Saudi Arabia Launches Development Initiative in Africa Worth over $1 Billion

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, at the Saudi-African Summit in Riyadh on Friday. (SPA)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, at the Saudi-African Summit in Riyadh on Friday. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia Launches Development Initiative in Africa Worth over $1 Billion

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, at the Saudi-African Summit in Riyadh on Friday. (SPA)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, at the Saudi-African Summit in Riyadh on Friday. (SPA)

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, deputizing for Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, inaugurated the Saudi-African Summit in Riyadh on Friday.

“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and African countries are keen to enhance cooperation in a way that contributes to establishing security and peace in the region and the whole world,” said Crown Prince Mohammed in opening the summit.

“We condemn the military aggression witnessed in Gaza Strip, the targeting of civilians, and the continued violation of international humanitarian law by the Israeli occupying authority. We stress the need to stop this war and forced displacement, as well as to create conditions for the return of stability and for achieving peace,” he urged.

“The Kingdom and African countries support all efforts aimed at achieving security and stability. In this regard, we welcome the resumption of the Jeddah talks, with representatives of the two sides of the crisis in Sudan, and hope that the language of dialogue will be the basis for preserving the unity of Sudan, and the security of its people and assets,” he added.

“Saudi Arabia has provided more than $45 billion to support development and humanitarian projects in 54 African countries. The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) aid has reached more than $450 million in 46 African countries. We are determined to develop cooperation and partnership with African countries and expand areas of trade and integration,” he stressed.

“In this regard, we are pleased to announce the launch of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques' Development Initiative in Africa by inaugurating development projects and programs worth over $1 billion in countries of the continent over a period of ten years. We also look forward to making new Saudi investments, worth more than $25 billion, in various sectors, financing $10 billion in exports and providing $5 billion in additional development financing to Africa until 2030,” revealed the Crown Prince.

Moreover, he said the Kingdom will increase the number of embassies in Africa to more than 40.

In recognition of Africa's role, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was among the first nations to publicly endorse the African Union's bid for permanent membership in the Group of Twenty (G20), he remarked.

“The Kingdom is keen to support innovative solutions to address African debt, as it sought during its presidency of the G20 in 2020 to launch initiatives to suspend debt service payments during the pandemic for low-income countries, and the Common Framework for Debt Treatments initiative in many African,” he continued.

“Saudi Arabia supports sustainable development and recognizes every country's right to utilize their resources and capacities. We reaffirm our commitment to ensuring the security and durability of energy supplies, benefiting from all energy sources, developing clean fuel solutions, and providing food to over 750 million Africans,” he added.

“We aim to host Expo 2030 in Riyadh, to present an unprecedented version in the history of this exhibition that may contribute to projecting a better future for humanity. We look forward to your participation in highlighting the important role of Africa, its human and natural resources, growth opportunities, and future potential,” he stated.

The official Saudi delegation at the event included Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Minister of State and Member of the Cabinet Prince Turki bin Mohammed bin Fahd bin Abdulaziz, Minister of Interior Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz, Minister of the National Guard Prince Abdullah bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz, Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, and Minister of State, Member of the Cabinet and National Security Advisor Dr. Musaed bin Mohammed Al-Aiban.



Riyadh Hosts Saudi-Egyptian Industrial Forum

Officials are seen at the forum on Monday. (SPA)
Officials are seen at the forum on Monday. (SPA)
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Riyadh Hosts Saudi-Egyptian Industrial Forum

Officials are seen at the forum on Monday. (SPA)
Officials are seen at the forum on Monday. (SPA)

The Saudi-Egyptian Industrial Forum kicked off in Riyadh on Monday under the patronage of Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef. The forum aims to bolster strategic industrial cooperation and integration between the two countries.

Organized by the Federation of Saudi Chambers of Commerce in collaboration with the Federation of Egyptian Industries, the forum witnessed the participation of Deputy Minister for Industrial Affairs Eng. Khalil bin Salamah, Saudi Export Development Authority CEO Abdulrahman Althukair, and 300 prominent Saudi and Egyptian industry leaders and investors.

Bin Salamah underscored the significance of strengthening economic cooperation and industrial integration between Saudi Arabia and Egypt. He advocated for enhanced industrial partnerships within five priority sectors identified in the Kingdom's National Industrial Strategy: pharmaceuticals, automotive, building materials, textiles, and food industries.

He highlighted the evolving strategic integration between the two countries across initiatives like "Saudi Made,Future Factories," and "Made in Egypt," as well as in the broader goods and services sector. Bin Salamah urged Egyptian industrialists to capitalize on the industrial investment opportunities available in the Kingdom, citing its ambitious plans to establish 24,000 new factories over the next decade.

Federation of Saudi Chambers of Commerce Chairman Hassan Alhwaizy hailed the forum as a crucial milestone in Saudi-Egyptian industrial collaboration, emphasizing the strategic partnership underpinning their economic relations, particularly in the industrial sector.

Federation of Egyptian Industries Chairman Mohamed El-Sewedy stated that current global challenges are accelerating the need for industrial integration between the two countries, strengthening their partnership to tap into the African market's potential.

Saudi-Egyptian Business Council Chairman Bandar Al-Ameri highlighted the substantial growth in trade exchange between Saudi Arabia and Egypt in recent years, fueled by developing economic partnerships between their respective business communities. He emphasized that signing the agreement to protect and encourage mutual investments represents a strategic achievement serving their shared interests.