Day: September 13, 2024

The European Union (EU), in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), celebrated the successful conclusion of the Municipal Empowerment and Resilience Project (MERP). Funded by more than US$16 million from the EU, the project has helped local authorities in Lebanon strengthen their services and resilience, especially in response to the Syrian crisis and Lebanon's economic struggles. The event, held under the patronage of H.E. Judge Bassam Mawlawi, Minister of Interior and Municipalities, represented by Ms. Faten Abou Hassan, Director General of Local Administrations and Councils, gathered representatives from municipalities, national institutions, NGOs, and policymakers. The conference focused on the challenges faced by local authorities and explored ways to improve their operations and support. Over the past five years, MERP has been working to improve the capacities of local authorities in Lebanon. The project helpe d municipalities engage in community-based planning, deliver better services, and support local economic development. MERP also worked closely with the Ministry of Interior and Municipalities to strengthen the environment for local governance. In her remarks, Ms. Faten Abou Hassan said: 'Lebanese municipalities have been hit hard by the economic crisis, with their revenues shrinking and their ability to serve communities under pressure. Despite these difficulties, our municipalities have shown great resilience, but they need continued support to function effectively. I call on donors to provide the assistance needed to overcome the challenges and help municipalities better serve their people.' Ms. Blerta Aliko, UNDP's Resident Representative, stated: "The Municipal Empowerment and Resilience Project has strengthened local authorities in Lebanon, helping both host communities and displaced populations. We look forward to building on this foundation and continuing our support for local authorities." Ms. Tain a Christiansen, Head of UN-Habitat in Lebanon, added: "Through MERP, we have equipped local authorities with tools for better planning and service delivery. Our goal has been to improve local governance in Lebanon, and we hope to continue these efforts." Mr. Samy Saadi, Deputy Head of the EU Delegation in Lebanon, emphasized the EU's commitment: "The EU believes in the important role of local authorities in improving people's lives, from providing essential services to driving economic development. Through MERP, we have supported municipalities in responding to their communities' needs, but it is now up to Lebanese authorities to continue empowering their municipalities." Following these opening remarks, MERP Project Manager, Ms. Rana El Khawand, gave a presentation highlighting the project's key achievements. The event concluded with a panel discussion that brought together experts, policymakers, and development partners to discuss opportunities for enhancing local governance and economic development in Le banon. Source: National news agency - Lebanon

The Center for Digital Entrepreneurship "CODE" at King Faisal University and the Abdulmonem Alrashed Humanitarian Foundation concluded the AI Catalyst Bootcamp, which aimed to enhance the capabilities of entrepreneurs and innovators in AI by equipping participants with the technical and professional skills necessary to establish specialized startups. The event was organized in partnership with the Abdulmonem Alrashed Humanitarian Foundation, the National Transformation Program, the National Information Technology Development Program, and the Small and Medium Enterprises General Authority (Monsha'at), represented by the Innovation Center. The event was attended by a distinguished group of entrepreneurs, innovators, and representatives of tech companies. Among the notable innovative projects participating in the bootcamp were platforms such as "Ananas," which uses AI to improve food quality through a virtual community, "Muqallam," which supports content creation and social media management to enhance mar keting strategies, and "ResearchMate," a project that connects researchers and helps develop their academic skills to achieve outstanding research outcomes. The bootcamp is a vital initiative to support Saudi youth and empower them to enter the world of tech entrepreneurship, turning creative ideas into entrepreneurial projects capable of competing locally and globally. Source: Saudi Press Agency

Imam and Khatib of the Grand Mosque of Makkah Dr. Yasser Al-Dossary delivered the Friday sermon at Dar Al-Salam Mosque in Pretoria, South Africa, attended by senior officials and large numbers of worshippers who came from various regions of South Africa. This sermon delivery is part of Al-Dossary's official trip, organized by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance, represented by the religious attaché office at the Saudi Embassy in South Africa. Source: Saudi Press Agency

