Sri Lankan foreign minister’s trip to Saudi Arabia yields ‘positive vibes’

Sri Lankan Minister Ali Sabry met with several Saudi officials and ministers during his recent visit to the Kingdom. (AN photo by Saad Aldossari)
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Sri Lankan Minister Ali Sabry met with several Saudi officials and ministers during his recent visit to the Kingdom. (AN photo by Saad Aldossari)
Sri Lankan foreign minister’s trip to Saudi Arabia yields ‘positive vibes’
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Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Ali Sabry speaking to Arab News. (AN photo by Saad Aldossari)
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Updated 28 January 2023

Sri Lankan foreign minister’s trip to Saudi Arabia yields ‘positive vibes’

Sri Lankan Minister Ali Sabry met with several Saudi officials and ministers during his recent visit to the Kingdom. (AN photo b
  • Sri Lanka, Saudi Arabia sign double tax avoidance deal to boost trade, investment
  • Framework agreement with GCC in the works

RIYADH: Sri Lankan Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Sabry has held talks with ministers and senior officials in Saudi Arabia, as the crisis-hit island nation seeks to boost cooperation with the Kingdom and other Gulf countries.

Sabry met with his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Secretary-General of Organization of Islamic Cooperation Hissein Brahim Taha, Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council Nayef Falah M. Al-Hajraf, and CEO of the Saudi Fund for Development Sultan Al-Marshad, as well as officials from the Islamic Development Bank.

Sabry said that his visit to the Kingdom was “successful and that it will further cement and strengthen the bilateral relationship between our two countries as we see a lot of positive vibes that have been infused into our relations.”

Talks between the two foreign ministers covered enhancement of bilateral relations, increased investment with Sri Lanka as a gateway to South Asia, and employment for Sri Lankans in the Kingdom.

HIGHLIGHT

Ali Sabry, the Sri Lankan minister of Foreign Affairs, signed the double tax avoidance deal with the Kingdom’s Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority to boost trade and investment. Sri Lanka is said to be facing the worst economic crisis since its independence in 1948.

“Saudis have identified Sri Lanka as a very important geographical location, so (there are) investment opportunities in renewable energy, petroleum and hospitality industries,” Sabry said.

“We are interested in getting Saudi investment into the renewable energy sector for development, energy security and making Sri Lanka a regional energy hub.”

Discussions also took place around resuming airline services between Saudi Arabia and Sri Lanka following their suspension during the global pandemic.

In a bid to enhance trade and investment relations between both countries, the visiting minister “signed a double tax avoidance agreement with the Zakat and Income Tax Authority here” to prevent fiscal evasion on income.

Sri Lanka is facing its worst economic crisis since independence in 1948, with the government battling a shortage of foreign earnings, runaway inflation and recession.

The Sri Lankan minister thanked the Kingdom for its help with debt restructuring at the International Monetary Fund and Paris Club.

The Paris Club of creditor nations has proposed a 10-year debt moratorium on Sri Lankan debt and 15 years of debt restructuring as a formula to resolve the island nation’s currency crisis.

Sri Lanka is also in discussions with the IMF to secure a $2.9 billion bailout seen as vital to getting its economy back on track.

Sabry highlighted Saudi Arabia and Sri Lanka’s long-standing relations and the former’s support in international forums.

“Sri Lanka and Saudi Arabia have been traditional friends for a long period of time. To strengthen bilateral relationship, particularly in the multilateral fora — the UN and other agencies — we have to support each other,” he said.  

“They (Saudis) have been supporting us when we have been cornered unfairly by some powers for no reason. They have stood by us time and again. So we need to strengthen that relationship.”

Sabry and Al-Marshad discussed development issues of common interest, and the Sri Lankan minister praised the Kingdom’s efforts in developing infrastructure in Sri Lanka through SFD projects.

The minister’s meeting with Al-Hajraf focused on ties between Sri Lanka and the GCC.

“GCC is very important. We are looking at signing a framework agreement with the GCC, we want to expedite it as soon as possible,” Sabry said.

