JEDDAH: Safeguarding the environment and natural resources is an integral part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, which calls for developing “sustainable, highly efficient production systems for plants, livestock, and fishery” products. Many projects and programs under the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture seek to fulfill that objective.
Young Saudis are showing an increasing interest in environmental sustainability and many are championing this cause through establishing businesses in the field or promoting environmental awareness.
One such enthusiast and businessman is 29-year-old Albara Lutfallah Qaid, founder and general director of EICO Arabia, in Jeddah. Qaid graduated from Middlesex University in London with a master’s degree in financial management. During his stay in the UK he became more aware and increasingly concerned about global warming and other alarming environmental issues, and that heavily influenced his thinking.
With his entrepreneurial mindset and background in finance, he followed the finance principle “Impact Investment” and, he said, “decided to create a business that will hopefully have a positive impact on people’s lives as well as the environment.”
After three years of planning, conducting thorough research and successful experiments on a domestic scale, EICO Arabia initiated a commercial-scale project in mass production in aquaponics and biofloc in 2017.
“The world has great advancements in this field. It’s about time someone here provides the know-how, but with integrity, honesty and social engagement!” Qaid told Arab News.
He said his company’s project was initiated in an attempt to meet some of the growing demands from health-conscious customers who struggle to find organic fresh food at an affordable price.
Qaid said that he hoped that “after fulfilling their operations, we would share our experience with the local community, and start a social empowerment project in collaboration with authorities, to align with Saudi Vision 2030.”
Another young champion of the environment is 24-year-old Alia Al-Sadat, a CAD engineer and architect at FalconViz in Jeddah. Al-Sadat graduated from Effat University in architecture and has felt strongly about the environment since her childhood.
“I have been concerned about the environment and the safety and wellbeing of animals from a very young age and hope to have a positive impact on my passion.”
Her passion for green design led Al-Sadat to win the Saudi Green Building Award at the Saudi Green Building Forum for her project “Jeddah Science and Technology Center” in June 2016.
Young Saudis are championing the cause of environmental sustainability
Young Saudis are championing the cause of environmental sustainability
- EICO Arabia initiated a commercial-scale project in mass production in aquaponics and biofloc in 2017
- Young Saudis are showing an increasing interest in environmental sustainability
Saudi project clears 1,375 Houthi mines in Yemen
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Project Masam cleared 1,375 mines in Yemen — which had been planted by the Houthi militia — between May 18 to 24, according to a recent report.
Overseen by the Kingdom’s aid agency KSrelief, the project’s specialist teams destroyed 1,345 pieces of unexploded ordnance, 15 improvised explosive devices, 11 anti-tank mines, and four anti-personnel mines.
The explosives, which were planted indiscriminately by the Houthis across Yemen, posed a threat to civilians, including children, women and the elderly.
A total of 443,452 mines have been cleared since the start of the initiative in 2018, according to Ousama Al-Gosaibi, the project’s managing director.
Masam teams are tasked with clearing villages, roads and schools to facilitate the safe movement of civilians and the delivery of humanitarian aid.
Riyadh exhibition showcases Saudi development in Yemen
RIYADH: The Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen is participating in the International Exhibition for the Non-profit Sector under the theme “Effective Partnerships for Sustainable Development,” from May 26-28 in Riyadh.
In the second round of the exhibition, the Saudi program is showcasing its sustainable development projects and initiatives in Yemen, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The program highlights its development experience, which has contributed to improving the infrastructure efficiency of various vital sectors, enhancing rural resilience, economically empowering women, building productive community assets, developing capacities and personnel, and promoting sustainable development in Yemen.
The program’s participation in the exhibition aims to strengthen the building of effective partnerships and communication bridges, and to collaborate in ways that contribute to achieving development in Yemen.
The Saudi program has implemented more than 229 projects and initiatives across eight key sectors: education, health, water, energy, transportation, agriculture and fisheries, capacity building and support for the Yemeni government, and developmental programs.
Pakistani envoy lauds Makkah Route Initiative
RIYADH: Pakistan’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Ahmad Farooq expressed deep appreciation for the Kingdom’s dedication to enhancing the Hajj experience for pilgrims.
He commended the Makkah Route Initiative, highlighting its positive effect on Pakistani pilgrims in previous years and its expansion in 2024 to include Karachi and Islamabad international airports.
Farooq emphasized the program’s role in simplifying travel procedures, making the journey to Makkah “free of hassle, easy and convenient” for Pakistani pilgrims.
The Makkah Route Initiative is one of several projects in the Ministry of Interior’s Pilgrim Experience Program under Saudi Vision 2030.
Now in its sixth year, the initiative involves the collaboration of several entities, such as the General Authority of Civil Aviation, the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority, and the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority, as well as the ministries of foreign affairs, health, media, and Hajj and Umrah.
Services include the issuing of electronic Hajj visas, biometric data collection, completion of passport procedures in special lounges at departure airports, ensuring health requirements are met, and efficient luggage tagging and sorting. After arrival in the Kingdom, pathways are assigned, and partner agencies ensure delivery of pilgrims’ luggage to their accommodation.
