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IFAD President: Saudi Arabia Key Partner in Global Efforts Against Climate Challenges

President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Alvaro Lario (Asharq Al-Awsat)
President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Alvaro Lario (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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IFAD President: Saudi Arabia Key Partner in Global Efforts Against Climate Challenges

President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Alvaro Lario (Asharq Al-Awsat)
President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Alvaro Lario (Asharq Al-Awsat)

In a time where warnings about overlooking the crises of climate change, food scarcity, and water scarcity are prevalent, Alvaro Lario, the President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), emphasized that the Fund is effectively addressing these challenges.
Lario underscored the pivotal role of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as a key player in specialized international efforts, reflecting positively on the outcomes of agricultural development strategies.
Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, Lario said: “Saudi Arabia holds fundamental importance within United Nations organizations, especially concerning IFAD’s agricultural development plans.”
He pointed out that IFAD is currently implementing a developmental project in the Jazan region, focusing on coffee and mango farms, with hopes of launching additional projects in the near future.
Lario explained that the Kingdom is making substantial efforts aligned with the international strategy to confront climate change and environmental pollution.
Initiatives such as the “Green Saudi Initiative” and the “Green Middle East Initiative” attest to Saudi Arabia’s commitment, along with its support for agricultural development plans that align with IFAD’s direction.
Lario affirmed IFAD’s readiness to enhance its partnership with Saudi Arabia in agricultural sectors, investing in the industry’s development, improving efficiency, and implementing sustainable practices.
The goal is to contribute to supporting safe and sustainable food, fortifying food security, enhancing agricultural sector efficiency, establishing projects for rural and remote farmers, and exchanging expertise with Saudi institutions like the Saudi Agricultural Development Fund.
According to Lario, IFAD is working to strengthen its capabilities to increase the resilience of small rural producers.
He emphasized that IFAD’s investments contribute to adapting to climate change and sustainable food systems, achieving numerous sustainable development goals.
Lario highlighted the alignment of IFAD’s work with the ethos of the “Green Middle East Initiative,” which seeks to restore the ecosystem through tree planting.
Beyond addressing short-term shocks, IFAD aims to lay the foundation for the future by assisting small farmers in sustaining their work with nature. Hence, water management becomes a crucial element for them.
Lario also noted that addressing major climate events is vital, as it is an urgent issue that unites governments, private sector institutions, and civil society.

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Saudi EXIM Hosts Global Risk Experts Meeting in Riyadh

The event gathered specialists from 47 organizations from 33 countries; it served as a platform for discussing strategies, partnerships, and innovative solutions. - SPA
The event gathered specialists from 47 organizations from 33 countries; it served as a platform for discussing strategies, partnerships, and innovative solutions. - SPA
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Saudi EXIM Hosts Global Risk Experts Meeting in Riyadh

The event gathered specialists from 47 organizations from 33 countries; it served as a platform for discussing strategies, partnerships, and innovative solutions. - SPA
The event gathered specialists from 47 organizations from 33 countries; it served as a platform for discussing strategies, partnerships, and innovative solutions. - SPA

The Saudi Export-Import Bank (Saudi EXIM) hosted the Berne Union's Country Risk Specialist Meeting, providing a platform for experts and thought leaders in risk management from the export credit community.
At the meeting, which took place from November 19 to 21 in Riyadh, the attendees exchanged best practices to better protect the industry amid shifting global dynamics.
According to a statement issued by the Saudi EXIM on Saturday, the event gathered specialists from 47 organizations from 33 countries; it served as a platform for discussing strategies, partnerships, and innovative solutions.
By strengthening institutional resilience, the industry is ready to turn global economic challenges into opportunities for economic prosperity, said the statement, adding that it played a crucial role in advancing global trade, strengthening international cooperation, and developing credit solutions that empower export activities while controlling risk, SPA reported.
According to the statement, discussions centered on critical risks impacting international trade and the global economy, such as debt sustainability and geopolitical tensions, along with innovative approaches to risk modelling. Participants also explored the global shifts in infrastructure, energy and critical minerals sectors, and were given an overview of Saudi Arabia's National Industrial Strategy, which focuses on economic diversification through investments, developing new sectors, and promoting local industries.
In his opening remarks, Saudi EXIM CEO Eng. Saad bin Abdulaziz Al-Khalb said the meeting is an ideal platform to address risks impacting global economic decision making.
He stated: "Through such meetings, we can turn challenges into strategic opportunities and enhance our resilience in an ever-changing world. At Saudi EXIM, we remain committed to enabling companies by offering expert financial and non-financial solutions to navigate risks effectively."
He also said that "at Saudi EXIM, we place great emphasis on risk management. In alignment with the main objective of this meeting, I am pleased to announce the completion of our independent country risk model, which is supported by advanced modelling tools and machine learning. This model will provide country ratings and predictions of default risks. We look forward to collaborating with our partners in other export credit agencies to exchange knowledge and expertise, and to strengthening our risk management functions with greater responsibility and effectiveness."
Associate Director at Berne Union Eve Hall said: "The global risk landscape today is highly volatile and highly interconnected. As we navigate our way around the ongoing transformations connected to energy transition and shifting industrial strategies, the traditional concept of 'country risk' is becoming increasingly complex. Our industry excels at understanding, quantifying and pricing these risks, and by bringing together this community of experts for technical exchange the Berne Union is able to help support the development of the industry as a whole. The initiatives announced by our colleagues at Saudi EXIM, making use of new technology in risk analysis, provide a fantastic example of where collaboration in this field can be effectively applied."
The statement disclosed that Saudi EXIM's membership in Berne represents a significant strategic step, and is consistent with the Kingdom's commitment to expanding collaboration and integration in the global economy.
This is achieved by building partnerships with leading institutions to address the challenges facing the export credit sector. It also aligns with the bank's goal of developing the export of national products and services through partnerships with national and international financial and funding organizations.
Berne Union works with global trade organizations to encourage the adoption of best practices in export credit insurance, and to cooperate in maintaining the stability of global trade.
Saudi EXIM, a development bank under the National Development Fund, contributes to diversifying the Kingdom's economic base by improving the efficiency of non-oil export ecosystems, bridging financial gaps, and minimizing export risks. This plays a role in helping the non-oil national economy grow, in line with Vision 2030.