Saudi Arabia promotes investment opportunities at Tokyo forum

Saudi Arabia promotes investment opportunities at Tokyo forum
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The Japan Cooperation Center for the Middle East held a business forum on investment opportunities with the Saudi Arabian National Center for Privatization in Tokyo. (AN Japan Photo)
Saudi Arabia promotes investment opportunities at Tokyo forum
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The Japan Cooperation Center for the Middle East held a business forum on investment opportunities with the Saudi Arabian National Center for Privatization in Tokyo. (AN Japan Photo)
Saudi Arabia promotes investment opportunities at Tokyo forum
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The Japan Cooperation Center for the Middle East held a business forum on investment opportunities with the Saudi Arabian National Center for Privatization in Tokyo. (AN Japan Photo)
Saudi Arabia promotes investment opportunities at Tokyo forum
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The Japan Cooperation Center for the Middle East held a business forum on investment opportunities with the Saudi Arabian National Center for Privatization in Tokyo. (AN Japan Photo)
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Updated 14 March 2023

Saudi Arabia promotes investment opportunities at Tokyo forum

Saudi Arabia promotes investment opportunities at Tokyo forum
  • The NCP’s Privatization Program aims to enhance the role of the private sector in provision of services

TOKYO: The Japan Cooperation Center for the Middle East (JCCME) held a business forum on investment opportunities with the Saudi Arabian National Center for Privatization (NCP) in Tokyo on Monday.

The event featured Mohannad Basodan, the CEO of NCP; Hani Alsaigh, the NCP’s Vice President, Strategic Marketing and Knowledge Management; Salman Badr, Executive Vice President of the NCP’s Infrastructure Advisory; and Mohammed Al-Dahlawi, Saudi’s Ministry of Investment’s Representative in Japan.

The NCP’s Privatization Program aims to enhance the role of the private sector in provision of services and the availability of government assets.

The Saudi representatives explained that the Saudi market is “ripe for investments,” adding: “There is a strong commitment towards privatization that comes from the KSA leadership. Laws and regulations are geared to safeguard investors rights as well as a clear ecosystem and process put in place to facilitate and push through transactions.”

They noted that there are over 200 projects currently in the pipeline and 300 future opportunities.

“The pipeline has been tested, with about 30 projects awarded and closed to date and multiple success stories,” they said, noting that Saudi Arabia is witnessing significant growth and has excellent credit ratings.

The Saudi side also noted that “in Saudi Arabia we have the largest, broadest, and most successful Privatization and PPP program in the Middle East, and it is a top priority for the Saudi government. The NCP Board includes 11 ministers responsible for all the main economic and infrastructure sectors.”

“Saudi Arabia has long welcomed international investors, building on our experience in oil and petrochemicals. Our sophisticated local banks actively participate in financing PPPs alongside international lenders. There are also strong local players in construction, as well as considerable financial liquidity in the market. These provide a pool of potential consortium partners, sub-contractors, and financial investors.”

The Japanese representatives included Tamura Mitsuo, Managing Director of the Middle East Cooperation Center, and Fujiwara Toshiharu, the International Strategic Information Department General Manager at Mizuho Bank.

Fujiwara noted that “Saudi Arabia has the largest population and economy in the Gulf region and the two largest religious holy sites of Islam. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is garnering increasing support from the people, especially the younger generation, and various economic reforms are being implemented, such as the Giga Projects, the Saudi Green Initiative, and the measures to attract international companies to relocate regional headquarters to Saudi Arabia.”

“One of the key drivers for privatization at the national level is a Housing Program, targeted improvement in service quality and reduction in and improving quality of life for citizens. The government is open to various forms of private sector investment such as full/partial assets sale, IPOs, management buyouts, public private partnerships (PPPs) and outsourcing.”

“PPPs are being increasingly used as a means of attracting more private investment into areas of the Saudi Arabian economy that have traditionally been financed by the public sector. PPPs form a key component of Saudi’s National Transformation Program which is also one of the key programs under Vision 2030, aiming to increase the percentage of private sector from 40% of GDP in 2016 to 65% by 2030.”

“The PPP model provides an important vehicle for both international and regional investors and developers to take advantage of the potential, especially in the water, transportation, education and healthcare sectors of the Saudi market.”

He explained that the benefits of private sector participation include availability and quality of service; increasing efficiency and effectiveness; enhancing the efficiency of the legislative and regulatory environment; and financial sustainability.


