Egypt Aims to Meet Europe’s Growing Demand for Energy  

The Egyptian Minister of Petroleum, the Swedish ambassador in Cairo and a delegation from the European Union during an event hosted by the Swedish embassy on the energy link between Egypt and Europe, on Tuesday. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The Egyptian Minister of Petroleum, the Swedish ambassador in Cairo and a delegation from the European Union during an event hosted by the Swedish embassy on the energy link between Egypt and Europe, on Tuesday. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Egypt Aims to Meet Europe’s Growing Demand for Energy  

The Egyptian Minister of Petroleum, the Swedish ambassador in Cairo and a delegation from the European Union during an event hosted by the Swedish embassy on the energy link between Egypt and Europe, on Tuesday. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The Egyptian Minister of Petroleum, the Swedish ambassador in Cairo and a delegation from the European Union during an event hosted by the Swedish embassy on the energy link between Egypt and Europe, on Tuesday. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Swedish Embassy in Cairo hosted a panel discussion with European and Egyptian policy makers and representatives of the business community to discuss policies, priorities and financial mechanisms to support the energy transition and link Europe and Egypt in this field.

This comes amid efforts by European Union countries to achieve energy security while seeking to reach carbon neutrality.

Sweden’s ambassador to Egypt Hakan Emsgard said: “The demand for sustainable energy in Europe is increasing, and Egypt is in a good position to provide the continent with this energy... This will benefit both sides economically, and will also benefit the climate, as energy can be used more efficiently and sustainably.”

Egyptian Minister of Petroleum Tarek El-Moulla stressed that the geopolitical tensions and fluctuations in the energy market pushed countries to further diversify their energy sources in order to achieve energy security.

He said energy security and energy neutrality were two complementary goals, adding that Egypt aims to play a key role in the flow of global energy trade and to promote a better environment to ensure continued cooperation.

“Egypt has proven that it possesses the keys to being a regional hub for gas and oil through its strategic location, well-established energy industry and strong infrastructure,” El-Moulla emphasized.

Head of the European Union Delegation to Egypt Ambassador Christian Berger said: “If we want to offer a green deal for Europe, and make the European Union a model for a just and sustainable transition, we believe we cannot do it alone. We need to invite and help others to do the same. Then, we will be able to really influence the future of our world.”



Saudi Arabia Sees 656% Surge in Leisure Tourism in 2024

File photo of Saudi flag/Asharq Al-Awsat
File photo of Saudi flag/Asharq Al-Awsat
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Saudi Arabia Sees 656% Surge in Leisure Tourism in 2024

File photo of Saudi flag/Asharq Al-Awsat
File photo of Saudi flag/Asharq Al-Awsat

The Saudi Ministry of Tourism said its sector, particularly the leisure and holiday segments, witnessed substantial growth, due in no small part to the Kingdom's Vision 2030 directives.
In a statement marking World Tourism Day, observed every year on September 27, the ministry said that the Kingdom welcomed 17.5 million international tourists between January and July 2024, a 10% increase over the same period in 2023 and a 73% increase compared to the 2019 figures, SPA reported.
Most striking is the 656% increase in the number of tourists arriving specifically for entertainment and holiday purpose. The ministry said that 4.2 million tourists arrived for these purposes in the first seven months of 2024, a 25% increase over the previous year and an enormous leap over pre-pandemic levels in 2019.
These impressive results highlight the success of the Kingdom's long-term tourism strategy, under Vision 2030, which seeks to transform Saudi Arabia into a global tourism destination. The Kingdom had set the goal of 100 million tourists by 2030, but achieved this milestone in 2023, seven years ahead of schedule.
Saudi Arabia was acknowledged as the fastest-growing G20 country in the latest UN World Tourism Barometer report. According to September report, Saudi Arabia leads both in the growth of international tourist numbers and in tourism revenues.
These figures underscore the Kingdom's strategic focus on developing a sustainable tourism sector, improving infrastructure, and promoting Saudi Arabia as a premier global destination.
The ministry's achievements reflect the effectiveness of these efforts and position the Kingdom as a key player in the field of global tourism.