Saudi Arabia has achieved record signals in food production for the sustainability of the industry at the local level, to achieve self-sufficiency in safe products and move to the level of exporting products to foreign markets.
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture reviewed those posters on the sidelines of InFlavour, the world’s largest food sustainability event and the official industry event for the global food and beverage ecosystem.
InFlavour will take place at the Riyadh Convention and Exhibition Centre from 29 to 31 October, with more than 40,000 visitors, 400 exhibitors, two hundred speakers and two hundred local and foreign investors representing 143 countries.
According to the indicators, wheat production amounted to 400 between 2017 and 2022, vegetables and culmination through 58 and 205Array respectively, fish through 73Array and dairy through 44Array.
Ali al-Shaikhi, executive director of the National Fisheries Development Program, told Asharq Al-Awsat that Saudi Arabia has surpassed the rate of self-sufficiency in many sectors, such as eggs, dairy and others.
Shaikhi said the Kingdom has moved to the level of exporting products to markets, noting that the fisheries and poultry sectors have also noticed an immediate expansion in production volume.
The Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture must strike a balance between recent population growth and the volume of visitors coming to Saudi Arabia through sustainable expanding production.
He revealed the ministry’s strategic goals in the future by launching several projects aimed at providing the customer with food products at competitive prices.
Shaikhi explained that the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war have been lessons for countries to increase their food production volume and self-sufficiency.
Saudi Arabia has been working on integration between the public and personal sectors on a strategic plan that has proven effective in the short term, he said, adding that the Kingdom is open to all nations to exchange data and build strategic partnerships.
InFlavour showcases industry leaders to connect with food and beverage industry experts from around the world.
He provides exclusive reporting and expertise in culinary and hospitality arts and provides artistic answers in the food production and industry.
It contributes to the progression of the Kingdom expansion sector and Vision 2030.
Egypt has increased domestic gas by as much as 14. 3% but kept diesel unchanged, state media said on Friday.
State media, publishing the official gazette, said the value of 80-octane gasoline had been higher than 1. 25 Egyptian pounds, 92-octane to 1. 25 pounds, and 95-octane from 1 pound to 10 Egyptian pounds ($0. 3241), 11. 50. and 12. 50 per liter, respectively, Reuters reported.
The price of diesel remained at £8. 25 per litre. The decision comes into force at 08:00 (06:00 GMT) on Friday.
Fuel has been set in quarterly reviews since 2019, taking into account global markets and the exchange rate, in line with past commitments to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Saudi Arabia’s National Cybersecurity Authority (NCA) has signed four cybersecurity cooperation memorandums with national bodies in Qatar, Romania, Spain and Kuwait, on the sidelines of the third edition of the Global Cybersecurity Forum (GCF).
A foreign meeting on cybersecurity opened Wednesday in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, attended by representatives of global organizations and corporations from some 120 countries.
The event, sponsored by Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz, was opened by Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz, Governor of Riyadh, in its third edition, under the theme “Defining Shared Priorities in Cyberspace”.
Prince Faisal highlighted the immediate evolution of the field of cybersecurity in today’s world and emphasized the pressing need for greater cooperation and collaborative efforts to address it.
He highlighted the importance of leveraging the expertise of foreign participants, aggregating policymakers and specialists from around the world, to produce valuable data and percentages of foreign reports similar to critical and strategic cyber issues.
The ultimate goal is to create a secure and trustworthy cyberspace that fosters progress, innovation, growth, and prosperity for all nations.
Addressing the meeting, Saudi Arabia’s Head of Cybersecurity, Majed Al-Mazyad, said the occasion represents a platform for global bodies to come together with the aim of strengthening cooperation in cybersecurity, which, in turn, tests the foreign network as a whole. .
It should be noted that the two-day forum is organized through the National Cybersecurity Authority and the Saudi Information Technology Society (SITE).
It also has more than 150 speakers.
Prominent decision-makers, CEOs of similar foreign organizations in the field, representing the government and education sectors, as well as leading global corporations from more than 120 countries attend.
The holding of this forum reaffirms Saudi Arabia’s global leadership in the field of cybersecurity, given the achievements of its pioneering experience at the local, regional and international levels.
The Saudi style in cybersecurity has a success and a benchmark identified around the world.
The Global Cybersecurity Forum is a global platform for policymakers, experts, and practitioners interested in critical and strategic cybersecurity issues.
It aims to provide a broad opportunity for knowledge transfer, exchange of experiences, and collaborative exploration on strategic cybersecurity topics.
The Forum will map out customary priorities in cyberspace through discussions and sessions on strategic topics similar to cybersecurity, focusing on five sub-themes: cyberspace in the midst of the polycrisis, cyber growth unlocked, across cyber divides, inner cyber minds, and emerging cyber horizons. .
