Day: September 3, 2024

A delegation of female students from the College of Engineering at Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University (PNU) recently visited the University of Tokyo in Japan. The visit aimed to activate the cultural student exchange program and foster knowledge exchange between the two institutions. During the 11-day visit, the students attended seminars and workshops focused on green hydrogen concepts and projects and participated in training tasks involving solar cells, solar energy, and the PEM electrolysis system for hydrogen production. They also explored the production processes at solar panel operating plants, leading to discussions on potential areas of cooperation between the two universities in renewable energy. The delegation's visit included field trips to notable landmarks in Tokyo and tours of the university's centers and facilities. These included the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Center for Future Science and Technology, the Misk Laboratory (Green Energy), the College of Engineering Research Center (CEE), the Institute of Industrial Sciences (IIS), and the Integrated Research Center for Sustainable Energy and Materials (IRCSEM). Additionally, the students visited research laboratories specializing in electronics, renewable energy, and control system laboratories that generate electricity from solar energy. This visit follows a previous exchange where Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University hosted a delegation of female students from the University of Tokyo, highlighting the Deanship's commitment to enhancing qualitative partnerships between local, regional, and international universities. The student exchange program is designed to enhance communication skills, foster understanding and respect for diverse cultures, and develop personal and professional competencies for future careers. The program includes a variety of activities, such as cultural and tourist excursions, artistic and entertainment competitions, and field trips to universities in Oman, Sun Yat-sen University in China, and Hankuk U niversity of Foreign Studies in South Korea. Source: Saudi Press Agency

Doha, Jameel bin Mohammed Ali Humaidan, Minister of Labour, met with Dr. Ali bin Samikh Al Marri, Minister of Labour of Qatar, on the sidelines of the 10th GCC Labour Ministers' Committee meeting, held in Qatar on September 2-4. The two sides discussed means to benefit from successful expertise and initiatives in private sector employment. They also reviewed the latest developments in the labour sector. Minister Humaidan emphasised the importance of ministerial meetings in exchanging best practices to further develop the labour market systems in the Gulf region through various initiatives aimed at enhancing job localisation in the private sector. Source: Bahrain News Agency

The Unaizah International Dates Season Auction, organized by the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture and supervised by the National Center for Palms and Dates, witnesses a diversity of high-quality dates under the slogan "Seasonal Markets." Sukkari dates are a priority for shoppers. At the same time, many other types of dates are brought from all over the Kingdom to be displayed in Unaizah. Thanks to the applied systems, the Unaizah International Dates Season has won everyone's confidence, including using intelligent carts to display dates. These carts enable buyers to inspect the entire quantity of dates and examine them accurately and directly before entering the auction area. Paths are set for each variety to facilitate the selection process. Source: Saudi Press Agency

Paris, Dr. Mohammed bin Mubarak Juma, the Minister of Education, met with Stefania Giannini, Assistant Director-General for Education at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), on the sidelines of the 15th edition of the UNESCO-King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa Prize for the Use of Information and Communication Technologies in Education, held at UNESCO headquarters in Paris. The meeting discussed enhancing ongoing cooperation between the Kingdom and UNESCO, as well as coordinating future editions of the prize. The two sides also reviewed joint projects for the upcoming stage. Source: Bahrain News Agency

The Royal Court issued a statement today announcing the passing away of Princess Latifah bint Abdulaziz Al Saud. The funeral prayer will be performed on September 04, 2024, following the Dhuhr (noon) prayer at the Imam Turki bin Abdullah Mosque in Riyadh. Source: Saudi Press Agency

