IsDB, US EXIM Bank discuss trade financing avenues to fund development projects 

The talks took place on the sidelines of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly. File/Reuters.
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Updated 21 September 2023
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IsDB, US EXIM Bank discuss trade financing avenues to fund development projects 

RIYADH: Member countries of the Islamic Development Bank could have faster execution of their development projects thanks to its ongoing discussion with the US’ official export credit agency, according to the Saudi Press Agency.   

On the sidelines of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly, which concludes on Friday in New York, IsDB Group President Mohammed Sulaiman Al-Jasser discussed with US Export-Import Bank President Reta Jo Lewis the prospects of further strengthening bilateral ties.   

This move aligns with the strategic objectives and the IsDB Group’s commitment to supporting member countries in their pursuit of prosperity and resilience. 

The discussion also featured joint financing of developmental projects to achieve social and economic growth and combat the challenges imposed by supply chain financing, the SPA said. 

Al-Jasser also met Digital Cooperation Organization Secretary-General Deemah Al-Yahya on the sidelines of the UNGA meeting and explored avenues of collaboration in digital technology and public infrastructure. 

“We, at the Islamic Development Bank, are keen to support the deployment of digital infrastructure through our partnerships with the Digital Cooperation Organization to support digital and technical transformation work during the next stage,” Al-Jasser said. 

Moreover, the IsDB president also met Samantha Power, the administrator of the US Agency for International Development, to team up in funding agriculture projects. 

The two sides also reviewed financial support to small and medium-sized companies involved in green projects, climate issues and transitioning to a low-carbon economy in the IsDB Group’s member nations. 

Moreover, people in member countries of the IsDB Group can expect better living conditions, as the financial institution allocated $800 million earlier this month to finance vital projects in these regions. 

The IsDB president explained that the approved projects will cater to various sectors, including energy, education, health and transportation, reported the SPA at the time. 

Al-Jasser clarified that besides promoting the achievement of sustainable development goals, this move will also contribute to alleviating the effects of the social and economic challenges faced by the population in the member countries of the IsDB Group. 

Moreover, these projects are also projected to accelerate further the achievement of priority goals within the sustainable development goals, the president said. 


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.