The Saudi government is stepping up its efforts to facilitate foreign corporations’ access to the local market by stimulating legislation and regulations.
In this context, the Council of Ministers approved at the end of October the amendment of article 51 of the Law on the Bar Association, which allows foreign offices to provide legal advice, in order to strengthen the legal environment at the local level. .
Last year, the Ministry of Justice approved executive procedures for the licensing of foreign law firms, with the aim of improving the profession, expanding its efficiency and improving the business and investment environment in the country.
Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, lawyer Ahmed Mohammad Al-Ansari underlined the importance of the government’s efforts to strengthen the power of the legal career and the legal framework, in line with modern Saudi systems and more productive foreign judicial practices. .
He noted that the presence of foreign corporations in Saudi Arabia necessitates creating an opportunity for foreign-law companies to provide legal advice on foreign laws and non-Saudi regulations, as well as arbitration, mediation, and conciliation services.
Al-Ansari explained that according to the Saudi ruling, authorized foreign-law companies will have to be of prime price and quality, have a reputation abroad, have been established for 10 years or more, and have representation or partnerships in 3 or more countries. or five countries, or multiple regions within the same country. They will also have to dedicate themselves to transferring their wisdom to local professionals and carrying out their activities through an established professional company through one or more Saudi lawyers, or by opening one or more. branches within the Kingdom.
He added that the measures taken by the government will create a festival among local legal professionals and encourage professional practice in a way that promotes career in the country, which in turn will gain advantages for the business and investment sector and the achievement of the Vision 2030 goals.
Oil gained 1% on Thursday, ending its three-day decline, as appetite returned to money markets after the U. S. Federal Reserve kept its benchmark interest rates unchanged.
The Saudi Arabian Port Authority (Mawani) and the Saudi Ministry of Health have signed a partnership agreement for the implementation of global fitness regulations.
This collaboration is aimed at efforts to avoid public health risks.
The association also monitors the spread of communicable diseases in ports and surrounding spaces and implements anti-infection measures by comparing their effectiveness.
InFlavour wrapped up its three-day exhibition at the Riyadh Conference and Exhibition Centre in Malham on Wednesday, with the region’s developing emerging industry at the top of the menu. Prominent figures from across the Middle East walked the stages of the inaugural event. to percentage stories of personal growth, while the inaugural Five-Star Pitch Fest, a three-day single-elimination festival for start-ups F
Speaking at the entrée level in the early afternoon, Jordanian chef Manal Al Alem spoke about the importance of keeping culture and culture alive. With over 4 million fans on Instagram and over 2. 6 million subscribers on her YouTube channel, the ‘Queen of Arab Cuisine’ believes that social media can help, rather than hinder, when it comes to ensuring that younger generations remain attached to their gastronomic heritage.
“It’s an ongoing challenge for the new generation, because they’re so used to fast food — today, at the push of a button, you can have the kitchen you want,” he said. “Plus, the classic meal can be one-time. “dimensional in terms of flavors and the new generation prefers multiple flavors when dining.
“I like to use my social media influence to inspire my fans to see other things. I’m working with them to find tactics to merge culture with existing trends and I’ve noticed some amazing recipes coming out of social media. I enjoy interacting with my fans and leaving feedback on how they can improve their creations; I think this is very vital when we’re trying to inject classical culture into trendy cooking trends.
Later, on the same stage, at the grand finale of InFlavour’s inaugural Five-Star Pitch Fest, the brightest and most productive startups in the industry competed for one of three coveted awards: the “Plant The Idea Award” for the most productive early companies. stage start-up. included a prize of US$10,000; The “Flourishing Founder’s Award” revered the most productive and well-established start-up and also awarded a prize of US$10,000; while the ‘InFlavour Award’ is awarded to the most impressive startup, rewarding the winners with a cheque worth US$30,000.
On the opening day of InFlavour, 33 semi-finalists battled it out on equal terms to impress the 24 investors-turned-judges and claim one of the six finalist spots. The grand finale welcomed Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal Al Saud, founder and CEO. of KBW Ventures, along with industry veterans Andrew D Ive, founder and CEO of Big Idea Ventures, and Dana Al Salem, founder of Merit Capital, as part of the ceremony. of the jury, which rated the startups founded on how it approached creativity, innovation, potential, functionality, impact, as well as other people and society.
Saudi Arabia’s Terraxy, a subsidiary of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), won the “Plant The Idea Award” for the most productive start-up. By commercializing its SandX and CarboSoil technologies, Terraxy aims to address today’s needs. demanding situations that arise in harsh and arid environments to finally offer cheap and environmentally friendly answers for the development of plants in deserts.