On his discussions with Taha and OIC observer status, Sabry said: “They are exploring the possibility of observer status, but we haven’t made the decision yet. Traditionally, we have had good relationships.”

Sabry also reassured Taha about the conditions of the Muslim community in Sri Lanka.

 


Indonesian, Hijazi cultural traditions celebrated at event in Jeddah

Indonesian, Hijazi cultural traditions celebrated at event in Jeddah
Updated 54 sec ago

Indonesian, Hijazi cultural traditions celebrated at event in Jeddah

Indonesian, Hijazi cultural traditions celebrated at event in Jeddah
  • “Apart from our role to revive the community in Al-Balad, we are celebrating the culture of Indonesia through its arts, tradition, food, and music,” Angawi said

JEDDAH: Performances using traditional musical instruments hit the right note with visitors to an Indonesian and Hijazi cultural event held recently in Jeddah.

The angklung, an Indonesian instrument made from bamboo, and the Arabian oud featured prominently at the event which took place in the historic Al-Balad area of the city.

Organized by Zawiya 97 in collaboration with the Jeddah Historic District Program and the Angklung Ensemble from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology’s arts office, the gathering was attended by around 300 guests including KAUST students and staff, members of the Indonesian community, and leading Saudi figures.

A musical rendition based around the angklung was performed by an Andika Berbawa-led band of students, teachers, and university staff from KAUST’s arts department.

Ahmed Angawi, chief executive officer of Zawiya 97, told Arab News: “Usually our celebrations focus on the traditions and culture of this region through arts, crafts, and architecture design but this event is about music in collaboration with KAUST and Jeddah Historic District Program.

“Apart from our role to revive the community in Al-Balad, we are celebrating the culture of Indonesia through its arts, tradition, food, and music, which highlights the beautiful connection between Indonesia and the Hijaz area,” he said.

He noted that the event had been staged to offer Indonesian music fused with Hijazi songs and Indonesian cuisine in celebration of a cultural convergence that extended through the ages.

Indonesian students showcased traditional clothing and crafts from various regions, and guests were invited to sample popular southeast Asian dishes such as selat Solo, mie goreng, sayur lodeh with quail eggs, and chicken satay.

Solkem N’Gangbet, head of KAUST’s office of the arts, said: “Al-Balad, Hijaz, and Indonesia are a natural combination. So, we decided, with Zawiya 97, to come up with music and culinary art to honor this connection through ages.”

She pointed out that the event had been designed to draw links between the past, present, and future.

The ceremony concluded with a local band performing Hijazi music.


Sri Lanka wants 5m tourists a year, envoy tells Riyadh event

Pakeer Mohideen Amza speaks at an event organized by the Sri Lankan Embassy in Riyadh on Monday to promote tourism. (AN photo)
Pakeer Mohideen Amza speaks at an event organized by the Sri Lankan Embassy in Riyadh on Monday to promote tourism. (AN photo)
Updated 24 min 57 sec ago

Sri Lanka wants 5m tourists a year, envoy tells Riyadh event

Pakeer Mohideen Amza speaks at an event organized by the Sri Lankan Embassy in Riyadh on Monday to promote tourism. (AN photo)
  • Sri Lankan embassy is hoping to encourage visitors from the Middle East, especially Saudi Arabia, to visit
  • Tourism will contribute to the country’s economy, which has suffered because of the global pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine: Ambassador

RIYADH: Sri Lanka is planning to increase visitor numbers to 5 million a year in a bid to revive its tourism sector and struggling economy, according to the island’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia.

Pakeer Mohideen Amza was speaking at an event organized by the Sri Lankan Embassy in Riyadh on Monday to promote tourism to the South Asian country, which has faced an economic crisis and widespread social unrest since 2022.

The embassy is hoping to encourage visitors from the Middle East, especially Saudi Arabia, to visit Sri Lanka.

Pakeer Mohideen Amza speaks to Arab News at an event organized by the Sri Lankan Embassy in Riyadh on Monday. (AN photo by Saad Aldossari)

In a presentation, the ambassador shared statistics on tourism, and highlighted the country’s heritage, architectural history and natural attractions.

