoting peaceful coexistence with various peoples based on the principle of moderate Islam.

He added that the society in the Kingdom is coexisting and accepting of the other like other societies, as evidenced by the presence of a large number of expatriates working in the Kingdom, pointing out that the values of tolerance, coexistence, and unity are not new to Saudi society.

Moreover, he indicated that since its inception, the Center showed great importance in promoting the values ??of citizenship among all spectrums of society by making it a mainstay in its dialogues, as the Center harnessed its various and varied programs and projects to promote these values.

At the end of the visit, the delegation toured the Center’s Interactive Dialogue Exhibition to learn about the Kingdom’s efforts to support dialogue between different cultures and civilizations and the local projects it offers to strengthen the social fabric, as well as regional and global projects to build and enhance cultural diversity and human commonalities.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Riyadh– The Heritage Commission today signed a cooperation agreement with noon, an online shopping destination in the region, to work with noon’s Mahali program, which has been designed to support and empower the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s local SMEs. A signing ceremony to celebrate the partnership, which took place at the Commission’s headquarters, was attended by Heritage Commission CEODr. Jasir Suleiman Alherbish and General Manager, noon KSA, Ahmed Abdel Qader Gadouri.

Under the terms of the agreement, the Heritage Commission and noon seek to enable Saudi artisans to sell craft products and cultural heritage content online, securing reach to a wider audience via the Mahali program. The program aims to assist local entrepreneurs and small and medium-sized businesses, including those in the Saudi crafts sector, in order to improve the quality of craft products and their ability to compete in the local market.

Dr. Alherbish thanked Noon for its cooperation, remarking on the significant benefits gained through the agreement, which aligns with the Commission’s efforts in partnership with the public and private sectors to support crafts workers and artisans across the Kingdom by facilitating access to and promoting their products. He further noted the multiple initiatives being undertaken by the Commission to develop the handicraft sector, including training programs to raise quality standards, and securing an audience for products through local and international outlets, exhibitions, events, and festivals.

Gadouri said: “Our collaboration with the Heritage Commission demonstrates our ongoing commitment to assisting entrepreneurs and small businesses. The Mahali program helps local talent grow their businesses by providing them with the tools and services they need to reach a larger segment of customers in the region.”

The noon Mahali program embodies the company’s commitment to empowering local talent, which was one of the company’s founding goals, as well as building a strong e-commerce platform that supports all entrepreneurs and SMBs, thereby contributing to the national economy’s development.

The agreement falls within the wider efforts of the Heritage Commission to develop and advance the sector, support and motivate its practitioners, and strengthen partnerships with the public and private sectors as part of the development of the Kingdom’s cultural sector in general and heritage fields in particular.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Riyadh– Saudi dates exports increased during the 1st quarter of 2022 by 4.8%, reaching more than 552 million riyals, compared to the same period in 2021. According to a report by The General Authority for Statistics, Saudi Arabia exported dates during the last five years to more than 113 countries, achieving an annual growth rate of 13%. Furthermore, the value of date exports has increased by 110% since 2016.

Through strict enforcement of Saudi date standards and the criteria required for exporting in the target countries, the National Center for Palms and Dates is working to assure the quality of Saudi dates. It also works hard to make it easier for the industry key players to expand their export activities to emerge Saudi dates to new markets. Furthermore, the National Center is also keen on participating in international exhibitions and events with Saudi Dates exporter, as it participated in more than 30 international exhibitions, to market the Saudi date and its products.

It’s noteworthy that The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia ranked first globally in terms of the value of date exports in 2021. This success is the result of concerted efforts and cooperation between all relevant parties, ministries, authorities, manufacturers, and producers of dates to increase the Kingdom’s non-oil exports and fulfill Vision 2030.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Tabuk– The Red Sea Development Company (TRSDC) has released the findings of one of the world’s largest environmental surveys of wildlife ecosystems, carried out in the Red Sea area.

The study was released at the UN World Ocean Conference in Lisbon (27 June – 1 July), where the world’s leading scientists and Governmental organizations are meeting to mobilize for global ocean action.

