Mawani, Reviva Sign Deal for Waste Recycling Complex in Jeddah

Jeddah Islamic Port. Photo: Saudi Ports Authority website
Jeddah Islamic Port. Photo: Saudi Ports Authority website
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Mawani, Reviva Sign Deal for Waste Recycling Complex in Jeddah

Jeddah Islamic Port. Photo: Saudi Ports Authority website
Jeddah Islamic Port. Photo: Saudi Ports Authority website

The Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) and Global Environmental Management Services Ltd. (Reviva), a subsidiary of Saudi Investment Recycling Company (SIRC) Group, have signed an agreement to establish a plant for recycling marine and industrial waste at Jeddah Islamic Port. The project, valued at SAR30 million ($8 million), will cover an area of 10,000 square meters.

The agreement was signed on Sunday by Mawani's President Omar bin Talal Hariri and SIRC's CEO Eng. Ziad bin Mohammed Al-Shiha in the presence of other officials.

This initiative is part of Mawani's efforts to promote environmental sustainability, ensure marine safety, and develop a sustainable maritime sector. It aligns with the National Transport and Logistics Strategy and the Green Ports Initiative, aiming to bolster Saudi Arabia's position as a global logistics center and a hub connecting three continents.

The new plant will enhance waste utilization by converting waste into valuable resources, thereby promoting a thriving circular economy in the Kingdom. It will offer comprehensive waste management and recycling solutions, industrial maintenance services, by-product recycling, and transportation services, which will minimize waste generation and improve waste management operations while preserving the environment.

The collaboration between Mawani and Reviva will contribute to the Kingdom's waste management goals as part of Saudi Vision 2030 and increase the private sector's role in supporting economic growth. The initiative aims to position Jeddah Islamic Port among the top 10 ports globally.



US Treasury's Bessent Urges IMF, World Bank to Refocus on Core Missions

 Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent speaks, Wednesday, April 23, 2025, to the Institute of International Finance Global Outlook Forum at the Willard Hotel in Washington. (AP)
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent speaks, Wednesday, April 23, 2025, to the Institute of International Finance Global Outlook Forum at the Willard Hotel in Washington. (AP)
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US Treasury's Bessent Urges IMF, World Bank to Refocus on Core Missions

 Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent speaks, Wednesday, April 23, 2025, to the Institute of International Finance Global Outlook Forum at the Willard Hotel in Washington. (AP)
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent speaks, Wednesday, April 23, 2025, to the Institute of International Finance Global Outlook Forum at the Willard Hotel in Washington. (AP)

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Wednesday called on the International Monetary Fund and World Bank to refocus on their core missions of macroeconomic stability and development, arguing that they have strayed too far into vanity projects such as climate change that have reduced their effectiveness.

Bessent, in remarks outlining his vision for US engagement with the IMF and World Bank on the sidelines of the institutions' spring meetings, said that they serve critical roles in the international financial system.

"And the Trump administration is eager to work with them - so long as they can stay true to their missions," Bessent said in prepared remarks to the Institute of International Finance.

"The IMF and World Bank have enduring value. But mission creep has knocked these institutions off course. We must enact key reforms to ensure the Bretton Woods institutions are serving their stakeholders - not the other way around," he said, calling on US allies to join the effort. "America First does not mean America alone."

Bessent said the IMF needed to focus on its key mandate and adhere to strong standards in its lending.

"The IMF was once unwavering in its mission of promoting global monetary cooperation and financial stability. Now it devotes disproportionate time and resources to work on climate change, gender, and social issues. These issues are not the IMF's mission."

"And sometimes, the IMF needs to say 'No.' The organization has no obligation to lend to countries that fail to implement reforms."

Bessent added that the World Bank must be "tech-neutral and prioritize affordability in energy investment. In most cases, this means investing in gas and other fossil fuel-based energy production."

He added that it could also finance renewable energy projects along with systems to manage energy latency in wind and solar.