Day: March 8, 2023

Baghdad The Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Shakhwan Abdullah, affirmed: What is happening in our region is reflected in the whole world.

In his speech at the Berlin Economic Forum, he said: The world is now facing many challenges, economic crises and painful repercussions on the human level due to wars and disasters.

Abdullah added: “We have to realize the size of the risks and search together and accurately for realistic outlets that lead to solutions, and it is no secret to everyone that all crises and disasters result in economic consequences that directly affect economic growth and its immediate and interim indicators.”

He explained: “What is happening in our region is reflected in the whole world, and today in this forum we find that the opportunity is available to discuss the global trends of national brands, and it is important that we develop an extensive study of the future vision and develop development programs and projects that will support sustainable economic growth at both national and global level, and we must not forget that sustainable business, the tourism sector, and investments are stimulating and essential engines for economic movement.

He continued, “We in Iraq have overcome adversity and crises, and have paid great sacrifices to get rid of terrorism and extremist ideology, and our partners in the country are fully convinced of the need to share governance, and the components must be represented in all aspects of the state, and we must work actively through our constitutional institutions to support the economy, the growth of opportunities, the implementation of reforms, the fight against corruption, and the creation of an enabling environment for business.

He added: “In our role, as a legislative institution, we seek to support efforts to implement strategic projects and enable emerging companies and even international companies that have their headquarters in Iraq and contribute to the reconstruction and construction, and we look forward to concluding broad partnerships in order to stimulate economic movement, encourage investments and double the productive capacity on all levels, and to enhance the confidence of businessmen and international partners for optimal employment of investment and proceeding with the implementation of service and development projects.”

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

Baghdad The Deputy Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government, Qubad Talabani, stressed the need to intensify efforts and negotiations to reach an agreement on the oil and gas law.

The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan website stated that Talabani received, today, Wednesday, in Erbil, the Italian ambassador, Maurizio Cricanti, and the two sides discussed the file of relations between Erbil and Baghdad and the elections for the Kurdistan Parliament.

Talabani affirmed, according to the statement, his support for the government of Muhammad al-Sudani, hoping that the regional government and the federal government in Baghdad would agree on the oil and gas law as soon as possible.

Talabani said: “Iraq depends on oil revenues, and the outstanding issues between Erbil and Baghdad will remain without reaching a final solution, unless the two sides reach an agreement on the problem of oil and gas.”

He pointed out the need to intensify efforts and negotiations to reach an agreement on the oil and gas law and how to manage and sell oil, and that delaying the agreement does not serve the interest of citizens in Iraq and the Kurdistan region.

The meeting also discussed, according to the statement, the upcoming elections for the Kurdistan Parliament.

Qubad Talabani said: “We are ready to hold the elections, and the meetings on the election law are continuing, and there is a good understanding on many points, and the issue of the seats of the components that we aim to represent their real owners in the Kurdistan region remained.”

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

Baghdad The Prime Minister, Muhammad Al-Sudani, received a phone call from the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ibrahim Raisi.

A statement from the Prime Minister’s Office stated that: “During the call, they discussed bilateral relations between the two countries and exchanged views on issues of common concern.”

He added: “In the call, ways of enhancing cooperation and partnership in various fields were discussed, and coordination regarding the common challenges the region is going through, in the interest of the two friendly peoples, and strengthening security and stability.”

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

Manama, The Foreign Ministry today condemned the Israeli forces’ storming of the Jenin camp in the West Bank, which caused casualties among the Palestinians.

In a statement today, the ministry called for de-escalation and urged protection for civilians, stressing the importance of providing an appropriate atmosphere for the resumption of the peace process, in a way that fulfills the rights of the Palestinian people to establish their independent state, in accordance with the two-state solution, the international law and the Arab Peace Initiative.

Source: Bahrain News Agency

Baghdad The Baghdad International Airport Administration announced: “The air traffic at the airport is proceeding smoothly, and there is no interruption or change in the flight schedule for today, Wednesday, due to bad weather.”

In a brief statement, the airport administration stressed the need to rely on news from its official sources and to be accurate in reporting information and data.

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

Riyadh, A panel session titled “Future of Communication – Digital Connectivity” was held in Riyadh today as part of the Future of Education, Science, and Culture International Organizations Forum (FESCIOF).

Panel speakers included Heritage Commission chief executive Jasir Al-Herbish, Metaverse Institute chief executive Dr. Christina Yan Zhang, and Head of Digital and Analytics at the Royal Commission for AlUla, Lawrence Eta.

Major topics discussed during the session included partnership with technology for more effective implementation and access to knowledge, and achieving the sustainable development goals in virtual reality.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Manama, Four people accused of misusing social media regulations have been arrested, the Anti-electronic Crime Directorate said.

The accused posted material that contradicts the requirements of civil peace and social stability, which negatively affects social security and safety.

In a statement today, the directorate said that legal action is being undertaken prior to referring them to the Public Prosecution.

The directorate urged social media users to abide by the regulatory legal rules and regulations and to obtain information from their official sources.

