عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Business

Saudi Arabia, Canada Launch New Phase of Cooperation in Education, Knowledge, Capabilities

The Canadian ambassador said his country is working in partnership with Saudi Arabia to strengthen relations in the educational fields. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The Canadian ambassador said his country is working in partnership with Saudi Arabia to strengthen relations in the educational fields. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
TT
TT

Saudi Arabia, Canada Launch New Phase of Cooperation in Education, Knowledge, Capabilities

The Canadian ambassador said his country is working in partnership with Saudi Arabia to strengthen relations in the educational fields. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The Canadian ambassador said his country is working in partnership with Saudi Arabia to strengthen relations in the educational fields. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Riyadh hosted on Tuesday the first Saudi-Canadian Forum for Educational Partnership, in the presence of Saudi Minister of Education Yousef Al-Benyan and Canadian Ambassador to the Kingdom Jean-Philippe Linteau.

The forum aims to strengthen cooperation and partnerships between educational institutions in the two countries. It witnessed the participation of around 180 experts and stakeholders in the fields of education, health and industry.

Al-Benyan underlined the importance of education in achieving the goals of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, especially in terms of qualifying students to compete globally. He noted that the forum reflected the commitment of Saudi Arabia and Canada to develop the existing strategic partnership between them.

The minister touched on his recent visit to Canada and pointed to many existing opportunities for cooperation in the fields of general and higher education, early childhood programs, teacher development, in addition to medical, technical and vocational training programs.

He stressed the importance of boosting cooperation between the two countries in research and development in priority areas in line with Vision 2030.

In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, Linteau said Canada is a committed partner in supporting the Kingdom’s move towards a knowledge-based economy as described in the goals of Vision 2030.

He added that the forum will serve as a platform for dialogue, communication and cooperation in the fields of joint research, technical training, capacity building, student and faculty exchange, curriculum development and opening external centers.

The ambassador said his country is working in partnership with Saudi Arabia to strengthen relations in education due to the importance of this sector in developing human capital and supporting innovation to achieve a prosperous future for the two countries.

The forum aims to explore the most important areas of educational cooperation, such as: information technology, tourism, health care, clean energy, mining, and agriculture, he went on to say.

Most Viewed

 
 
Business

Washington Urges Israel to Extend Cooperation with Palestinian Banks

A West Bank Jewish settlement is seen in the background, while a protestor waves a Palestinian flag during a protest against Israel's separation barrier in the West Bank village of Bilin in 2012. (AP)
A West Bank Jewish settlement is seen in the background, while a protestor waves a Palestinian flag during a protest against Israel's separation barrier in the West Bank village of Bilin in 2012. (AP)
TT
TT

Washington Urges Israel to Extend Cooperation with Palestinian Banks

A West Bank Jewish settlement is seen in the background, while a protestor waves a Palestinian flag during a protest against Israel's separation barrier in the West Bank village of Bilin in 2012. (AP)
A West Bank Jewish settlement is seen in the background, while a protestor waves a Palestinian flag during a protest against Israel's separation barrier in the West Bank village of Bilin in 2012. (AP)

The United States on Thursday called on Israel to extend its cooperation with Palestinian banks for another year, to avoid blocking vital transactions in the occupied West Bank.

"I am glad that Israel has allowed its banks to continue cooperating with Palestinian banks, but I remain convinced that a one-year extension of the waiver to facilitate this cooperation is needed," US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said Thursday, on the sidelines of a meeting of G20 finance ministers in Rio de Janeiro.

In May, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich threatened to cut off a vital banking channel between Israel and the West Bank in response to three European countries recognizing the State of Palestine.

On June 30, however, Smotrich extended a waiver that allows cooperation between Israel's banking system and Palestinian banks in the occupied West Bank for four months, according to Israeli media, according to AFP.

The Times of Israel newspaper reported that the decision on the waiver was made at a cabinet meeting in a "move that saw Israel legalize several West Bank settlement outposts."

The waiver was due to expire at the end of June, and the extension permitted Israeli banks to process payments for salaries and services to the Palestinian Authority in shekels, averting a blow to a Palestinian economy already devastated by the war in Gaza.

The Israeli threat raised serious concerns in the United States, which said at the time it feared "a humanitarian crisis" if banking ties were cut.

According to Washington, these banking channels are key to nearly $8 billion of imports from Israel to the West Bank, including electricity, water, fuel and food.