������Ƶ

RIYADH: The Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen and the World Bank held discussions on Tuesday on expanding their development cooperation to support vital sectors in Yemen, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

SDRPY Supervisor-General Mohammed bin Saeed Al-Jaber met with a World Bank delegation led by Stephane Gimbert, regional director for Egypt, Yemen, and Djibouti, at the program’s headquarters in Riyadh.

The meeting was also attended by Dina Abu Ghida, director of the World Bank’s office in Yemen, along with senior staff from both sides.

The talks formed part of a two-day series of meetings focused on enhancing joint efforts, reviewing progress on existing initiatives, and identifying new areas for collaboration.

Among the projects highlighted was the Lifeline Project, a flagship partnership to boost the transportation sector in Yemen.

The program, in cooperation with the World Bank, is currently implementing the Al-Abr Road Expansion and Rehabilitation Project and the Haijat Al-Abd Road Rehabilitation Project.

These initiatives aim to improve infrastructure, increase road safety, enhance social and economic connectivity, and create new job opportunities, the SPA report said.

Al-Jaber and the delegation also discussed potential partnerships across key sectors to help improve daily life in Yemen, underscoring a shared commitment to broadening the scope of joint development projects and strengthening essential services.

To date, SDRPY has delivered 265 projects and initiatives across eight sectors: education, health, water, energy, transportation, agriculture and fisheries, government capacity-building, and wider development programs, covering regions throughout Yemen.

RIYADH: ������Ƶ launched the Global Symposium for Regulators, GSR-25, at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Centre, convening over 190 nations to address the digital divide affecting 2.6 billion people.

The International Telecommunication Union and ������Ƶ’s Communications, Space and Technology Commission co-host the summit through Sept. 3.

RIYADH: Speaking at the opening ceremony on Monday, Haitham Al-Ohaly, CST governor and GSR-25 chair, said, “Today, we have a golden opportunity to shape humanity’s future for the next 160 years.

“Therefore, we announce a new roadmap with the ITU to connect humanity through affordable AI-era solutions,” he said.

Al-Ohaly stated that, despite progress, 2.6 billion people remain excluded from the digital world, highlighting disparities in regulations and access costs.

Citing a Saudi-ITU study presented at the ceremony, the governor said, “The world requires $1.7 trillion just for connectivity infrastructure — triple prior estimates. Closing all digital gaps demands up to $2.8 trillion across infrastructure, skills, affordability, and regulation.”

On the sidelines of the summit, Saudi Minister of Communications and Information Technology Abdullah Al-Swaha met with ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin.

Al-Ohaly attended the meeting, where both sides discussed enhancing digital economy growth, developing digital skills, enabling digital entrepreneurship, and ������Ƶ’s initiatives for human empowerment and environmental protection.

The event continues with technology exhibitions showcasing ������Ƶ’s Vision 2030 digital leadership and policy workshops advancing the new inclusion framework.

It comes as ������Ƶ aims to become a global digital leader following its appointment to the UN’s ITU digital regulation network board. Internet use in the Kingdom reached 99 percent in 2024.

GSR-25 will close with a resolution outlining regulatory principles for the post-digital era, based on participants’ insights and session recommendations.