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ROME: Saudi Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed Elkhereiji met secretary general of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Riccardo Guariglia, at the ministry’s headquarters in Rome on Thursday.
During the meeting, they discussed ways to enhance joint cooperation between Ƶ and Italy and reviewed recent regional and international developments.
AL-BAHA: The City Hub Festival in Al-Baha witnessed a large turnout of visitors since its launch, attracting thousands of people of all ages.
The event is part of an entertainment tour organized by the General Entertainment Authority, targeting various regions of the Kingdom. This event promotes tourism and contributes to achieving the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.
City Hub continues to welcome visitors daily from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m., offering a comprehensive range of entertainment and interactive experiences. Activities include live shows, electronic gaming zones, educational experiences for children, a bird park, and horror and adventure facilities, in addition to a dedicated area for restaurants, cafes, and various markets, which has contributed to attracting large numbers of families and young people.
• The festival is part of the authority’s efforts to enhance local entertainment and raise visitor satisfaction.
• Visitors have praised the organization and the quality of the programs and events offered.
• The City Hub Festival in Al-Baha runs through the end of July before continuing its tour to other cities across the Kingdom.
The event also includes the Circus Tent area, which dazzles audiences with professional performances, including a dancing fountain, trampoline shows, and 360-degree motorcycle stunts. It also features dedicated spaces for artistic performances within a safe and organized entertainment environment.
The festival is part of the authority’s efforts to enhance local entertainment, raise visitor satisfaction, and highlight the Kingdom’s tourism and cultural services. Visitors have praised the organization and the quality of the programs and events offered.
The City Hub Festival in Al-Baha runs through the end of July before continuing its tour to other cities across the Kingdom.
RIYADH: The Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority has thwarted an attempt to smuggle 310,000 pills of captagon, an amphetamine-type narcotic. The haul was found concealed in a vehicle entering the Kingdom through Jeddah Islamic Port.
Hamoud Al-Harbi, the authority’s spokesman, said the pills were detected during inspection and screening procedures at the port.
The authority coordinated with the General Directorate of Narcotics Control following the seizure and arrested eight individuals who were planning to receive the goods inside the Kingdom.
Al-Harbi reaffirmed the authority’s commitment to strict customs enforcement over the Kingdom’s imports and exports in order to protect society from smuggling operations. He added that these efforts were carried out in close cooperation and coordination with the directorate.
NEW DELHI: India is seeking to expand cooperation with Ƶ in the pharmaceuticals and ceramics sectors, following virtual meetings earlier this week between Indian Trade Minister Piyush Goyal and his Saudi counterparts.
Goyal held separate discussions with Ƶ’s Economy and Planning Minister Faisal bin Fadel Al-Ibrahim and Investment Minister Khalid Al-Falih to explore ways to deepen trade and investment ties.
His meeting with Al-Ibrahim focused “on enhancing our trade & investment partnership and collaborating in key sectors” like pharmaceuticals, petroleum, and ceramics, while his conversation with Al-Falih centered on mutual growth, innovation, and long-term collaboration, Goyal wrote on X.
“We are confident of exciting growth prospects ahead for both nations,” he added.
In 2023–24, bilateral trade between India and Ƶ reached nearly $43 billion, making India the Kingdom’s second-largest trading partner. Ƶ, in turn, is India’s fifth-largest trading partner. Energy trade accounts for a major share, with Ƶ being the third-largest source of India’s crude oil, petroleum, and LPG imports, valued at $25.7 billion in the last fiscal year.
India’s cumulative investment in Ƶ reached $4 billion in 2023, marking a 39 percent increase from $2.39 billion in 2022.
The two countries have been in regular talks to deepen their strategic partnership.
During Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Jeddah in April 2024, “both sides reaffirmed the strong commitment to advance economic and investment partnership,” Indian Ambassador to Ƶ, Suhel Ajaz Khan, told Arab News on Friday.
He noted that India’s pharmaceutical and ceramics sectors, in particular, have the potential to contribute meaningfully to Ƶ’s Vision 2030 transformation initiative.
NEW PARTNERSHIPS
India is the world’s third-largest drug producer by volume, after the US and China, and accounts for over 20 percent of the global supply of generic medicines. New Delhi is looking to boost exports to the Kingdom and enter into new partnerships in the pharmaceutical space.
