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Saudi Arabia Concludes Participation in 'Wings India 2024' Conference and Exhibition

The exhibition attracted around 100,000 visitors and is recognized as one of the most significant aviation exhibitions and conferences in Asia. (SPA)
The exhibition attracted around 100,000 visitors and is recognized as one of the most significant aviation exhibitions and conferences in Asia. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia Concludes Participation in 'Wings India 2024' Conference and Exhibition

The exhibition attracted around 100,000 visitors and is recognized as one of the most significant aviation exhibitions and conferences in Asia. (SPA)
The exhibition attracted around 100,000 visitors and is recognized as one of the most significant aviation exhibitions and conferences in Asia. (SPA)

Saudi Arabia, represented by the General Authority of Civil Aviation, successfully concluded on Sunday its participation in the Wings India 2024 exhibition conference.

The event was organized by the Indian Ministry of Civil Aviation in cooperation with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI). Leaders and heads of global civil aviation organizations and bodies attended the event that was held from January 18 to 21 at Begumpet Airport, Hyderabad.

During Saudi Arabia's participation, a delegation led by the President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), Abdulaziz Al-Duailej, highlighted the vital role of the civil aviation sector in the Kingdom's national economy.

He also emphasized the promising investment opportunities offered by this sector, aligning with the Saudi Aviation Strategy's objectives. Under this strategy, the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) aims to position Saudi Arabia as a leading player in civil aviation in the Middle East. Their goals include doubling passenger capacity to 330 million annually, serving more than 250 destinations worldwide, and increasing cargo capacity to 5.4 million tons.

On the sidelines of the conference, Al-Duailej participated in a ministerial session with leaders of civil aviation from around the world. The session focused on reviewing the national aviation strategy's role in supporting economic development in Saudi Arabia.

It also discussed the various opportunities for global investors based on the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030. The aim is for Saudi Arabia to become a regional aviation hub and a global logistics platform connecting three continents.

The Saudi Aviation Strategy aims to emphasize the Kingdom's pioneering role in the in the field of civil aviation in the Middle East region. It aims to attract $100 billion in investments and create a world-class travel experience for more than 330 million passengers annually by 2030. It intends to target only 10% of these 330 million passengers as transit passengers, underscoring our focus on sustainable and integrated growth.

The Wings India 2024 conference and exhibition also facilitated bilateral and one on one meetings to enhance cooperation. Al-Duailej met with the Minister of Civil Aviation and Steel of the Republic of India, Jyotiraditya Scindia, to discuss topics of mutual interest.

Additionally, he met with Minister of Infrastructure of Sweden Johan Davidsson and discussed cooperation in the field of civil aviation.

Another significant meeting took place with the Minister of Civil Aviation of Cambodia Mao Havanal to explore opportunities for direct operations between the two countries in line with the Saudi Civil Aviation Strategy. The meeting culminated in the signing of a record of consultations between Saudi Arabia and Cambodia.

As part of the activities at Wings India 2024 conference and exhibition, Eng. Imtiaz Muhammad Manzari, the Director General of General Aviation, participated in a dialogue session on "The Helicopter Industry." He highlighted the potential and prospects of helicopters and stressed the importance of developing new and diverse modes of efficient transportation.

Manzari also emphasized the need for modern technologies and infrastructure, including approved airstrips and maintenance centers, to support the safe operation of modern helicopters.

GACA's participation aimed to strengthen relationships with major international airlines and stakeholders in the aviation industry, foster an investor-friendly environment, promote the development of new routes, and introduce promising opportunities in the Saudi aviation sector.

Discussions during the event covered the latest trends, innovations, and solutions in the aviation industry, with a particular focus on air mobility, sustainability, and advanced technologies.

The Wings India 2024 conference and exhibition showcased advanced air transport solutions and their potential to transform civil aviation and open new markets for air travel in the coming decades.

The event attracted over 5,000 participants, including civil aviation authorities from multiple countries, airlines, and companies related to the civil aviation sector.

The exhibition attracted around 100,000 visitors and is recognized as one of the most significant aviation exhibitions and conferences in Asia.

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World Food Prices Dip in October, but Remain Higher Than a Year Ago

A worker carries loaves of bread for sale at a bakery in the capital city of Cairo, Egypt November 4, 2026. (Reuters)
A worker carries loaves of bread for sale at a bakery in the capital city of Cairo, Egypt November 4, 2026. (Reuters)
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World Food Prices Dip in October, but Remain Higher Than a Year Ago

A worker carries loaves of bread for sale at a bakery in the capital city of Cairo, Egypt November 4, 2026. (Reuters)
A worker carries loaves of bread for sale at a bakery in the capital city of Cairo, Egypt November 4, 2026. (Reuters)

World food prices edged lower in October as weaker import demand contributed to monthly declines in cereal, dairy and meat prices, but were still nearly 6% higher than a year earlier, the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization said on Friday.

The FAO Food Price Index, which tracks monthly changes in international prices for a basket of food commodities, ‌averaged 133.9 points ‌in October, down from a revised ‌135.6 ⁠in September.

The index ⁠was 5.9% higher than a year earlier, but remained 16.4% below its March 2022 peak.

FAO's cereal price index fell 4.5% from September and was 12.6% lower than a year ago, as wheat and maize quotations declined. Wheat prices eased on weak import demand ⁠and improved production prospects, especially in Argentina.

"Expectations of ‌easing constraints on Black ‌Sea export flows added to the downward pressure on prices, ‌although continued disruptions to Black Sea logistics limited the decline," ‌FAO said in a statement.