The eleven-month long research study along the Saudi Arabian coast revealed an exceptionally rich diversity of habitats, flora, and fauna. These include a significant number of endangered and critically endangered species such as the Halavi Guitarfish, Hawksbill Sea Turtle and Sooty Falcon, as well as a thriving, eight-meter-high single coral colony estimated to be around 600 years old.

The survey conducted by TRSDC is by far the largest effort ever undertaken by a private development company to understand and assess a natural ecosystem ahead of and during development. It is more comparable to initiatives undertaken by Government agencies on a national scale. It serves a crucial purpose in creating a baseline understanding of the state of the local environment through analysis of the populations, behaviors, and habitats of the wildlife over 200km of vibrant Red Sea coastline within TRSDC’s flagship destination – The Red Sea Project.

“We want to prove to the world, and our peers in the tourism industry, that creating world-class destinations can go hand-in-hand with protecting and enhancing the environment. We’re challenging ourselves and others to do better and be better as global pioneers in responsible development and are issuing a call to action for tourism as an industry to step up when it comes to the impact on wildlife and biodiversity,” said CEO of TRSDC John Pagano.

The research forms the marker against which TRSDC will measure progress towards its ambition to deliver meaningful net conservation benefits through biodiversity enhancement efforts and plays an important role in identifying and highlighting areas of environmental concern, and which require future mitigation and action.

The tourism industry is one which places significant strain and stress on local land and marine areas. UN Environment research shows that the growth of tourism and its impact on environment is growing at an unsustainable rate, with a 154 percent increase in energy consumption, 131 percent increase in greenhouse gas emissions, and 152 percent increase in water consumption expected by 2050 if action is not taken

The survey along the Red Sea coast, conducted from January through to November 2021, revealed that many threatened and endangered species inhabit the area – highlighting the importance of environmental protection and regeneration efforts by TRSDC and others in the region.

For Further details, visit: https://www.theredsea.sa/en/media-center/news/~/link.aspx?_id=534802D078A74E04A6752671D3930C0F&_z=z

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Jeddah– Prince Saud bin Abdullah bin Jalawi, Governor of Jeddah, received today, in his office at the governorate headquarters, the Consul General of the State of Kuwait, Wael Yousef Al-Enezi, on the occasion of the end of his tenure.

During the meeting, they exchanged cordial talks.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Riyadh, June 29, 2022, SPA — The Committee of Officials of News Agencies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) held its 21st meeting, today, via video conference, chaired by President of the Saudi Press Agency, Fahd bin Hassan Al Agran.

In his speech during the meeting, Al Agran stressed the importance of drawing a future GCC vision for joint media work through an executive program and moving to the practical side.

He stressed the active role of the GCC news agencies in strengthening the GCC work system regionally and internationally, and the importance of unifying the media discourse and highlighting the progress and movement witnessed by the GCC arena in various fields.

The SPA President affirmed the importance of activating the recommendations and decisions that would support the process of cooperation for the GCC agencies, and to define joint frameworks for the future stage in line with the developments of the modern era.

The committee discussed topics presented by the General Secretariat that would enhance cooperation among the GCC news agencies, stressing the importance of taking relevant media steps in the contents of the declarations and the final statements of the Supreme Council 41st and 42nd summits, focusing on strengthening the regional and international role of the Council in the media, and highlighting the distinguished efforts of the GCC states in combating the Corona pandemic, supporting the goals of the economic visions of the GCC states, supporting and strengthening the role of GCC women, and focusing on the achievements of the GCC states in sustainability and dealing with climate change and its effects.

The committee commended the cooperation with the Jordanian and Moroccan sides. It also called for completing the joint application project for the GCC news agencies in order to allow citizens of the GCC countries to view official news directly from the news agencies of the GCC countries, and to watch the live broadcasts of the various GCC radio and television channels, in addition to the photo and video archive service that enables the user to browse the gallery of photos and videos.

The committee recommended the formation of a special working group to prepare a future plan for the next five years, 2023-2027.

Source: Saudi Press Agency