Saudi delegation in first round of free trade negotiations between GCC, Japan
Kingdom’s primary exports include mineral and organic chemical products, while Japan predominantly exports vehicles and machinery, along with their respective spare parts
GAFT plays an important role in expanding Saudi Arabia’s global presence and ensuring its active participation in international organizations
Updated 11 December 2024
Arab News Japan
RIYADH: The General Authority for Foreign Trade led the Saudi delegation at the first round of negotiations for a free trade agreement between the Gulf Cooperation Council and Japan, which took place from Dec. 10-12.
Represented by Fareed bin Saeed Al-Asali, the deputy governor for Agreements and International Organizations and head of the Saudi negotiation team, the Saudi team is overlooking the progress of the negotiations. It consists of nine subcommittees focusing on goods, services, general texts and provisions, e-commerce, intellectual property, government procurement, rules of origin, investment and economic evaluation.
The subcommittees include members from 46 government entities working together to prepare the Kingdom’s negotiating positions for discussions within the World Trade Organization, FTAs, and related initiatives.
In 2023, trade exchange between Saudi Arabia and Japan amounted to approximately 6 trillion yen ($41 billion). The Kingdom’s primary exports include mineral and organic chemical products, while Japan predominantly exports vehicles and machinery, along with their respective spare parts.
The GAFT plays an important role in expanding Saudi Arabia’s global presence and ensuring its active participation in international organizations in order to achieve common goals.
Jeddah Book Fair set to showcase rising Saudi literary scene
This year’s cultural program reflects the Kingdom’s heritage, with over 170 events including lectures, panel discussions and workshops
Updated 09 December 2025
Arab News
JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia’s Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission is preparing to host the Jeddah Book Fair from Dec. 11 to 20 at Jeddah Superdome, bringing together more than 1,000 local and international publishing houses and agencies from 24 countries across 400 booths.
Held under the slogan “Jeddah Reads,” the fair is part of the commission’s “Saudi Reads” campaign, which seeks to strengthen the Saudi literary landscape by encouraging reading and creating meaningful engagement between authors and audiences.
Jeddah Book Fair’s cultural program reflects the Kingdom’s heritage. (Supplied/@saudibookfairs)
Dr. Abdullatif Al-Wasil, CEO of the commission, said the Jeddah Book Fair reflects the leadership’s continued commitment to cultural development and the rapid growth of the Kingdom’s literature, publishing and translation sector.
He highlighted the fair’s interactive programs for publishers, authors, translators and the public, which are designed to enhance content quality, support creative development and foster knowledge partnerships.
HIGHLIGHTS
• Jeddah Book Fair seeks to strengthen the Saudi literary landscape by encouraging reading and creating meaningful engagement between authors and audiences.
• It will host prominent writers, thinkers and cultural figures from Saudi Arabia and abroad, offering a 10-day schedule of literary, intellectual and scientific events.
• The fair will continue to support emerging Saudi voices through the Saudi Authors’ Corner for self-published writers.
The event also reinforces Saudi Arabia’s position as a cultural hub attracting major publishers, content creators and investors.
This year’s cultural program reflects the Kingdom’s heritage, with over 170 events including lectures, panel discussions and workshops. A dedicated children’s zone will feature literary and entertainment activities tailored to young visitors, along with competitions to inspire reading and creativity.
The fair will host prominent writers, thinkers and cultural figures from Saudi Arabia and abroad, offering a 10-day schedule of literary, intellectual and scientific events.
Book-signing stations will give readers the chance to meet their favorite authors, while cultural organizations, community groups and universities will present their latest publications and initiatives.
A manga and anime zone will highlight collectibles from the genre, alongside specialized books. A discounted books section will also be available to promote wider access to reading.
The fair will continue to support emerging Saudi voices through the Saudi Authors’ Corner for self-published writers, where hundreds of titles across literary and cultural fields will be showcased, underscoring the fair’s role in nurturing local talent and enriching the Kingdom’s evolving literary scene.