Saudi Arabia among top 5 donors for Turkiye quake fund

Saudi Arabia among top 5 donors for Turkiye quake fund
Updated 01 April 2023

Saudi Arabia among top 5 donors for Turkiye quake fund

Saudi Arabia among top 5 donors for Turkiye quake fund
  • UN raises quarter of $1 bn Turkey quake funds target
  • On Feb 6 a 7.8-magnitude earthquake killed more than 50,000 in Turkiye and nearly 6,000 in Syria leaving entire cities in ruins

RIYADH: The UN Office for Humanitarian Affairs on Friday thanked Saudi Arabia and other donor countries who contributed to raising over a quarter of the flash appeal issued by the UN following devastating earthquakes in Turkiye, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The UN said it had raised $268 million in response to the $1 billion humanitarian funding appeal for relief work in Turkiye following the 7.8-magnitude quake on Feb. 6 and its aftershocks that devastated swathes of southeast Turkiye and parts of war-torn Syria.
OCHA spokesman Jens Laerke said that 27 percent of the appeal had been funded and the largest donors were Saudi Arabia, the US, Kuwait, the European Commission, and the UN Central Emergency Response Fund, while urging countries to provide support and contribute to financing the appeal.


He said that the aid comes in support of the response led by the Turkish government, adding that 9 million people were directly affected by the quakes and 3 million people had been displaced.
On Feb. 16, the UN launched the $1 billion appeal to help more than five million people in Turkiye and a twin flash appeal for Syria to help survivors over the first three months. The latter has raised $364 million of the $398 million requested.
The UN and other humanitarian agencies have reached more than 4.1 million people with basic household items and clothes, and 3 million with emergency food aid, while more than 700,000 people have received support to improve their living arrangements, including tents, relief housing units, and tent repair tools, Laerke said.


He added that 1.6 million have received water, hygiene and sanitation assistance and about 1 million liters of drinking water were delivered.
The UN humanitarian agency’s spokesman said that the Turkish Ministry of Health has been supported with 4.6 million vaccine doses, and 16 mobile health clinics, in addition to medicines and medical supplies for reproductive health and treatment of trauma and injuries.
“Now we are involved in the humanitarian emergency phase, where we look at what the survivors need,” Laerke told reporters in Geneva.
With AFP


Smile brighter in Ramadan with the magic of miswak

Smile brighter in Ramadan with the magic of miswak
Updated 31 March 2023

Smile brighter in Ramadan with the magic of miswak

Smile brighter in Ramadan with the magic of miswak
  • Local sellers note increase in sales of teeth-cleaning twig during the holy month

RIYADH: As the holy month of Ramadan begins, Muslims across the world are observing fasts that require abstinence from all food and drink from dawn to dusk.

The blessed month is rooted in faith, history and culture, and few practices emphasize that as much as the use of miswak, a teeth-cleaning twig. Many Muslims use miswak during the day to maintain freshness, oral hygiene and to protect overall dental health. In the Islamic tradition, using miswak is a well-known sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

Various ahadith document the elevated status and significance of miswak. Abu Hurairah once narrated that the Prophet said, “Were it not (for the fear) of overburdening my Ummah, I would have ordered them to (brush their teeth with) Siwak at every Salat.” (Sahih Muslim)

According to the Islamic tradition it is sunnah to use a miswak. (Supplied)

Aisha narrated that the Prophet said, “The siwak is a means of purifying the mouth and pleasing the Rabb.” (Nasai)

Abu Hurairah further narrated that the Prophet said once on a Friday, “O Community of Muslims! Allah has made this day an Eid for you, so take a bath and needfully brush your teeth with siwak.” (Tabarani, Majma’uz-Zawaid)

In Saudi Arabia, miswak is typically sourced from the Salvadora persica L. trees, known as arak in Arabic. The variety is also found in Sudan, Egypt and Chad. The bitter-tasting palm or olive trees are also used for miswak. The neem tree is a popular option in South Asia.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Miswak has even gained recognition beyond the Arab region. The World Health Organization recommended the use of miswak for oral hygiene in 1986 and in 2000.

• There is now increasing scientific evidence that miswak has medicinal properties and helps fight plaque, recession of gums, tooth decay, bleeding gums and deep periodontal pockets.

Miswak can be sourced from various trees except for those known to cause harm, such as pomegranate and myrtle trees.

The arak trees contribute to environmental sustainability and preservation as well. In various parts of the Arab region, the arak trees are indigenous to arid regions and planting them reduces desertification where little else is capable of growing. This also helps local communities across the Middle East to develop a sustainable income while preserving an important part of their cultural and religious heritage.

Miswak has even gained recognition beyond the Arab region. The World Health Organization recommended the use of miswak for oral hygiene in 1986 and in 2000.

There is now increasing scientific evidence that miswak has medicinal properties and helps fight plaque, recession of gums, tooth decay, bleeding gums and deep periodontal pockets.

“The repeated process of chewing sticks releases fresh sap and silica (a hard glossy mineral), which acts as an abrasive material to remove stains,” noted a study conducted by a panel of dentists at King Saud University.

The study identified 19 natural substances found in miswak that benefit dental health. It contains natural antiseptics that kill harmful microorganisms in the mouth, tannic acids that protect gums from disease, and aromatic oils that increase salivation. Researchers also noted that the miswak bristles are parallel to the handle rather than perpendicular, therefore it can reach areas that a conventional toothbrush often fails to.

