RIYADH: Petrochemical giant Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) announced the reopening of its office in Iraq during the 7th Basra Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition in the Iraqi city of Basra, which started on Tuesday.
SABIC participated in the event as part of a wider public and private sector delegation from Saudi Arabia, under the aegis of the Saudi Export Development Authority (SEDA). SABIC also seeks to explore opportunities available in the important Iraqi market.
Economic analyst and former Shoura Council member Usamah Kurdi told Arab News that SABIC re-opening its office in Iraq is a major development in the Saudi-Iraqi relations. “I am delighted to know that Saudi investments will be made in Iraq, which would yield lucrative benefits for the two parties,” he said.
“Taking Iraq into the fold of the Arab region will also help fortify unity of the Arab world and also protect it from the undue intervention of Iran. Iraq is part of the Arab world,” he stressed.
Saudi Energy Minister Khalid Al-Falih made the announcement following the inauguration of the oil and gas conference. He also witnessed the signing of 18 memorandums of understanding (MoU) between Saudi and Iraqi companies in the fields of energy, with his counterpart, Iraqi Oil Minister Jabbar Al-Luaibi.
Al-Falih said that SABIC is in the final stages of reopening its office in Iraq.
Musad Al-Zayani, a Dubai-based Saudi journalist who is an expert on the petrochemical industry, told Arab News that this move would boost the economy of Iraq, which needs a push. He said SABIC would be able to supply the needed raw materials to Iraq for its petrochemical industry. The SEDA seeks to promote trade between Saudi Arabia and Iraq and encourages Saudi companies to explore new opportunities to boost the Kingdom’s non-oil exports.
In a statement to Arab News, Dr. Talaat Al-Dhafer, SABIC vice president, KSA, Middle East and Africa region, who led the SABIC delegation, expressed his happiness over the company’s participation.
He said that SABIC was committed to contributing to the Kingdom’s efforts to diversify its economy.
Reopening of SABIC office in Iraq to benefit both sides: Experts
Reopening of SABIC office in Iraq to benefit both sides: Experts
Riyadh forum to discuss AI impact on education, jobs
- The exhibition will give young people direct access to educational, training, career, and technological opportunities while enabling them to learn from leading local and international experiences to shape their future careers
RIYADH: Experts from more than 50 international and local organizations in education, employment, and artificial intelligence will gather in Riyadh from Jan. 28-29 for the International Conference on Data and AI Capacity Building to explore the future of education during rapid AI advances.
Discussions will examine how AI is transforming work, its implications for current and future generations, and the new opportunities it creates, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.
Organized by the Saudi Data and AI Authority, the conference aims to redefine work and human capacity building to meet future labor market demands.
Participants will present practical solutions for empowering young people with AI skills, integrating AI into education, and aligning learning outcomes with the most in-demand future skills locally and globally.
By addressing AI’s evolving impact on the job market, the conference offers academics, AI and data professionals, policymakers, and students a platform to exchange insights and explore the latest innovations for societal benefit and national development.
An accompanying exhibition will highlight cutting-edge educational and digital transformation solutions from public and private sector organizations.
The exhibition will give young people direct access to educational, training, career, and technological opportunities while enabling them to learn from leading local and international experiences to shape their future careers.
