Day: September 16, 2022

New York– The Minister of Education, Dr. Hamad bin Mohammed Al Al-Sheikh, met with the Deputy Secretary-General of the UN and Chair of the UN Sustainable Development Group, Amina Mohammed, on the sidelines of his participation in the Transforming Education Summit, in New York City, USA.

During the meeting, Dr. Al Al-Sheikh thanked the UN for hosting and organizing the Summit. He also reviewed with the Deputy Secretary-General of the UN the Kingdom’s strategy in developing educational curricula and study plans and their continuous review, in order to enhance the goals of sustainable development, develop skills for the twenty-first century, and consolidate the concept of global citizenship.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Taiz– The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) distributed yesterday 86 tons and 135 kilograms of food baskets to the most needy families in Taiz Governorate, Yemen, benefiting 4,830 individuals.

This is part of the project to support food security for the year 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– King Abdulaziz Royal Nature Reserve has received the government membership of the International Union for Conservation of Nature for its efforts in preserving the resources of nature reserves, restoring ecological balance, and engaging local communities in preserving and developing wildlife according to the best international standards and practices.

King Abdulaziz Royal Nature Reserve is the this institution in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the first Royal reserve to receive the membership of IUCN, which allows it to benefit from the global database specialized in wildlife and from the opinions of 18,000 experts and specialists in the union.

The reserve’s membership grants it’s a wide area to make partnerships and exchange expertise with other members and participate in the meetings and conference of the union that are held once every four years. The reserve also seeks to develop its work concerned with protecting the environment and nature according to the best international practices to ensure the environmental sustainability for generations of today and the future according to the targets of the Saudi Vision 2030 and Saudi Green Initiative.

Established in 1948, IUCN is an international organization working in the field of nature conservation and sustainable use of natural resources. IUCN has a membership of over 1,400 governmental and non-governmental organizations from more than 160 countries. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia joined the union in 1981.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Aden– The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) distributed yesterday, in Aden, 300 digital headphones for students with hearing disabilities, as part of a project to respond to the needs of developing local capacities to teach students with disabilities.

The Undersecretary of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor of Yemen, Saleh Mahmoud, praised this humanitarian efforts, which will contribute to improving the response of students with hearing disabilities.

This falls within the continuous humanitarian support from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, represented by the KSrelief, to the Yemeni education sector and to develop the capabilities of children with disabilities.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Cairo– The 13th meeting of the Committee of Representatives of the Financial and Civil Aviation Authorities of Arab Countries kicked off here today, chaired by the Head of the International Affairs Department of the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Osama Abdullah Al-Zuhaymil, to discuss the updated and additional amendments to the draft agreement on exchanging exemption from customs taxes and fees on the activities and equipment of the Arab air carrier.
The Kingdom’s delegation to the meeting was headed by Dr. Mohammed Saif Al-Qahtani, an economist at the Ministry of Finance.
Director of the Arab Economic Integration Department at the Arab League, Dr. Bahjat Abu Al-Nasr, said in a statement that the committee discussed, for two days, the observations and proposals received from Arab countries, especially Jordan, Morocco, Iraq, and Sudan, on the updated and additional amendments to the draft (11) agreement on exchanging exemption from customs taxes and fees on the activities and equipment of the Arab air carrier, which the participants reached in previous meetings, especially since some Arab countries still impose fees and taxes in this regard, which does not achieve the required objective.
He added that the committee’s discussions are limited to the comments already received by the General Secretariat of the Arab League regarding several articles related to taxes and fees, tax exemptions, and the implementation of the agreement, pointing out that the committee is scheduled to submit a comprehensive report to the next meeting of the Council of Arab Transport Ministers next October, on the course of matters in the research and study of the committee, to amend the agreement on exchanging exemption from customs taxes and fees on the activities and equipment of the Arab air carrier.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Cairo– The Secretariat General of the Arab League today started hosting the first session of a team to review the ultimate implementation of the Arab anti-corruption committee, which is organized by the Arab League’s legal affairs administration in cooperation with the Saudi National Anti-corruption Commission (Nazaha) with the presidency of Nazaha Assistant President for International Cooperation Dr. Nasser Aba Al-Kheil and the presence of representatives of Arab member states to the committee.
Assistant Secretary General of the Arab League and Head of the Legal Affairs Sector Mohamed Al-Amin Ould Akik said that preventing and combating corruption is one of the essential pillars for the success of economic and social development projects, and for enhancing democratic construction for states, adding that combating corruption, uprooting it and prioritizing preventive measures are also considered a main pillar to avoid its risks and limit its devastating impacts on development.
He noted that there are multi-pillar comprehensive strategies that were adopted to face all aspects of corruption, enacting laws and preparing national mechanisms for this, including the establishment of independent higher commissions to combat corruption that are tasked with drawing policies, coordinating efforts of all concerned institutions, following up on the implementation of action plans, issuing periodic reports regarding anti-corruption efforts, and retrieving money collected through corruption.
He also referred to the support of the Arab League to national efforts exerted in stopping and combating corruption and subsequent impacts, supporting civil society institutions, and enhancing the respect of human rights, pointing out that holding this session is in implementation of what was endorsed in the fourth session of the Arab Anti-Corruption Convention, which was held in March in Riyadh.
For his part, Aba Al-Kheil stressed the importance of the joint Arab cooperation in anti-corruption efforts and steps to be made to implement the agreement as part of continuous cooperation among Arab countries to combat this cross-border scourge, in a bid to reduce its negative impact that undermine pillars of progress and development of societies, and realizing positive results in investing human and financial resources, realizing further growth, and boosting public performance levels to achieve economic and social progress for the Arab peoples.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

New York– Minister of Education of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Dr. Hamad bin Mohammed Al Al-Sheikh met today with the Bahraini Minister of Education Dr. Majid bin Ali Al-Nuaimi, on the sidelines of the Transforming Education Summit in New York City, USA.

