EXCHANGE OF EXPERTISE: Prince Faisal bin Turki Al-Faisal signs the memorandum of understanding with British Ambassador William Patey, left, in Riyadh on Monday night. (AN photo)

RIYADH: A major initiative to improve the Kingdom’s commitment to the environment was launched on Monday night in Riyadh. Prince Sattam, acting governor of Riyadh province, attended the event organized by the Saudi Strategic Studies Institute (SSSI).

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was also signed between the SSSI and the UK government’s British Strategic Program, enabling experts in the field of sustainability to exchange knowledge.

SSSI President Prince Faisal bin Turki Al-Faisal and British Ambassador Sir William Patey signed the MoU. “The British Embassy, on behalf of the UK government, is a partner of the initiative,” said embassy spokesman Nick Heath. Members of the royal family as well as several senior Saudi and British officials attended the event. Heath said the British government would extend technical support to the so-called Saudi Sustainability Initiative.

The MoU, on the other hand, will facilitate technical support and cooperation in the field of sustainability. It stipulates development and delivery of a capacity building program for Saudi experts in these areas. “The agreement will also provide the SSSI access to UK technical experts, policy and strategy makers as well as institutions working at the cutting edge of sustainability, to enable SSSI to develop and deliver its own Saudi-based skills and training program,” said an SSSI statement.

The agreement comes under the Strategic Program Fund, which delivers support to capacity building initiatives worldwide. The Saudi Sustainability Initiative aims to provide Saudi experts working in the environment sector with policy and strategy-making skills as well as know-how in the fields of sustainability and sustainable development. The 18-month-long initiative will include several training workshops, seminars and environmental discussions and exhibitions. The main component of the initiative, the training and seminars forum, is planned to take place in March 2010.