Source: Bahrain News Agency

Riyadh, The Minister of Economy and Planning, Faisal bin Fadhil Alibrahim, announced during the Fifth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries in Doha that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will allocate USD800 million through the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) to finance development projects for Least Developed Countries (LDCs) in regions including Africa and Asia.

The Minister said: “Despite the developmental and social progress achieved over the past fifty years, fundamental challenges faced by Least Developed Countries remain and have become more complex and urgent – especially with the increased vulnerabilities faced by these countries.” The COVID-19 pandemic created crises resulting in the Least Developed Countries deviating from the path to sustainable development, he explained.

He added: “Through Saudi Vision 2030, the Kingdom has projects and initiatives that contribute to achieving economic prosperity, social well-being and environmental protection for all, in line with the Sustainable Development Agenda. The Kingdom is also committed to supporting the least developed countries through helping them overcome challenges and working with the international community to push these countries towards progress and development.”

The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) has provided humanitarian relief to 90 countries, with a total value of USD6.2 billion, financing 2,314 projects in food security, health, education, water supply, and sanitation. The SFD has provided 330 loans totaling USD6.26 billion to LDCs from 1975 to 2022, financing 308 development projects and programs benefiting 35 countries.

Furthermore, the Saudi Program for the Development and Reconstruction of Yemen, established by the Kingdom in 2018, has a strategy aimed at development plans in coordination with the Yemeni government and in line with the Sustainable Development Goals. To date, the program has implemented 224 projects and initiatives worth USD917 million, supporting the people of Yemen.

The Minister concluded by stating that the Kingdom will cooperate with international partners on initiatives to support the development and continue to play a leading role in all fields of development at regional and international levels to realize the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Doha, The Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen (SDRPY) is taking part in the Fifth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDC5). The SDRPY’s General Supervisor, Ambassador Mohammed bin Saeed Al Jaber, is representing the organization as part of the delegation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which is being led by Minister of Economy and Planning, Faisal bin Fadhel Al-Ibrahim. The conference is being held in Doha, Qatar, from March 5-9, 2023, and aims to accelerate sustainable development in countries that require development assistance through an action plan for the next decade.

During the conference, SDRPY’s Assistant General Supervisor, Eng. Hassan Al-Attas participated in two sessions organized by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) in partnership with SDRPY. The SDRPY representatives also participated in the high-level thematic round tables and in a session where they highlighted the development efforts made by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the Republic of Yemen to achieve sustainable development.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Riyadh, During the ICT Indicators Forum, held on the 8th of March 2023, the Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST) announced Mobily as the winner of the Customer Experience Awards 2022 for achieving the award’s international standards based on customer votes. The award aims to enhance the user’s experience and raise competitiveness among service providers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The award recipient is chosen based on the outputs of periodic surveys on the user’s satisfaction indicator, the Net Promoter Score (NPS) index, in addition to measuring the user’s effort in accessing services, and the rate of escalated complaint received by CST on service providers.

This award stems from the CST’s efforts to encourage positive competition among service providers, resulting in better sector products that improve the user experience, as well as developing communications services in accordance with international best practices for service quality.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Riyadh, Under the patronage of Eng. Abdullah Al-Sawaha, Minister of Communications and Information Technology and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Communications, Space, and Technology Commission (CST), the CST held the “ICT Indicators Forum 2023” today. The event was attended, by Dr. Mohammed Al-Tamimi, Governor of the CST, along with several officials and local and international experts. During the forum, the CST announced that the value of the ICT market in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia reached SAR154 billion in 2022, the largest and fastest-growing digital economy in the MENA region.

Dr. Al-Tamimi revealed that Saudi Arabia’s total capital investment in digital infrastructure exceeded SAR93 billion over the past six years leading to a significant improvement in the quality of services. For example, mobile Internet speeds have doubled to 181 Mbps, 11 times the previous speeds and double the global average, making the Kingdom one of the top 10 countries for mobile internet speed.

Furthermore, the CST launched high-speed internet service in 21,000 villages and immigration areas in various regions of the Kingdom, ensuring the continuity of communication services for more than 5 million people and confirming the development of the communications and technology system in the Kingdom. Dr. Al-Tamimi also stated that 5G coverage in the Kingdom has increased to 53%, while in Riyadh, it has exceeded 94%. Fibre optics coverage has reached 3.7 million Saudi homes.

Dr. Al-Tamimi also stated that Internet service usage has significantly increased in Saudi Arabia, where the subscription rate for mobile communications has reached 172% of the population, and the average daily mobile internet data consumption per individual in the Kingdom has reached over 1200MB, three times the global average.

CST has also contributed to strengthening national participatory efforts by collaborating with the Transport General Authority and the National Regulations Committee to issue 12 approvals for 26 brands that provide connected vehicle services. In addition, CST has launched the experimental regulatory environment for emerging technologies to support entrepreneurs and innovators, creating a flexible environment that balances innovation and regulation.

The ICT Indicators Forum focused on enhancing the efficiency of digital infrastructure, expanding the scope of digital business to support the aspirations of the digital economy in Saudi Arabia, and exploring the future of communications and technology markets and their most important trends.

Source: Saudi Press Agency