During the meeting, they tackled the topics on the agenda of the summit as well as ways to transform education to achieve sustainable development goals and objectives related to the education sector.

They also reviewed bilateral relations between the two countries and ways to develop and strengthen coordination and integration mechanisms in the fields of education, exchange of experiences and expertise between the two countries.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

New York– Minister of Education of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Dr. Hamad bin Mohammed Al Al-Sheikh visited the Center for Technology and School Change at Columbia University and met with the center’s founder and director Dr. Alan Mayer, and the center’s director of research Caron Mineo, on the sidelines of the Transforming Education Summit in New York, US.

During the meeting, Al Al-Sheikh discussed ways to enhance the existing cooperation between the two sides in the educational and scientific fields, and support aspects of cooperation in scholarships, taking into consideration the number of Saudi students on scholarships in the US reached 20,954, as the US is among the targeted countries per the new strategy of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques program for scholarships launched by HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Human Capability Development Program Committee.

The meeting discussed the mechanisms of training Saudi teachers at the university, the possibility of increasing the number of Saudi students on scholarships accepted to study at the university, and providing them with possible facilities, as well as reviewing the Kingdom’s experience in the field of e-learning and distance education during the pandemic, and developing educational curricula.

The meeting agenda included identifying the vision of Columbia University and Teachers College concerning strategies for teacher preparation programs and scientific research, and plans for training teachers and developing their skills in the Kingdom, as well as discussing the possibility of a partnership between the Ministry of Education and the Center for Technology and School Change at Columbia University in creative transformation in education technologies, as well as enhancing future cooperation with the Center in developing innovation in teaching methods.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

The Secretary General of Cairo-based Arab League (AL) Ahmed Abul Ghait is scheduled to take part in the High Level section of the 77th general assembly of the United Nations.
In a statement, Jamal Rushdi, spokesperson of the secretary general of AL said that Abul Ghait is set to take part in a number of activities and high level meetings designed to discuss iuuses related to Arab priorities in the political, economic and social fields.
Abul Ghait is also scheduled to hold talks with a number of senior international figures on ways of promoting cooperation between AL and international and regional parties.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

International credit rating agency, Standard & Poors (S. & P.), updated its outlook for Saudi Arabia to positive as the country’s recovery from the pandemic is accelerationg.
In a statement, issued yesterday, it assessed the Kingdom’s short and long term foreign and local currency sovereign credit ratings to A-/A-2.
The agency said the positive future outlook reflects the strength of gross domestic product (GDP) growth, the country’s financial policies at the backdrop of its success in recovering from the repercussions of the pandemic, the sustainability of government reform programs drive in addition to the increasing growth of the non-oil economy which has made great strides in supporting the Kingdom’s financial and foreign indeces.
S. &P. expects the Kingdom’s GDP to grow to its highs in ten years to a ceiling of 7.5 percent in 2022 with an expected financial surplus in the state budget of about 6.3 percent.
S. & P. also forcasts a growth of the Saudi economy product capacity and a drive of the growth in the long run due to efforts of developing the general finances and mega economic reforms.
Dealing with flexibility and performance, the agency expects support of the financial credits in 2022 – 2025 due to governmental efforts in developing the public finances and commitment of improving the spending and efficiency of expenditure despite oil high prices.
The agency aslo forcasts no dramatic rise of sovereign debts costs on the Kingdom as most of the public debt portfolio is running at a fixed rate.
The agency described the inflation rates in the Kingdom as relatively low in comparison to its counterparts and that those rates would be under control in view of the government subsidizing of fuel and food prices in addition to tying the local currently with the relatively-strong US dollar.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Minister of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Sheikh Dr. Abdullatif bin Abdulaziz Al Al-Sheikh, met at his guest residence in the Kazakhstani capital of Nur-Sultan today with the Mufti of the Republic of Kazakhstan Sheikh Nauryzbai Kazhy Taganuly.
The meeting took place on the sidelines of the visit of Al Al-Sheikh to the World and Traditional Religions Leaders Congress.
The meeting reviewed areas of cooperation and issues of mutual concern, particularly those related to the service of the Islamic action of joint interest.
For his part, the Mufti of the Republic of Kazakhstan lauded the prestigious status of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, led by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz, in the Islamic world and world community, citing its efforts in the service of Islam and Muslims and spreading the principles of tolerance and moderation.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Ibrahim Alkhorayef received in his office today at the Ministry’s headquarters, the Omani Minister of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, Qais bin Mohammed Al-Yousef, and his accompanying delegation, where the two sides discussed the Kingdom’s vision 2030 and Oman 2040, strengthening aspects of industrial cooperation, and exploiting ambitious opportunities between the two sides, in addition to exchanging experiences in legislation, regulations, and services.
The meeting discussed benefiting from the Kingdom’s experience in managing and operating industrial cities and enhancing the competitiveness of the national industry and Saudi exports, in addition to the Kingdom’s experience in the “Made in Saudi” program and the financing aspects provided through the Saudi Industrial Development Fund and the Saudi Export-Import Bank (Saudi EXIM).
Saudi non-oil exports to Oman until the end of June 2022 amounted to more than SR2 billion, represented in several economic activities, including food products, petrochemicals, building materials, heavy machinery, and electronics.
The volume of Saudi imports from Oman in 2022 amounted to about SR7.2 billion, which include minerals, building materials, and food products, in addition to vehicles, spare parts, and petrochemical products.

Source: Saudi Press Agency