Cybersecurity courses open in Riyadh
- Industry leader SANS Institute offering in-person, online learning
RIYADH: A new cybersecurity course in Saudi Arabia is advancing the Kingdom’s ambitions to become a world leader in the field.
The SANS Summer Dunes will be held from June 1-6 by SANS Institute, a top global company in cybersecurity training and certification.
At the Hyatt Regency Olaya, Riyadh, participants will learn how to apply digital forensic methodologies to a range of simulated cases.
Saudi Arabia is making strides in its strategic commitment to cybersecurity, spearheaded by the National Cybersecurity Authority, which has launched schemes across the Kingdom.
The demand for digital and cybersecurity specialists is growing, presenting opportunities for Saudis to pursue careers in the field.
“Prioritizing and investing in cybersecurity training is necessary for Saudi Arabia’s digital resilience,” said SANS Institute’s Ned Baltagi, Middle East, Africa and Turkiye managing director.
“As the Kingdom continues to advance technologically under Saudi Vision 2030, individuals, organizations and government entities will inadvertently encounter a rise in increasingly sophisticated threats.”
SANS Summer Dunes 2024 includes two courses through in-person and online training: FOR500: Windows Forensic Analysis; and FOR610: Reverse-Engineering Malware: Malware Analysis Tools and Techniques.
FOR500 builds comprehensive digital forensics knowledge of Windows operating systems by analyzing forensic data as well as tracking user activity.
FOR610 explores malware analysis tools and techniques. The course has helped forensic investigators, analysts, incident responders, security engineers and IT administrators acquire skills to examine malicious programs on Windows systems.
“In today’s threat environment, having these skills in the team is imperative to support the entire spectrum of cybercrimes, including fraud, insider threats, employee misuse, industrial espionage, ransomware and computer intrusion investigations,” said Baltagi.
SANS Institute will also hold a community night talk on June 3 titled “Exploring the Link Between Corruption and Cybercrime.”
Led by Jason Jordaan, SANS’ principal instructor, the event will explore cybercrime-related corruption and how organized crime groups identify targets.
Jordaan will discuss a case he was personally involved in, when a cybercrime group pulled off a major hack of several government departments.
To register for SANS Summer Dunes in-person or online, visit sans.org/cyber-security-training-events/summer-dunes-2024.
Senior Finnish official calls for Gaza ceasefire during visit to Kingdom
- Immediate access to humanitarian aid is ‘cruicial,’ Pekka Puustinen tells Arab News
- Calls for Russia to be ‘stopped’ in its illegal attack on Ukraine
RIYADH: Pekka Puustinen, undersecretary of state internal and external affairs for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland, visited Saudi Arabia for the first time on Sunday, and discussed Finland’s foreign policy regarding the Israeli-Hamas conflict and Russia-Ukraine war.
In an exclusive interview with Arab News on the sidelines of the annual ambassadors’ meeting, Puustinen addressed the need for humanitarian aid to reach civilians in Gaza.
“Immediate access to humanitarian aid to Gaza is crucial,” he said.
On the Israeli-Hamas war, he said: “The Finnish stance is very clear. We are for an immediate ceasefire, finishing off the hostilities, immediate release of all the hostages, on both sides. And then this two-state solution, which is not easy to achieve, but the trust must be restored in the region.”
Referring to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Puustinen said that “Russia should be stopped.”
He said: “The Russian illegal attack against Ukraine is actually a blatant, breach of all the international confidence and international agreements.
“We are very concerned about that — Russia should be stopped. They should withdraw from Ukrainian soil, and everything should be done (so) that this won’t happen again.”
He added: “If Russia is not stopped in Ukraine, they will continue elsewhere.”
Puustinen also discussed Saudi-Finnish ties, saying that cooperation is “growing fast.”
“We enjoy a really good relationship nowadays, and we are very happy with the societal opening up of your country as well,” he said.
The Finnish official highlighted that there is a common interest between the two countries in the fields of industrial production, new technologies, energy, mining, and green advances.
Puustinen said he would like to see cooperation grow, with greater investment on both sides.
“We would like to see, of course, increased investments in both directions.
“These large projects under the Vision 2030, in your country, really offer ample opportunities for Finnish companies because of the know-how we can offer.
“I’m predicting a lot of increase (in trade). In the latest figures I have on trade between the two countries, there was an increase of more than 10 percent last year. It’s a huge increase. And if it continues, it’s very welcome news for all of us.”
Puustinen said that Finnish companies are leaders in investment in infrastructure, mining, energy efficiency, and trade, including paper export.
“Finland is one of the leading countries in providing solutions, durable or sustainable solutions,” he said.
He also highlighted that Finland, similar to Saudi Arabia, has a focus on environmental protection.
Puustinen commended Saudi Arabia on its selection to host Expo 2030.
“I want to commend the Saudi Arabian government because you won the bid to become the host of Expo 2030. So it’s rather symbolic to be hosting that in the same year (Vision 2030).
“And, actually, it’s 2030 when the Sustainable Development Goals by the United Nations should also be achieved. So, it’s very symbolic,” he said.