Tourism will contribute to the country’s economy, which has suffered because of the global pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Amza said.

“This year has started very well. I can say we had some challenging times in 2019. 2020 was the pandemic year. Then, in 2021, the tourism sector started to crumble. I think, in 2022, we started getting back, but, still, we had a bad economic situation. So, that hampered our tourism development,” he said.

People attend an event organized by the Sri Lankan Embassy in Riyadh on Monday. (AN photo by Saad Aldossari)

However, the country had more than 100,000 visitors in January and February this year, signalling a stronger tourism market.

“We think tourism is a very important sector for our economy,” he said.

As for what visitors can expect in Sri Lanka, the ambassador said: “We are small, but we are rich in resources. And that’s what we say, come and explore.”

Asked about future projects or plans to attract tourists, he replied: “We have a plan to develop the tourism sector. It will attract 5 million tourists a year. I’m sure we need to do a lot about that. At the moment, we are bouncing back. So, come and hold our hands. Work together with us. Tourism is one area where we can work together.”

Zafra Zafeen, an embassy official, talked about the culture, food, climate and sightseeing locations in Colombo, the Sri Lankan capital.

Attendees included diplomats and stakeholders from the tourism sector.

Saudi Arabia and Sri Lanka on Tuesday signed a new agreement on the employment of workers, opening up more opportunities in the Kingdom for professionals from the crisis-hit island nation.


Local content will drive Saudi growth, AmCham forum told

Local content will drive Saudi growth, AmCham forum told
Updated 42 min 52 sec ago

Local content will drive Saudi growth, AmCham forum told

Local content will drive Saudi growth, AmCham forum told
  • The panel discussion revolved around the industrial transformation taking place in the Kingdom as part of Vision 2030 reforms
  • Forrest Young, president of AmChamKSA Jeddah Chapter, welcomed representatives from Zahid Industries, Johnson Controls Arabia, SAWACO, and MARS Arabia

JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia’s “Road to Localization” was the focus of an American Chamber of Commerce Jeddah Chapter event featuring industry experts and representatives of leading corporations.
The panel discussion revolved around the industrial transformation taking place in the Kingdom as part of Vision 2030 reforms.
Forrest Young, president of AmChamKSA Jeddah Chapter, welcomed representatives from Zahid Industries, Johnson Controls Arabia, SAWACO, and MARS Arabia.
“As a G20 member and the 18th-largest economy globally, Saudi Arabia is experiencing a significant industrial metamorphosis, with localization being one of the primary pillars of the Kingdom’s ambitious vision,” he said.
“It has spurred numerous initiatives to increase domestic value creation, adapt to a rapidly evolving economic landscape, foster future prosperity, and generate sustainable job opportunities for the nation’s growing workforce.”
Nizar Kammourie, CEO of SAWACO, said: “As part of our project Rabigh 3 IWP, we are proud to contribute to the local content effort in Saudi Arabia where the production and procurement of goods and services support the country’s economic growth and development.”
“We are also committed to supporting local content policy by sourcing goods and services from local suppliers wherever possible. We believe that this not only benefits the local economy but also helps to build strong partnerships with local businesses.”
Kammourie said that the Local Content and Government Procurement Authority is playing a vital role in evaluating the level of local content in various sectors.
“As a responsible project company, we are fully supportive of the LCGPA’s efforts, and are always looking for ways to increase the participation of local businesses and manufacturing in our projects.”
Mohanad Al-Shaikh, Johnson Controls CEO, outlined an initiative aligned with the National Industrial Strategy announced recently by the Ministry of Industrial Affairs.
“Through this initiative, we are ensuring Saudi students before they graduate from high school get familiar with the manufacturing process and be a part of the ecosystem. In collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Industrial Affairs and Jeddah Chamber of Commerce through the industrial council, around 3,000 students will be assigned to visit the York factory,” he said.
Zeina Alnouri, Jeddah Chapter coordinator, said that the AmCham Saudi Arabia event brought together key industry leaders “and allowed attendees to gain a deeper understanding of localization and embrace it.”


