LONDON: The visit by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to Paris will include meetings with French business leaders and plans to build trade ties focused on “investments in the future.”
The two countries have a strong history of bilateral trade relations within the defense, infrastructure and aerospace sectors.
Former French Prime Minister Manuel Valls signed €10 billion worth of contracts in October 2015 in the fields of aerospace and military contracts on behalf of Airbus, transport, energy, health and food markets with French companies. France is also a major arms supplier to the Kingdom.
“We want a new cooperation, concentrating less on contracts and more in investing in the future, especially in digital and renewable energy, with a common vision,” the French presidency said on Thursday.
This statement suggests that the royal visit is about more than economics and looks to a deepening of cultural and political ties.
“Part of his visit will be economic, to say the least, but Saudi Arabia will also want to promote its Vision 2030 approach,” Scott Lucas, professor of international politics at the University of Birmingham, told Arab News.
The professor said he expects to see more alliances and deals forged with the French technology sector as Saudi Arabia continues the high-tech momentum from the crown prince’s recent visit to Silicon Valley. Lucas added that there could also be more deals for weaponry, infrastructure and clean energy. “There is a wide range of areas for possible cooperation,” he said.
Dr. Khalid Bin Mohammad Al-Ankary, Saudi ambassador to France, wrote on Thursday in the French publication L’Opinion that “the regularity of the bilateral visits testifies to the solid partnership between France and the Kingdom, which is based in particular on common strategic interests: The fight against terrorism and for international stability, the search for a convergence of views on regional crises in the Middle East and the Sahel.”
Al-Ankary added: “This visit has particular importance and meaning. The transformation of the Saudi economy, society and political life is under way. A young and connected country. What modernity would be possible without openness to tourism and culture?”
Chris Doyle, director of the London-based Council for Arab-British Understanding, said the cultural “opening up” of Saudi Arabia with new licenses for concerts and museums “presents a wealth of opportunities for countries with cultural exports, such as France.”
The crown prince’s visit will also be about building ties against terrorism and building educational and cultural ties beyond economic deals alone, Doyle said.
“Saudi Arabia hasn’t yet had many touristic visits from Europe, but as Saudi Arabia opens up there may be a possibility that this happens,” he added. Doyle highlighted renewable energy as another potential area for KSA-France collaboration. “Saudi Arabia has recently highlighted green energy as absolutely vital. Now green energy is experiencing such a rise, it’s only sensible that Saudi Arabia invests in it and that means partnering with the world’s renewable energy leaders.”
Doyle added that the crown prince has a major political agenda. “People aren’t sure where Saudi Arabia’s direction is going and he’s trying to explain his strategy to his three most important Western allies — the US, the UK and France.”
He said the true success of the crown prince’s trips to the West as regards how Saudi Arabia is perceived would be measured in the medium-to-long term. “The dividends of this trip may not be seen immediately, however, in the short term, there were no pitfalls or massive clash that undermined the visit — it went fairly smoothly,” he said.
“The tour of Crown Prince Mohammed is more focused on security, economy and business,” said Dr. Ibrahim Al-Qayid, a founding member of the Riyadh-based National Society for Human Rights. He said that the crown prince has lent all his support to “encourage entrepreneurship and foreign investment, and privatize state-owned industries... The crown prince’s support to women with an aim to integrate them into the workforce has started paying dividends.”
France and Saudi Arabia to ‘invest in the future’
France and Saudi Arabia to ‘invest in the future’
- The transformation of the Saudi economy, society and political life is under way.
- The tour of Crown Prince Mohammed is more focused on security, economy and business.
Saudi Arabia launches witness protection center
- Attorney General Sheikh Saud Al-Mojeb approved the establishment in line with Article Four of the Law for the Protection of Whistleblowers, Witnesses, Experts and Victims
- Criminal penalties for those who harm witnesses under protection include up to three years’ imprisonment and fines of up to SR5 million
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has launched a new center to protect whistleblowers and witnesses to crimes that will begin operations in July.
Attorney General Sheikh Saud Al-Mojeb approved the establishment in line with Article Four of the Law for the Protection of Whistleblowers, Witnesses, Experts and Victims.
The center will provide legal protection from threats, danger, or harm through methods stipulated in Article Fourteen of the Law, including security, as well as identity and data anonymization.
Victims can be transferred from their place of work, temporarily or permanently, and provided with alternative employment, as well as legal, psychological and social guidance.
The protection also includes provisions for security escorts and financial assistance.
Witnesses and whistleblowers can submit protection requests according to specific conditions, and can be assisted by the center without requesting help if in imminent danger.
Criminal penalties for those who harm witnesses under protection include up to three years’ imprisonment and fines of up to SR5 million ($1.3 million).
Tariq Al-Suqair, an accredited lawyer, told Arab News: “Each state has a duty to establish procedures that provide measures for the protection of people whose cooperation with the justice system in an investigation may put them at risk of physical harm.”
Saudi Arabia, which ratified the UN organized crime convention in 2005, has domestic laws that mandate protective measures for victims and witnesses of crime, he added.
Al-Suqair said that the Kingdom’s latest measures operate in accordance with Article 24 of the convention, which calls for effective protection for witnesses from retaliation or intimidation.
Saudi Arabia’s Public Prosecution has proposed an executive body to run the center and its witness protection program.
“It is expected that once the program starts, we will witness more effective control to combat sophisticated organized crimes,” Al-Suqair said.
KSrelief signs agreement with Majmaah University
- Deal aims to foster cooperation in humanitarian research and boost participation from both sides in conferences, workshops, meetings, and exhibitions
RIYADH: Saudi humanitarian aid agency KSrelief signed on Thursday a deal with Majmaah University to cooperate in several areas.