Manama, Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chairman of the National Human Rights Committee, chaired the 41st meeting of the National Human Rights Committee. The meeting was attended by members and representatives of relevant government entities. The minister noted the national efforts and effective role of the members in upholding human rights in compliance with the directives of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, with the continuous support of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, which has made Bahrain a role model in preserving human rights. He also highlighted the important role of stakeholders, including governmental and private entities, in promoting the advancement of human rights within an integrated framework, emphasising the importance of continued cooperation to achieve HM the King's vision in making the National Human Rights Committee successful. The minister referred to the human and legal dim ension in the Bahrain Declaration Summit, which is essentially related to the rights of all people, particularly the right to peace, life, health, and education, and the Kingdom's efforts in this regard. Bahrain's regional and international reports were reviewed at the meeting. It also discussed reports of the seven international conventions and the two protocols added to the Right of the Child Convention, which are concerned with the protection of human rights. The committee reviewed the mid-term report of the National Human Rights Plan (2022-2026) and the implementation of its projects by the relevant authorities, as well as the mid-term quarterly report recommendations of the fourth Universal Periodic Review, and the formation of the subcommittee for communication and follow-up. It also reviewed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' National Human Rights Framework and the postgraduate diploma on peaceful coexistence, recently launched by the King Hamad Global Center for Peaceful Coexistence. The two initiati ves were announced by the Kingdom as part of its pledges at the 75th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) held recently in Geneva. A number of decisions have been made during the meeting regarding topics on its agenda. Source: Bahrain News Agency

Minister of Finance Mohammed Al-Jadaan inaugurated the first edition of the 24 Fintech financial technology conference today. The Financial Sector Development Program, the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA), the Capital Market Authority, and the Insurance Authority hosted the conference. In his opening speech, Al-Jadaan said that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has spared no effort to promote the digital economy-prioritizing it highly and laying solid foundations to enhance service quality while enabling the public, private, and non-profit sectors-thereby solidifying the Kingdom's global position. Al-Jadaan also said that, since the launch of the Saudi Vision 2030, the Kingdom has sought to accelerate transformation to elevate the digital economy, ensure its sustainable growth, and remain competitive amidst rapid technological advancements. He also said that more than two years ago, the Financial Sector Development Program, a critical program under Saudi Vision 2030, launched the Fintech Strategy Implementation Plan , a cornerstone of the program that aims to position the Kingdom as a leading global hub for financial technology. He added that, through this strategy, the Kingdom aims to streamline business operations, enhance the private sector's contribution to the Saudi economy, attract foreign direct investment and local investments, as well as advance the digital economy. He also said that, by the end of the second quarter of 2024, the number of Fintech companies in the Kingdom reached 224, surpassing the Financial Sector Development Program's target of 168 companies for the second quarter of 2024. He also highlighted that the Kingdom's goal is to further increase this number to 525 companies by 2030. Al-Jadaan said that the Kingdom boasts a comprehensive and advanced payments infrastructure and a competitive and robust banking sector, which is well-equipped to navigate macroeconomic challenges and make substantial investments in Fintech. He added that these concerted efforts to keep up with Fintech sector develop ments have contributed to the Saudi economy's growth and to the Kingdom's notable progress and leadership across various global indices. The 24 Fintech conference, which will run until September 5, 2024, aims to convene decision-makers, investors, technology experts, entrepreneurs, and academics to discuss ways of cooperation, explore opportunities, and exchange experiences in a way that contributes to positioning the Kingdom as a leading global hub for financial technology in light of Saudi Vision 2030. Source: Saudi Press Agency

