More than 70 Saudi firms travel to Poland, Slovakia to boost trade ties

The objective is to explore investment opportunities and sign several agreements and commercial partnerships.
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Updated 18 November 2024
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More than 70 Saudi firms travel to Poland, Slovakia to boost trade ties

JEDDAH: Representatives from 72 Saudi firms are part of a group visiting Poland and Slovakia in a bid to increase trade with the European countries.

Delegates from Federation of Saudi Chambers are also part of the trip, which will see high-level economic meetings involving senior government officials and private sector representatives. Their objective is to explore investment opportunities and sign several agreements and commercial partnerships.

The delegation, led by Chairman of the Federation of Saudi Chambers Hassan bin Mujib Al-Huwaizi, includes over 72 business representatives from various economic sectors, along with governmental entities and authorities, according to the Saudi Press Agency.

In August, the Kingdom and Poland established a joint business council for the 2024-2028 term to boost trade and investment between the two countries. The move is part of the nation’s broader strategy to deepen economic ties with Europe, with a particular focus on Poland, one of the continent’s largest economies.

Poland has seen impressive growth in its agri-food sector, with exports reaching a record €47.9 billion ($51.1 billion) in 2023 — a €10 billion increase from the previous year.

In 2023, Saudi Arabia’s trade exchange with Poland reached SR33.7 billion. The Kingdom’s primary exports to Poland include mineral products and plastics, while Poland’s main exports to the Arab country consist of tobacco, machinery, and mechanical appliances.

The relationship between Saudi Arabia and Slovakia has also witnessed growth following the official opening of the Slovak Embassy in Riyadh in recent years. Additionally, bilateral trade has increased significantly, highlighting untapped investment opportunities.

The delegation will begin its visit to Poland by holding the Saudi-Polish Business Council meeting, a joint forum, and bilateral meetings between representatives.

In Slovakia, the delegation will host the Saudi-Slovak Business Forum, conduct meetings between companies from both sides and sign an agreement to establish a joint business council.

Through its recent series of international visits to ten countries, the federation is leading efforts to open new markets and opportunities for the Kingdom’s backers and to boost trade and investment exchanges with countries worldwide, in alignment with the aspirations of Saudi Vision 2030.


Egypt-born Dina Powell McCormick appointed Meta president and vice chairman

Updated 13 January 2026
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Egypt-born Dina Powell McCormick appointed Meta president and vice chairman

  • The former Goldman Sachs partner and White House official previously served on Meta’s board of directors
  • Powell McCormick, who was born in Cairo and moved to the US as a child, joins the management team and will help guide overall strategy and execution

LONDON: Meta has appointed Egypt-born Dina Powell McCormick as its new president and vice chairman.

The company said on Monday that the former Goldman Sachs partner and White House official, who previously served on Meta’s board of directors, is stepping up into a senior leadership role as the company accelerates its push into artificial intelligence and global infrastructure.

Powell McCormick, who was born in Cairo and moved to the US as a young girl, will join the management team and help guide its overall strategy and execution. She will work closely with Meta’s Compute and infrastructure teams, the company said, overseeing multi-billion-dollar investments in data centers, energy systems and global connectivity, while building new strategic capital partnerships.

“Dina’s experience at the highest levels of global finance, combined with her deep relationships around the world, makes her uniquely suited to help Meta manage this next phase of growth as the company’s president and vice chairman,” Meta founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg said.

Powell McCormick has more than 25 years of experience in finance, national security and economic development. She spent 16 years as a partner at Goldman Sachs in senior leadership roles, and served two US presidents, including stints as deputy national security adviser to Donald Trump, and a senior State Department official under George W. Bush.

Most recently, she was vice chair and president of global client services at merchant bank BDT & MSD Partners.