“With annual pharmaceutical exports exceeding $30 billion, Indian pharmaceutical companies play a vital role in ensuring affordable and reliable health care across the globe. The Kingdom of Ƶ currently accounts for only about $200 million of India’s pharmaceutical exports — a relatively small share that underscores significant untapped potential,” Ambassador Khan said.
“As KSA pursues the goals of Vision 2030, which include building domestic manufacturing capacity, fostering knowledge-based industries, and ensuring health care security, the Indian pharmaceutical sector stands out as a natural strategic partner.”
India is also the world’s second-largest ceramics producer and the top global exporter of ceramic tiles. The government is looking to leverage this advantage in sectors such as construction and infrastructure.
“Indian ceramics are widely recognized for their quality, cost-efficiency, and manufacturing scale, particularly in segments such as tiles, sanitaryware, and refractories,” Khan said.
“Given the Kingdom of Ƶ’s growing infrastructure, construction, and industrial development needs under Vision 2030, deeper cooperation with India’s ceramic sector holds significant potential.”
OSAKA: Riyadh Expo 2030, in collaboration with the Kingdom’s Embassy in Japan, hosted a reception in Osaka on Thursday to highlight Ƶ’s readiness and promise to deliver an exceptional World Expo.
There were more than 200 local and international guests at the event, including ambassadors and commissioners-general participating in Expo 2025 Osaka.
The evening featured discussions on the theme and three subthemes of Riyadh Expo 2030: “The Era of Change: Together for a Foresighted Tomorrow;” and “Innovative Technologies,” “Sustainable Solutions,” and “Thriving Communities.”
Dr. Ghazi Faisal Binzagr, ambassador of Ƶ to Japan and commissioner-general of the Saudi Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, opened the event.
In his speech, Binzagr praised the organizers of Expo 2025 Osaka and emphasized the crucial role of diplomatic cooperation in supporting such global events.
“It has been an honor to serve as commissioner-general of the Kingdom’s Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, where I’ve witnessed firsthand the vital role expos play in strengthening international ties and collaboration.
“Tonight’s event provided a valuable opportunity to exchange ideas and engage in meaningful dialogue with participants from across the globe.”
Abdulaziz Al-Ghannam, commissioner-general of Riyadh Expo 2030, said: “Our journey to host the expo in Riyadh has already begun, and we treat this as a national priority.
The Kingdom of Ƶ — its leadership and people — are fully prepared to welcome the world.
“From the outset, we’ve committed to making Riyadh Expo 2030 a global platform that embraces diverse ideas and perspectives.”
Thamer Al-Saadoun, executive vice president of Riyadh Expo 2030, underscored the importance of the expo’s themes.
“The theme of Riyadh Expo 2030, ‘The Era of Change,’ invites the world to achieve real progress through visionary thinking, innovation, and collaboration.
“It is built upon the UN Sustainable Development Goals and Saudi Vision 2030, with subthemes that reflect the Kingdom’s ongoing transformation and its ambition to create lasting positive global impact,” Al-Saadoun said.
The event is part of a broader effort to foster early engagement and collaboration with participants, with similar initiatives planned in the lead-up to Expo 2030.
Riyadh Expo 2030 will take place from Oct. 1, 2030, to March 31, 2031, spanning an area of 6 million sq. meters, making it one of the largest expos in history.
UMLUJ: In Ƶ’s northwestern region of Tabuk, Acacia tortilis, commonly known as umbrella thorn acacia, thrives in the coastal plains, providing significant ecological and aesthetic benefits, the Saudi Press Agency reported recently.
Highly adaptable to harsh climatic conditions, the umbrella thorn acacia grows around wadi estuaries, forming shaded canopies that moderate temperatures and provide shelter for wildlife.
With gnarled, reddish-brown trunks and dense branches, these trees create a striking visual spectacle. Their shadows on the sand offer excellent photographic opportunities, attracting enthusiasts and explorers.
As a vital plant species, the umbrella thorn acacia stabilizes soil and combats desertification. It also serves as a food source for bees, enhancing the production of high-quality wild honey.
Environmental authorities prioritize the preservation of these trees to maintain diversity and improve vegetation cover, aligning with the Saudi Green Initiative and national sustainability efforts, the SPA reported.