Saudi foreign minister meets Kuwaiti counterpart in Riyadh

Saudi foreign minister meets Kuwaiti counterpart in Riyadh
Updated 44 min 9 sec ago

Saudi foreign minister meets Kuwaiti counterpart in Riyadh

Saudi foreign minister meets Kuwaiti counterpart in Riyadh
  • The officials reviewed bilateral relations and discussed ways to boost cooperation and coordination

RIYADH: Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister, met his Kuwaiti counterpart, Sheikh Salem Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, on Wednesday on the sidelines of the 155th session of the Ministerial Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council in Riyadh.

The ministers reviewed bilateral relations and discussed ways in which cooperation might be enhanced and developed in all areas, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

They also talked about ways to boost Gulf coordination in service of common interests and to help achieve the aspirations of their countries, and shared their views on the latest regional and international developments.

 


Saudi fashion brand creates pigeon-house-inspired dress

Saudi fashion brand creates pigeon-house-inspired dress
Updated 22 March 2023

Saudi fashion brand creates pigeon-house-inspired dress

Saudi fashion brand creates pigeon-house-inspired dress
  • Modeled by Linda Qari, the dress was made of leather with holes of different sizes
  • The pigeon towers were commissioned to be constructed during the reign of King Abdulaziz

RIYADH: Saudi fashion brand Qormuz created a dress called Al-Dalam, inspired by pigeon houses, which received mixed reactions at the Saudi Cup 2023.
Modeled by Linda Qari, the dress was made of leather with holes of different sizes.
Owner of Qormuz, Abdulrahman Al-Abed, told Arab News: “We created the outfit as an inspiration from the pigeon tower in the Al-Dalam region, a neighborhood close to the Al-Kharj region, with the intention of causing this visual disturbance.”
The pigeon towers were commissioned to be constructed during the reign of King Abdulaziz who wanted a place for migratory pigeons to rest. But decades later, it became a source of inspiration for Al-Abed.
He said: “Those towers were left unoccupied for 60 years before being turned into a tourist destination. The towers served as the inspiration for Al-Dalam bag that we later created.
“We created a full line and participated in fashion shows in Paris, New York, Dubai, Milan, and the Saudi Cup.
“We wanted to draw attention to the towers and reshape it into clothing. We used engineering technology to do this ... our body was the pigeons emerging from the dress,” he added.
The dress received criticism online due to its peculiarity but made “a global impact.”
Al-Abed said: “Of course, the piece will receive criticism because it is unique. However, the numbers speak for themselves because Al-Dalam was one of the most searched terms then, and more than 15 million people viewed the dress (on social media and Google).”
Qormuz has been wowing the fashion world with its thought-provoking designs in jewelry, clothing, home accessories, silverware, leather, and fragrances since 2017.
“The piece I love the most is the oud bracelet because my family has been in the oud and incense trade for more than 35 years.
“Our products and fabrics come from Saudi Arabia, Ireland, Denmark, India, and many other countries. However, we have a whole collection called 1902, commemorating the battle for Riyadh’s conquest. We showcased the entire collection of Saudi fabrics, threads, and leather for this collection,” Al-Abed added.
The brand is committed to bringing the past to life in a way that is consistent with the present, the future, and Vision 2030.
He said: “Our keenness is one of the first building blocks in Qormuz to focus on building a solid identity capable of bringing heritage to today and tomorrow and attracting talents from the people of the country.
“Deep research and visits to historical sites and presence in the most important events that take place in the Kingdom, such as the events of the Ministry of Culture and the Saudi Cup, as well as our presence in Dubai Expo.”
Qormuz means crimson red color. The brand chose the name because in the past, it was one of the most challenging colors to make as it would have to be first extracted from prickly pear insects. The color was rare, hence expensive, and popular. Its discovery made a revolution in the world of colors.
“The color made a revolution, us as a brand we chose this color because we are making a revolution in the world of fashion,” he added.
Al-Abed majored in both law and business administration. He did not study design but grew up in a creative atmosphere because his father was a calligrapher and artist.
Inspired, Al-Abed entered the design field out of love and passion.