Saudi Arabia, Türkiye Sign Understanding for Cooperation in Mining

Bandar AlKhorayef, Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, and Alparslan Bayraktar, Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, sign the MoU in Ankara on Monday. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Bandar AlKhorayef, Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, and Alparslan Bayraktar, Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, sign the MoU in Ankara on Monday. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia, Türkiye Sign Understanding for Cooperation in Mining

Bandar AlKhorayef, Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, and Alparslan Bayraktar, Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, sign the MoU in Ankara on Monday. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Bandar AlKhorayef, Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, and Alparslan Bayraktar, Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, sign the MoU in Ankara on Monday. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia and Türkiye signed on Monday a memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the field of mining.

The agreement was signed during a meeting between Bandar AlKhorayef, Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, and Alparslan Bayraktar, Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, in Ankara.

In remarks following the meeting, Bayraktar said discussions touched on mutual investments in energy. He noted that the MoU paves the way for bilateral cooperation in the field of mining and the vital minerals needed in areas such as the manufacture of electric cars and solar panels.

AlKhorayef had kicked off an official visit to Türkiye on Monday with the aim of boosting cooperation opportunities in the industrial and mining sectors.

Last month, Bayraktar expressed his country’s desire to enhance cooperation with Saudi Arabia in the field of energy, pointing to the interest of Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries to invest in renewable energy in Türkiye.

“Our country has a huge capacity in this field, as it ranks 12th in the world and fifth in Europe,” he stated.

According to data from the Saudi Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources, the value of non-oil exports to Türkiye amounted to about SAR13.5 billion, while the value of imports reached SAR2.9 billion, in addition to financing export credit insurance worth $26 million from the Saudi Export-Import Bank.

The Saudi Industrial Development Fund also contributes to financing a joint project with Ankara at a value of SAR3.5 million, while Turkish investments have entered into three projects in the Saudi Authority for Industrial Cities and Technology Zones.

Meanwhile, the Turkish e-shopping company, Trendyol, announced that it was accelerating its efforts to launch its operations in Gulf countries, starting with Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

Trendyol Group President Çağlayan Çetin said the company wants to attract more attention from the Gulf to Turkish brands.

Last October, Trendyol signed a cooperation agreement with the Saudi shareholding company, Fawaz Alhokair Group, to offer Turkish-made products to Saudi markets and open their first physical stores in the region.



Saudi Tourism Ministry Intensifies Inspection Efforts in Summer Tourist Destinations

Saudi Tourism Ministry Intensifies Inspection Efforts in Summer Tourist Destinations
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Saudi Tourism Ministry Intensifies Inspection Efforts in Summer Tourist Destinations

Saudi Tourism Ministry Intensifies Inspection Efforts in Summer Tourist Destinations

The Saudi Ministry of Tourism has intensified its inspection efforts across several summer tourist destinations in the Kingdom, reported the Saudi Press Agency on Saturday.

These inspections aim to ensure that hospitality facilities hold the necessary licenses from the ministry and comply with approved quality standards, coinciding with the launch of the Saudi Summer season.

The inspection tours covered multiple regions and cities, including Aseer, Al-Baha, Taif, and Jeddah, over the past two months.

The ministry's inspection teams conducted more than 2,800 visits to summer destinations. The visits assessed the quality of services provided, the availability of safety requirements, and cleanliness levels, while also confirming that facilities had obtained the necessary licenses to operate.

The ministry emphasized to all hospitality establishments, including private facilities, the importance of delivering high-quality services and adhering to its approved regulations. It stressed that violators will face penalties, which may include fines of up to SAR1 million, closure of the facility, or both.