World Bank President: Saudi Arabia Adopting Great Approach to Empower Women in Labor Market

President of the World Bank Ajay Banga addressed the seventh edition of the Future Investment Initiative in Riyadh. (SPA)
President of the World Bank Ajay Banga addressed the seventh edition of the Future Investment Initiative in Riyadh. (SPA)
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World Bank President: Saudi Arabia Adopting Great Approach to Empower Women in Labor Market

President of the World Bank Ajay Banga addressed the seventh edition of the Future Investment Initiative in Riyadh. (SPA)
President of the World Bank Ajay Banga addressed the seventh edition of the Future Investment Initiative in Riyadh. (SPA)

President of the World Bank Ajay Banga stressed on Tuesday that Saudi Arabia has sought to empower women in the labor market, urging other countries to follow suit to realize aspirations through the quality of life to create jobs.

He noted that the World Bank has a mission and vision to address climate change, resilience to engage with the world and focus on the youth as the beating heart of the world to achieve future aspirations, the growth of the global economy and joint efforts.

Banga made his remarks while participating in the seventh edition of the Future Investment Initiative that is currently underway in Riyadh.

He added that aspirations must be realized through the quality of life and generating jobs, reviewing the geopolitical challenges and crises in various countries.

He noted that the global economy will be in a good and reassuring status only if the world joins efforts, adding that all should be responsible for facing challenges related to energy transition and debts.

Moreover, he said the volume of renewable energy amounts to $3 billion, which is increasing, stressing the need for the private sector's engagement to reach a level that develops the global economy, works together to reduce carbon emissions, and focuses on reaching solutions to reduce increasing emissions.

He also highlighted risks related to the economy through legislative frameworks that the World Bank is planning to address, which requires local capital from the private and public sectors.



BP Nears Deals for Oil Fields, Curbs on Gas Flaring in Iraq

British Prime Minster Keir Starmer (L) welcomes Prime Minister of Iraq Mohammed Shia al-Sudani to 10 Downing Street in London, Britain, 14 January 2025. (EPA)
British Prime Minster Keir Starmer (L) welcomes Prime Minister of Iraq Mohammed Shia al-Sudani to 10 Downing Street in London, Britain, 14 January 2025. (EPA)
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BP Nears Deals for Oil Fields, Curbs on Gas Flaring in Iraq

British Prime Minster Keir Starmer (L) welcomes Prime Minister of Iraq Mohammed Shia al-Sudani to 10 Downing Street in London, Britain, 14 January 2025. (EPA)
British Prime Minster Keir Starmer (L) welcomes Prime Minister of Iraq Mohammed Shia al-Sudani to 10 Downing Street in London, Britain, 14 January 2025. (EPA)

Iraq and British oil giant BP are set to finalize a deal by early February to develop four oil fields in Kirkuk and curb gas flaring, Iraqi authorities announced Wednesday.

The mega-project in northern Iraq will include plans to recover flared gas to boost the country's electricity production, they said.

Gas flaring refers to the polluting practice of burning off excess gas during oil drilling. It is cheaper than capturing the associated gas.

The Iraqi government and BP signed a new memorandum of understanding in London late Tuesday, as Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani and other senior ministers visit Britain to seal various trade and investment deals.

"The objective is to enhance production and achieve optimal targeted rates of oil and gas output," Sudani's office said in a statement.

Iraq's Oil Minister Hayan Abdel Ghani told AFP after the new accord was signed that the project would increase the four oil fields' production to up to 500,000 barrels per day from about 350,000 bpd.

"The agreement commits both parties to sign a contract in the first week of February," he said.

Ghani noted the project will also target gas flaring.

Iraq has the third highest global rate of gas flaring, after Russia and Iran, having flared about 18 billion cubic meters of gas in 2023, according to the World Bank.

The Iraqi government has made eliminating the practice one of its priorities, with plans to curb 80 percent of flared gas by 2026 and to eliminate releases by 2028.

"It's not just a question of investing and increasing oil production... but also gas exploitation. We can no longer tolerate gas flaring, whatever the quantity," Ghani added.

"We need this gas, which Iraq currently imports from neighboring Iran. The government is making serious efforts to put an end to these imports."

Iraq is ultra-dependent on Iranian gas, which covers almost a third of Iraq's energy needs.

However, Teheran regularly cuts off its supply, exacerbating the power shortages that punctuate the daily lives of 45 million Iraqis.

BP is one of the biggest foreign players in Iraq's oil sector, with a history of producing oil in the country dating back to the 1920s when it was still under British mandate.

According to the World Bank, Iraq has 145 billion barrels of proven oil reserves -- among the largest in the world -- amounting to 96 years' worth of production at the current rate.