Mohammed bin Zahid, a dentist, said that miswak is a “natural toothbrush” that, among other benefits, also “creates a fragrance in the mouth and sharpens memory.”

Sales of miswak tend to triple in Saudi Arabia during Ramadan as people opt for the traditional hygiene technique. Ahead of Ramadan, every shop ensures that miswak is available for buyers and it is often placed at the prime location of the check-out counter.

Abdullah Al-Otaibi, a miswak seller in Riyadh, said: “I am expecting sales to rise during Ramadan by almost 300 percent.”

Bilal, a miswak vendor near a mosque in Al-Wazarat district in Riyadh, said that his daily profit during Ramadan tends to be anywhere between SR50-SR200.

To use a miswak, simply chew off about one centimeter of the twig at one end and then continue to chew it until it softens and forms bristles. The softening can be sped up by dipping the end in water to separate the fibers. Once bristles are formed, the miswak can be used like a regular toothbrush, without paste.

 


Saudi transport minister inspects services, operational plans at King Abdulaziz Airport

Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser visits King Abdulaziz Airport facilities in Jeddah. (SPA)
Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser visits King Abdulaziz Airport facilities in Jeddah. (SPA)
Updated 31 March 2023

Saudi transport minister inspects services, operational plans at King Abdulaziz Airport

Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser visits King Abdulaziz Airport facilities in Jeddah. (SPA)
  • The minister toured the screening points that were equipped by Jeddah Airports Company to regulate the entry of Umrah buses to the terminal facilities

JEDDAH: Saudi Minister of Transport and Logistics Services, Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser, who is also chairman of the board of directors of the General Authority of Civil Aviation, accompanied by Abdulaziz Al-Duailej, head of GACA, and number of senior officials, inspected the facilities and services at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah.

Al-Jasser checked the smooth flow of passengers and the progress of work to ensure it was in line with the approved operational plan during the current Umrah season.

The minister toured the screening points that were equipped by Jeddah Airports Company to regulate the entry of Umrah buses to the terminal facilities. He was also briefed on the work and tasks carried out by the team in charge of the control and rapid intervention room.

Al-Jasser also inspected the control center, the passports and security procedures area, and the travel check-in area, and was briefed on the system for receiving pilgrims.

He was given a visual presentation on the operational plans implemented by Jeddah Airports with the participation of more than 27 governmental, security and operational agencies.

 


Media can help boost Asir tourism

Travel and media experts gathered at the Abha Forum to discuss how the media can revive tourism in Asir. (SPA)
Travel and media experts gathered at the Abha Forum to discuss how the media can revive tourism in Asir. (SPA)
Updated 01 April 2023

Media can help boost Asir tourism

Travel and media experts gathered at the Abha Forum to discuss how the media can revive tourism in Asir. (SPA)
  • 'The role of travel media has become increasingly important within the Kingdom’s tourism strategy'

ABHA: Experts in the travel and media sectors gathered at the Abha Forum to discuss the role the media can play in revitalizing tourism in Asir region.

Abdullah Al-Marei, an associate professor of media at King Khalid University, spoke during the annual event in the city of Abha about ways in which travel journalism can be developed to raise awareness among citizens and help stimulate the tourism industry in villages, cities and resorts across the region.

He said the media can highlight natural, historical, archaeological and other types of tourist attractions using advanced tools and techniques, including films and advertisements, to grab the attention of potential visitors.

Tourism conferences are also important mechanisms for tourism businesses to generate publicity, Al-Marei added, as they introduce delegates, sales teams, tourism agents and affiliated professionals to new programs and initiatives.

The role of travel media has become increasingly important within the Kingdom’s tourism strategy, he said, and is helping to establish the Asir region as a prominent, year-round tourist destination. This requires intensive promotional activity and the development of media products that contribute effectively to introducing and promoting the region and its attractions throughout the year, he added.

 

 


12,000 inspection visits conducted in Al-Kharj markets

The inspection aim to ensure the abundance and quality of products. (SPA)
The inspection aim to ensure the abundance and quality of products. (SPA)
Updated 01 April 2023

12,000 inspection visits conducted in Al-Kharj markets

The inspection aim to ensure the abundance and quality of products. (SPA)
  • The campaign is continuously implemented 24 hours a day, and consumers can submit their reports through the consumer service line on 940

AL-KHARJ: Authorities in Al-Kharj municipality are conducting 12,000 inspection visits to shops and food markets.

The visits aim to ensure the abundance and quality of products, as well as the compliance with health requirements and operating standards. Other undeclared visits will take place based on reports from the public.

Al-Kharj Mayor Khaled Al-Zaid, said: “The supervisory plan of the campaigns aims to ensure the safety of the products and the compliance of workers with the health and technical requirements.

“The campaign is continuously implemented 24 hours a day, and consumers can submit their reports through the consumer service line on 940, in addition to the municipality’s accounts on social media platforms.”