Manama, The Ministry of Labour has reaffirmed its commitment to integrating Bahraini job seekers into the private sector by implementing support initiatives and capitalising on opportunities. These efforts, in coordination with relevant stakeholders, have increased employment rates and included more qualified national professionals across diverse specialties, a statement by the ministry said. As of the end of August, the ministry's database recorded 16,726 job seekers, a figure consistent with other national government databases. These numbers are calculated automatically according to internationally recognised standards, aligning with the International Labour Organisation's definitions. The ministry highlighted the crucial role of its partnership with the Labour Fund "Tamkeen" in enhancing the training, employment, and development of national competencies. This collaboration has been instrumental in creating a workforce equipped with the skills needed to succeed and ensuring job stability. Since Novem ber 2023, "Tamkeen" has launched programmes aimed at supporting 50,000 Bahrainis annually. These initiatives have significantly boosted employment, making Bahrainis the preferred choice in the job market. The programmes have also contributed to increasing wages for Bahrainis, improved their employment prospects, and provided specialised training to help them advance into leadership and executive roles. Additionally, the initiatives have supported the growth of private sector businesses, further consolidating the sector as a key driver of Bahrain's economic growth. The ministry emphasised the importance of national efforts in employment and training, with all relevant parties working together to develop and implement effective policies that prepare national workers for suitable job opportunities. A comprehensive online platform has been launched by the ministry to streamline access to employment, training, and unemployment insurance services. This platform connects job seekers and employers to a unified da tabase, providing detailed information on available opportunities. It is also linked with various government entities to ensure accuracy and efficiency. Job seekers are encouraged to register on the ministry's online platform. The services and benefits on the platform include extending unemployment benefit eligibility from six to nine months annually, increasing the monthly allowance to BD 200 for university graduates and BD 150 for non-graduates, and increasing the compensation to BD 1,000 for those who lose their jobs due to circumstances beyond their control. These measures are designed to attract and motivate job seekers to register and to maintain accurate national data that is calculated through the platform and published accordingly. The ministry also confirmed that, in collaboration with the Information and eGovernment Authority (iGA) and other relevant entities, that it is expanding its online services and ensuring timely processing of citizen requests, particularly for employment and training. These services, including those related to unemployment insurance, are now fully accessible online, eliminating the need for in-person visits to the ministry. The ministry offers access to its databases for stakeholders and individuals interested. It also underscored the national responsibility of all parties in the labour market to support government initiatives, contributing to the stability of both the labour market and the national economy. Source: Bahrain News Agency

- Minister of Transport and Logistic Services Saleh Al-Jasser has concluded his official visit to the Republic of Cyprus. The visit was conducted with the aim of boosting cooperation in the transport and logistics sector, discussing establishing direct flights between the two countries, and reaching at a mutual recognition of seafarers' certificates. In the course of his visit, Al-Jasser met with Cypriot Minister of Transport, Communications, and Works Alexis Vafeades, and visited the Limassol Port to get familiarized with its operational and logistical capabilities, and to exchange knowledge and expertise that would help further develop the transport and logistics sector in the Kingdom. These endeavors are consistent with the Vision 2030 objective of positioning the Kingdom as a global logistics center. Source: Saudi Press Agency

Manama, In preparation for the launch of the National Summary Data Page (NSDP) this month Mohammed Ali Al Qaed, Chief Executive of the Information and eGovernment Authority (iGA), received a delegation from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) during their official visit to Bahrain on September 1-5. The visit will include focused technical meetings with various government entities responsible for measuring and reporting Bahrain's financial, economic, and demographic data. In attendance were Duaa Sultan, iGA Deputy Chief Executive of Statistics and Population Registry, Dana Imad Hamzah, Assistant Undersecretary for Sustainable Development at the Ministry of Sustainable Development, several directors and officials from iGA's Statistics and Population Registry departments, and representatives from the Ministry of Finance and National Economy. Al Qaed highlighted the importance of launching the NSDP for Bahrain, emphasising the Kingdom's adherence to the IMF's Enhanced General Data Dissemination System ( e-GDDS) standards. This initiative underscores Bahrain's commitment to transparency by providing detailed information, indicators, and statistical data on national accounts, interest rates, government operations, and economic and banking sector indicators, enhancing accessibility of data for international organizations and investors through the NSDP page. In parallel with the IMF delegation's visit, iGA will hold two-days of focused meetings for the statistics teams from the Population and Demographic Statistics as well as a team from Economic Statistics Directorate tasked with updating the Kingdom's NSDP. The meetings will train data administrators on calculating, reporting, and publishing indicators according to IMF standards, utilizing the latest data exchange technologies such as the Statistical Data and Metadata eXchange (SDMX) system. It will also address performing annual and quarterly updates aimed at elevating Bahrain's tiers in the IMF's data standards. Source: Bahrain News Agency