Saudi Energy Minister discusses clean energy efforts with European delegation

Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz held a meeting with a delegation of the European Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee. (SPA))
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Updated 20 December 2022
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Saudi Energy Minister discusses clean energy efforts with European delegation

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz held a meeting with a delegation of the European Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee to discuss the Kingdom’s sustainability efforts and the vitality of cooperation.

The conference took place in the minister’s office in Riyadh on Tuesday and was led by its Chair David James McEllister.  

The attendees reviewed the Kingdom’s efforts towards its pursuit of leading the transformation in the field of energy through local and regional initiatives.   

The meeting particularly focused on the Kingdom’s performance in the field of clean energy technologies to control hydrocarbon emissions and promote renewable energy sources.   

Efforts of the Saudi Green initiative and Middle East Green initiative were also evaluated during the get-together in Riyadh.   

In addition, they went over the Saudi efforts in managing emissions through capturing, using, recycling and storing of carbon within the carbon circular economy approach, as well as its plan of action to become the world's largest clean hydrogen exporter.  

The minister further emphasized the importance of collaboration between Middle East exporters and European consumers to boost their efforts and aid in their advancement.    

The Saudi minister also acquainted the delegation with the county’s efforts to support and encourage innovation in the energy sector.   

“Climate action will enhance competitiveness, spark innovation, and create millions of high-quality jobs,” noted prince Mohamed ibn Salman bin Abdelaziz. 

He added: “young people, both in the Kingdom and in the world, are demanding a cleaner, greener and more inclusive future and we owe it to them to deliver on this.” 

Saudi Arabia has been taking a number of initiatives in the area of clean energy, with millions of dollars being pumped into developing green technology to produce sustainable solutions as part of its net-zero goals.  

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman last year announced the Saudi Green Initiative and since then more than 60 initiatives have been activated to help Kingdom achieve the three targets of reducing emissions, afforestation, and land and sea protection.

During this year's SGI Forum which was held in tandem with COP27 in November, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said: “We are ushering in a new green era for the region; in which we are collectively leading and reaping its fruits, in our joint belief that the effects of climate change are not limited to the natural environment only, but also to the economy and security of our nations.” 


Saudi Arabia’s cultural sector is a new economic engine between Riyadh and Paris, says ambassador

Updated 25 January 2026
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Saudi Arabia’s cultural sector is a new economic engine between Riyadh and Paris, says ambassador

RIYADH: Culture has become a fundamental pillar in bilateral relations between France and Saudi Arabia, according to the French Ambassador to the Kingdom, Patrick Maisonnave.

Maisonnave noted its connection to the entertainment and tourism sectors, which makes it a new engine for economic cooperation between Riyadh and Paris.

He told Al-Eqtisadiah during the opening ceremony of La Fabrique in the Jax district of Diriyah that cultural cooperation with Saudi Arabia is an important element for its attractiveness in the coming decades.

La Fabrique is a space dedicated to artistic creativity and cultural exchange, launched as part of a partnership between the Riyadh Art program and the French Institute in Riyadh. 

Running from Jan. 22 until Feb 14, the initiative will provide an open workspace that allows artists to develop and work on their ideas within a collaborative framework.

Launching La Fabrique as a space dedicated to artistic creativity

The ambassador highlighted that the transformation journey in the Kingdom under Vision 2030 has contributed to the emergence of a new generation of young artists and creators, alongside a growing desire in Saudi society to connect with culture and to embrace what is happening globally. 

He affirmed that the relationship between the two countries is “profound, even cultural par excellence,” with interest from the Saudi side in French culture, matched by increasing interest from the French public and cultural institutions unfolding in the Kingdom.

Latest estimates indicate that the culture-based economy represents about 2.3 percent of France’s gross domestic product, equivalent to more than 90 billion euros ($106.4 billion) in annual revenues, according to government data. The sector directly employs more than 600,000 people, making it one of the largest job-creating sectors in the fields of creativity, publishing, cinema, and visual arts.

Saudi Arabia benefiting from French experience in the cultural field

Maisonnave explained that France possesses established cultural institutions, while Saudi Arabia is building a strong cultural sector, which opens the door for cooperation opportunities.

This comes as an extension of the signing of 10 major cultural agreements a year ago between French and Saudi institutions, aiming to enhance cooperation and transfer French expertise and knowledge to contribute to the development of the cultural system in the Kingdom.

He added that experiences like La Fabrique provide an opportunity to meet the new generation of Saudi creators, who have expressed interest in connecting with French institutions and artists in Paris and France.

La Fabrique encompasses a space for multiple contemporary artistic practices, including performance arts, digital and interactive arts, photography, music, and cinema, while providing the public with an opportunity to witness the stages of producing artistic works and interact with the creative process.