RIYADH: The US-Saudi Arabian Business Council (USSABC), which links American and Saudi business communities, will organize a two-day forum next month to explore the roles of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in bolstering bilateral trade.
The forum will open on Oct.1 in Los Angeles. As part of the Vision 2030 reform plan, Saudi Arabia has turned its attention to the SME sector “as a fundamental source of economic dynamism whose growth and progress would benefit the country as a whole,” said Abdallah Jum’ah, USSABC co-chairman and former CEO of Saudi Aramco.
At the forum, Saudi and American SMEs will network and share their experiences as serious entrepreneurs operating in complex environments.
Senior US and Saudi government and corporate leaders, entrepreneurs and key stakeholders will discuss improving procurement opportunities, regulating and financing business-management skills and financial literacy, and workforce technical skills, among other issues.
Role of SMEs in bolstering US-Saudi trade
Role of SMEs in bolstering US-Saudi trade
- Saudi and American SMEs will network and share their experiences as serious entrepreneurs operating in complex environments
Iranian ambassador thanks Saudi for not allowing territory to be used during war
- Alireza Enayati tells AFP Iran appreciates Kingdom's pledge not to allow its 'airspace, waters, or territory' to be used in US attacks
- Envoy also denies that his country hit the US embassy in Riyadh this week with drones
RIYADH: Iran’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia Alireza Enayati said on Thursday his country remained appreciative of Saudi Arabia’s pledge to not allow its airspace or territory to be used during the ongoing war with the US and Israel.
“We appreciate what we have repeatedly heard from Saudi Arabia — that it does not allow its airspace, waters, or territory to be used against the Islamic Republic of Iran,” he told AFP.
Before the outbreak of war, Riyadh had thrown its support behind diplomatic efforts to diffuse tensions between Tehran and Washington and vowed that its airspace would not be allowed to be used for attacks against Iran.
Enayati also categorically denied that his country hit the US embassy in Riyadh this week, after Saudi officials said Iran targeted the compound with drones.
Saudi Arabia has repeatedly accused Tehran of launching missile salvos and drone attacks at its territory and warned that the kingdom reserved the right to defend itself, including by retaliating.
Iran had earlier denied attacking the sprawling Ras Tanura refinery — one of the largest in the Middle East — which Riyadh had also accused Tehran of targeting twice with drones.
Enayati added to the denial, saying Iran also had no hand in the targeting of the US embassy that triggered a fire at the compound.
“We confirmed that Iran has no role in the attack on the US embassy in Riyadh,” the ambassador told AFP.
“If the operations command in Tehran attacks somewhere, it takes responsibility for it.”
The war in the Middle East has engulfed the otherwise stable Gulf region as Iran retaliates over US and Israeli strikes that killed its supreme leader, launching strikes at Israel, the wider region and beyond.
At least 13 people have been killed in the Gulf, including seven civilians, since Iran began its attacks on Saturday.
Enayati, however, denied that Iran was waging a regional war as retaliation for the attacks on his country by the US and Israel.
“This is not a regional war and it is not our war. It was imposed on the region,” he told AFP.