Maize prices also eased after reaching a three-year high in September, pressured by the US harvest, expectations of ample supplies in South America and renewed ‌prospects of easing tensions in the Black Sea region.

Vegetable oil prices edged up 0.3%, ⁠as ⁠higher soybean and sunflower oil prices more than offset a fall in rapeseed oil prices.

Sugar prices rose 6.6%, their fourth straight monthly increase, to the highest level since December 2024, after rainfall disrupted harvesting in Brazil. They were now 28.8% above a year ago.

The dairy index fell 1.1%, as lower butter and cheese prices linked to ample supplies and subdued demand outweighed gains in milk powder.

The meat index declined 1.2%, while still slightly above its year-earlier level, as ovine and bovine meat prices fell.

Business

Copper Falls, Set for Worst Week Since March on AI Rout

Copper at the Aurubis copper smelting and refining plant in Hamburg, Germany. (Reuters)
Copper at the Aurubis copper smelting and refining plant in Hamburg, Germany. (Reuters)
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Copper Falls, Set for Worst Week Since March on AI Rout

Copper at the Aurubis copper smelting and refining plant in Hamburg, Germany. (Reuters)
Copper at the Aurubis copper smelting and refining plant in Hamburg, Germany. (Reuters)

Copper dropped on Friday and was set for its biggest weekly drop in London since March, as a rout in technology stocks battered markets.

Benchmark three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange was down 1.3% at $13,663 a metric ton by 0700 GMT. That placed it on track to fall 3.44% in the week, Reuters said.

The most-traded copper contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange fell 1.08% to 106,830 yuan ($16,018.17) a ton.

The weakness reflects worries over AI investment, ‌with copper increasingly ‌influenced by "sentiment towards data center expansion," said ‌Craig ⁠Lang, principal analyst ⁠at CRU.

Technology shares were battered after Democratic wins in the US midterms fueled concerns that new regulatory oversight could cap the AI buildout.

On the other hand, supply constraints cushioned copper's decline.

"I would be cautious about calling this a sustained correction, given ongoing mine supply challenges and exceptionally tight ⁠metal availability outside the US," Lang said.

Copper stocks ‌in SHFE-monitored warehouses <CU-STX-SGH> fell by ‌over 24% this week to just 33,848 tons — the lowest ‌in almost three years. The closely watched Yangshan copper ‌premium <SMM-CUYP-CN>, a gauge of appetite for imports into key consumer China, increased to $210 a ton on Thursday, matching its record high.

Smelters in the country are facing a double squeeze of negative treatment ‌charges and lower sulfuric acid prices.

Meanwhile, warehouse inventories outside the US have been drawn ⁠down as ⁠material was pulled into the country ahead of a potential tariff on imports of refined copper.

"These physical constraints should provide some support against weaker investor sentiment," Lang said.

Among LME metals, aluminium lost 0.54%, zinc lost 1.42%, lead lost 0.45%, nickel dipped 0.23% and tin gained 0.83%.

On the SHFE, aluminium nudged down only 0.04%, zinc lost 1.35%, lead was little changed, down only 0.03%, nickel rose 2.14% and tin dropped 3.45%.

SHFE inventories were down across the board this week, led by sharp drops in aluminium <AL-STX-SGH> and lead <PB-STX-SGH>.

Business

Emerging Economies Set to Match Advanced Nations’ Renewable Capacity Additions, IEA Says

Workers walk at Kalyon Karapinar solar power plant in Karapinar, Konya province, Türkiye, Oct. 14, 2026. (AP)
Workers walk at Kalyon Karapinar solar power plant in Karapinar, Konya province, Türkiye, Oct. 14, 2026. (AP)
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Emerging Economies Set to Match Advanced Nations’ Renewable Capacity Additions, IEA Says

Workers walk at Kalyon Karapinar solar power plant in Karapinar, Konya province, Türkiye, Oct. 14, 2026. (AP)
Workers walk at Kalyon Karapinar solar power plant in Karapinar, Konya province, Türkiye, Oct. 14, 2026. (AP)

Emerging ‌and developing economies outside China are expected to add as much new renewable energy capacity as advanced economies for the first time over the next five years, driven by the current energy crisis, the International Energy Agency said on Friday.

Gas and oil prices have soared this year as the US-Iran war disrupts traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global oil and gas trade.

Global renewable energy ‌capacity is forecast ‌to increase by almost 4,800 gigawatts ‌between ⁠2026 and 2031, ⁠the IEA said in its annual outlook.

Emerging and developing economies are expected to add about 1,100 GW, roughly the same as advanced economies, with China adding around 2,550 GW, the agency said.

Capacity growth in Southeast Asia, Africa and the Middle East is ⁠expected to triple over the period, ‌led mainly by solar installations, ‌the IEA said.

China will remain the biggest contributor to ‌global renewable energy growth, although its share is ‌forecast to fall to 53% by 2031 from 60% in 2025.

India is emerging as the world's second-fastest deployer of renewables and is expected to more than double its contribution ‌to global growth by 2031 to nearly 8.5%.

Grid connection delays remain ⁠a major ⁠challenge, with projects awaiting connections worldwide rising 60% over the past year, equivalent to four times the wind and solar capacity connected to grids during the same period.

Grid constraints are expected to slow growth in advanced economies, with annual additions in Europe through 2031 forecast to remain broadly in line with 2025 levels.

Renewable energy is expected to meet 6% of global transport energy demand by 2031, while higher fuel-blending mandates prompted the IEA to raise its biofuels forecast by 40% from last year's report.