The agreement was signed at the center’s headquarters in Riyadh by Dr. Aqeel Al-Ghamdi, assistant supervisor general director for planning and development at KSrelief, and Dr. Mosallam Al-Dosari, vice-rector for development and investment.
The deal aims to foster cooperation in humanitarian research and boost participation from both sides in conferences, workshops, meetings, exhibitions, and other events related to the field. The two parties are also exploring the possibility of holding a workshop on humanitarian research and studies on the sidelines of the Riyadh International Humanitarian Forum, organized by KSrelief every two years.
Moreover, the memorandum aims to promote cooperation in volunteering by leveraging the university’s cadres, competencies, and CIFAL center, a UN-affiliated training hub that educates government authorities and civil society leaders on sustainable development and other UN goals.
The memorandum will also allow for the two entities to share consultancy services on relief and humanitarian work, draw on each other’s experiences, and benefit from capacity-building programs provided by the university’s CIFAL center.
The agreement comes in line with the Saudi Vision 2030 objectives, which encourage cooperation between various national actors and the promotion of humanitarian action in the Kingdom.
Date confirmed for Health Tourism Future Forum in Riyadh
- Event will showcase the Kingdom’s importance as a promising global market for health
- Aim is to attract visitors, interested parties, and investors from all over the world, as well as promote major projects, such as Amaala
RIYADH: The Health Tourism Association has revealed what is in store at its future forum, which will be held in Riyadh from April 28-30.
The event, which is being organized by the Health Tourism Club and the Health Tourism Association in partnership with the Global Healthcare Travel Council, will showcase the Kingdom’s importance as a promising global market for health tourism, presenting investment opportunities in the tourism and healthcare sectors, along with new destinations, while hoping to establish a new annual global platform for the industry in Riyadh.
The aim is to attract visitors, interested parties, and investors from all over the world, as well as promote major projects, such as Amaala, in an effort to make the Kingdom an attractive destination for safe, high-quality healthcare with international accreditation.
The press conference preceding the event spoke of patients seeking healthcare benefiting from the advanced system in the country and the extensive network of distinguished, high-quality hospitals and medical centers throughout the Kingdom.
Scent of success as Saudi Arabia aims for 2bn roses
- Reef Saudi, which focuses on enhancing productivity of vital agricultural crops, announced a 34 percent increase in rose production last year
- Reef also seeks to diversify agricultural production across rural areas, while ensuring optimal and sustainable use of natural agricultural and water resources
RIYADH: Reef Saudi, a sustainable agricultural rural development program, has almost doubled rose production in the past four years, increasing from 500 million roses in 2020 to 960 million roses, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The program, which focuses on enhancing productivity of vital agricultural crops, announced a 34 percent increase in rose production last year, and said it aims to reach a figure of 2 billion roses by 2026.
Reef also seeks to diversify agricultural production across rural areas, while ensuring optimal and sustainable use of natural agricultural and water resources.
As part of the program, plant nurseries have been established around the Kingdom, with mobile clinics to diagnose plant diseases.
The Reef program aims to raise the living standard of farmers and rural families, increase efficiency and productivity, and improve food security.
It has developed six sectors: fruit, coffee, honey, rose, rainfed agriculture, and a support program for rural families in agriculture.
Sports medicine professionals gather at global event in Riyadh
- ECOSEP conference will run until April 27 at the Crowne Plaza Riyadh RDC under the supervision of the MOVE Center for Comprehensive Sports Medicine
- MOVE Center is a specialized integrated sports medicine facility, that places a focus on diagnosing, treating, rehabilitating, educating and protecting athletes from sports injuries
RIYADH: A major global sports medicine conference began in Riyadh on Thursday, with more than 60 speakers arriving in the Saudi capital from 15 countries around the world.
The European College of Sports and Exercise Physicians (ECOSEP) conference, one of the largest events in the industry worldwide, will run until April 27 at the Crowne Plaza Riyadh RDC under the supervision of the MOVE Center for Comprehensive Sports Medicine.
The MOVE Center is the first facility specialized in integrated sports medicine in the Kingdom, focusing on diagnosing, treating, rehabilitating, educating and protecting athletes from sports injuries.
Dr. Mubarak Al-Mutawa, the center’s CEO, said: “One of our main goals at MOVE is medical prevention. When I take one’s measurements and weight, and evaluate their condition, I always solve them with preventative solutions.
“The world is taking the lead toward the importance of being cautious and aware. A quality life consists of good nutrition and staying active because those factors prevent chronic conditions, such as diabetes and high blood pressure.”
Nikos Malliaropoulos, ECOSEP secretary general and a sports consultant, told Arab News that constant learning is the most important part of working in sports medicine.
“It (sports medicine) is starting to expand all over the world and I am really happy that we are here today in Saudi Arabia, opening the doors to sports exercise medicine.
“I think it is important as Saudi Arabia will host the World Cup in 10 years. So, over the next 10 years, this knowledge needs to be expanded to all healthcare professionals. This course changed my life and my practice 20 years ago. It was the motivation and the drive to develop that.”
Dr. Amir Pakravan, a consultant in sport and musculoskeletal medicine, as well as an ECOSEP board member, told Arab News that he previously had experience working in fast-paced medical environments, which prepared him for his job as a sports consultant.
When he is on the field, Pakravan ensures that he has a checklist of procedures memorized at all times, to ensure a quick response if an athlete is injured.
“What I would say to myself is to stick to the one, two, three and four of your list and check that you have done all of them. That focus on procedure is important.”
The three-day conference will host a series of workshops as well as sessions with industry leaders and officials.
It comes as an extension of efforts in the Saudi sports sector under the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.