The “Flourishing Founder’s Award” for an established start-up went to Barakah, a Saudi-based online marketplace that allows food stores to sell their surplus produce and food to consumers at deeply discounted prices.
The InFlavour prize and the $30,000 prize were won through A Dozen Cousins, a U. S. -based fitness food logo. The U. S. Food and Drug Administration offers convenient, nutrient-dense dishes, sides, and sauces, fostered through classic Creole, Caribbean, and Latin American recipes.
“I was excited to showcase our logo and what we’ve built over the years,” said Ibraheem Basir, the company’s founder and CEO. “It was very comforting to hear all the presentations and it is a privilege to come out on top Looking ahead, our long-term focus is on continued growth, expansion of distribution and penetration of new markets. The cash prize will help us expand our team and allocate resources efficiently.
Talking about the experience of judging some of the most innovative startups in the F ecosystem
Earlier in the day, Alia AlKasimi, co-founder of Oh Delices Creative, had given a masterclass focused on existing trends, highlighting a cookbook created through her unique corporate generative synthetic intelligence (AI), and the potential repercussions the generation could have on the food merchandising industry.
“After hearing so much feedback about the possibilities of AI, my team and I came together in February of this year to explore how we can use that equipment in our work, and especially in the culinary space,” he said.
“We need to create a cookbook using only generative AI based on text and images. As we are a company founded in Morocco, we asked the program to offer dishes that had never been prepared before, while incorporating the culture of Moroccan cuisine. What came out of this was just incredible,” he added.
Some of the dishes that made the definitive cut of Spice
“I’ll be honest, we all expected the dishes to taste awful, but we ended up converting almost nothing because every dish worked perfectly,” she said. “It opened our eyes to the strength of AI if you are informed how to take advantage of it well. Creating a task like this usually required up to 4 weeks from seven other people; We did it with two other people in less than a week. Will AI Upgrade Humans? It’s a broad question, but what I do know is that humans who have been briefed on how to use AI well will upgrade to humans who haven’t. That’s for sure.
Organized through Tahaluf, Informa LLC’s joint venture with Events Investment Fund and SAFCSP, and with the help of Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, the first InFlavour proved to be a hive of activity with tens of thousands of visitors coming together across 400 brands, two hundred investors and two hundred speakers representing 143 countries over the 3 days.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Wednesday reached an initial agreement with Somalia that will unlock $100 million in financing under a new 36-month credit program, the fund said.
The so-called arrangement under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) is subject to approval through the Fund’s Board of Directors. The objective is to assist Somali economic establishments in developing policies that will enable them, when they succeed at the point where they can discharge debt relief, under the Completion Programme of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Fund, scheduled for December.
“However, despite the progress made, Somalia faces significant challenges, including economic, social, security and climate risks,” Laura Jaramillo, who led the team that conducted a study on Somalia, said in a statement.
“Lately, growth has fallen short of reducing widespread poverty, meeting societal desires, and creating enough jobs for young people. Somalia is highly vulnerable to climate shocks that undermine expansion and impede poverty alleviation efforts.
Somalis have been fighting al-Qaida-linked al-Shabaab since 2006. The organization, which aims to overthrow the Array, has carried out common attacks with guns and bombs that also target peacekeepers supporting the Array.
The country has experienced droughts and floods over the years, which have displaced thousands of people.
Oil rose more than 1% on Wednesday ahead of the closely watched U. S. central bank meeting for clues on interest rate policy, as the clash in the Middle East remains in the spotlight.
The Saudi Ministry of Education and the EU delegation of the Erasmus programme discussed cooperation in higher education and research, with the participation of European experts and representatives of the Kingdom’s leading universities.
The EU-funded Erasmus programme is the first large-scale external action programme for the mobility of higher education students, focusing on lifelong learning to support schooling, training, youth and play in Europe.
Since its inception 35 years ago, more than thirteen million scholars have benefited from its programs. It has a budget of $27. 9 billion for the 2021-2027 era.
The opportunities offered by Erasmus will now be in the Gulf region, where Saudi universities can partner with their European counterparts to exchange academics and staff.
Speaking at the event, EU Ambassador to Saudi Arabia and Oman Christophe Farnaud said that the EU is accelerating external cooperation in the field of education, offering huge opportunities for young Saudi academics to live in Europe.
“Erasmus is designed for bilateral exchanges and also to allow more Europeans to come and study in the Gulf, thus improving our people-to-people contacts and our bilateral relations,” he added.
In May 2022, the EU announced its strategic partnership with the Gulf, which will broaden and deepen cooperation between the two sides.
Several proposals between the EU and Saudi Arabia target energy, green transformation, climate change, trade, economic diversification, regional stability, global security, and humanitarian and progress challenges.