The first round of negotiations on the free trade agreement between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and Indonesia, which was held from September 9 to 13, concluded in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta. The Kingdom represented by the General Authority of Foreign Trade and 11 other government agencies. The negotiations tackled several topics, such as trade in goods and services, investment, customs procedures, rules of origin, technical barriers to trade, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, trade facilitation, digital trade, and trade remedies. The discussions aim to set the principles on which negotiations will proceed concerning these topics, create a framework for the upcoming negotiating rounds, and establish the desired objectives in an effort to conclude the agreement within 24 months. The Deputy Governor of the General Authority of Foreign Trade for International Organizations and Agreements and Head of the Saudi negotiating team, Farid bin Saeed Al-Asali, expressed optimism for the su ccessful conclusion of the first round of negotiations, which reflects the joint determination to strengthen economic and trade relations between the GCC countries and the largest economy in Southeast Asia, for being a significant step towards building a robust strategic partnership. He indicated his confidence in the upcoming rounds of negotiations to witness remarkable progress, given the commitment of all parties to reach an agreement that guarantees further trade and investment opportunities between the two sides, leading to mutual economic growth and prosperity and contributing to achieving the economic vision of both sides. The Kingdom's delegation at this round is led by the General Authority of Foreign Trade. It includes representatives of the ministries of commerce, energy, investment, environment, water and agriculture, industry and mineral resources, and economy and planning, as well as from the Saudi Food and Drug Authority, the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority, the Saudi Standards, Metrology an d Quality Organization, the Saudi Export Development Authority, and the Saudi Central Bank. The General Authority of Foreign Trade works to enhance the Kingdom's international trade gains, increase its international presence, and effectively participate in international organizations, thereby achieving common goals and sustainable development. Source: Saudi Press Agency

The Startup20 Summit has commenced in Sao Paulo, Brazil. A Saudi delegation led by Prince Fahd bin Mansour bin Nasser bin Abdulaziz, Head of the Saudi Startup Group within the G20, is participating in the summit in partnership with NEOM, the entity supporting Saudi participation in Startup20. Saudi Arabia's participation in this global summit aims to highlight its efforts to support entrepreneurship and innovation. The event featured an accompanying Saudi exhibition showcasing key initiatives and programs launched by the Kingdom to enhance the entrepreneurial environment. The event also saw panel discussions that brought together Saudi and international experts to discuss the best practices in innovation and the development of integrated entrepreneurial ecosystems. Cooperation agreements were also signed under the umbrella of the Startup Bridge initiative, which aims to boost investment cooperation between Saudi and Brazilian startups. Saudi Arabia's participation in the summit reflects its commitment to fostering international cooperation in the field of entrepreneurship and exchanging expertise with countries around the world, contributing to sustainable economic development. Source: Saudi Press Agency

The Saudi National Committee for Education, Culture, and Science, affiliated with the Ministry of Culture, has announced the establishment of the Saudi Creative Cities Network Committee following a proposal by the Culinary Arts Commission. This committee aims to benefit from best practices that enhance cultural participation among cities by integrating culture into urban development plans in Saudi cities. Al-Ahsa is a creative city in crafts and folk arts, Buraidah is a creative city in culinary arts, and Taif is a creative city in literature. Secretary General of the National Committee for Education, Culture and Science Ahmed bin Abdulaziz Al-Bulahid stressed that the Saudi Creative Cities Network Committee will work on fostering integration among members at the level of communication officials for UNESCO Creative Cities. The committee aims to exchange expertise among Saudi creative cities and ensure that all membership targets are achieved. The committee will also provide support for local cultural i nitiatives in these cities, contribute to their activation and promotion, and coordinate participation in cultural events at the local, regional, and international levels. Source: Saudi Press Agency

The Ministry of Culture was presented with the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Ethics Medal for 2024 in recognition of its innovative work in this area on the sidelines of the 3rd Global AI Summit 2024 (GAIN Summit), held in Riyadh by the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA). Because of its dedication to applying ethical standards to the use of AI technology, the Ministry of Culture was one of the first institutions to embrace the AI ethics project in September 2022, thus winning this award. The AI ethics initiative is a part of the ongoing government efforts to back the kingdom's AI national strategy. Its goals include bolstering economic growth, establishing clear guidelines for AI ethics, and supporting and promoting research and innovation in the field. Source: Saudi Press Agency