Saudi MODON Wins Five Regional Awards for Human Resources Development, Women Empowerment

Saudi MODON Wins Five Regional Awards for Human Resources Development, Women Empowerment
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Saudi MODON Wins Five Regional Awards for Human Resources Development, Women Empowerment

Saudi MODON Wins Five Regional Awards for Human Resources Development, Women Empowerment

The Saudi Authority for Industrial Cities and Technology Zones (MODON) has achieved a significant milestone by securing five leading regional awards in human resources development and women's empowerment for 2024, highlighting the authority's commitment to fostering a creative and inspiring work environment, reported the Saudi Press Agency on Monday.

MODON was named the "Preferred Employer" of the year and recognized for having the "Best Leadership Development" program in 2024. Additionally, the authority came first as the best government agency promoting "Innovation in Employee Engagement" in the public and government sector across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region.

MODON also achieved second place in the "Innovation and Excellence in Employee Experience" category and third place for its efforts to "Support and Empower Women."

The awards were announced during the HR Awards ceremony, part of the HR Summit Middle East Edition held in Abu Dhabi, UAE. The event took place as part of the 12th GCC GOV HR Summit 2024.

Since its founding in 2001, MODON has focused on developing and managing industrial cities and technology zones in line with Saudi Arabia's national priorities. The authority works closely with both public and private sectors to drive industrial growth.

As a result, the area of developed land in 36 industrial cities across the Kingdom has expanded to more than 209 million square meters, accommodating 6,882 industrial facilities and 436 logistics facilities.

MODON's vision is to be the preferred destination for investment growth and the primary partner for the industrial and technology sectors in Saudi Arabia, positioning itself as a leader in innovation and workforce development.



Macron Arrives in Kenya Ahead of Africa Summit

French President Emmanuel Macron (L) shakes hands with Kenyan President William Ruto (R) during a reception at State House ahead of the Africa Forward: Africa- France Partnerships for Innovation and Growth Summit in Nairobi, on May 10, 2026. (AFP)
French President Emmanuel Macron (L) shakes hands with Kenyan President William Ruto (R) during a reception at State House ahead of the Africa Forward: Africa- France Partnerships for Innovation and Growth Summit in Nairobi, on May 10, 2026. (AFP)
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Macron Arrives in Kenya Ahead of Africa Summit

French President Emmanuel Macron (L) shakes hands with Kenyan President William Ruto (R) during a reception at State House ahead of the Africa Forward: Africa- France Partnerships for Innovation and Growth Summit in Nairobi, on May 10, 2026. (AFP)
French President Emmanuel Macron (L) shakes hands with Kenyan President William Ruto (R) during a reception at State House ahead of the Africa Forward: Africa- France Partnerships for Innovation and Growth Summit in Nairobi, on May 10, 2026. (AFP)

President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday met with his Kenyan counterpart William Ruto in Nairobi as part of an African visit aimed at renewing France's engagement with the continent after years of strained ties with former colonies.

Macron is to co-host a two-day summit starting on Monday, bringing together African leaders and business executives, as he seeks to cement his legacy one year before the end of his term.

The meeting will focus on economic development and cross-border investment, among other themes, the French presidency said, stressing that it will be the first such forum held in an English-speaking country.

Macron hopes to highlight France's renewed relationship with the continent as a "report card on his Africa policy", said one diplomat.

Anti-French sentiment runs high in some former African colonies as the continent becomes a renewed diplomatic battleground, with Russian and Chinese influence growing.

Once master of vast expanses of northern, central and western Africa, France has played a crucial role in the continent's post-colonial history, repeatedly intervening militarily since the early 1960s.

France has vowed to abandon the so-called "Francafrique" strategy, under which Paris sought to keep francophone Africa under its thumb through political collusion, exclusive access for French businesses and oblique financial deals, including graft.

Macron arrived in English-speaking Kenya from Egypt and is also due to travel to Ethiopia as part of his Africa tour.


China, US to Hold Trade Talks in South Korea Next Week

 Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent listens as President Donald Trump speaks at a charter school in The Villages, Fla., Friday, May 1, 2026. (AP)
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent listens as President Donald Trump speaks at a charter school in The Villages, Fla., Friday, May 1, 2026. (AP)
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China, US to Hold Trade Talks in South Korea Next Week

 Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent listens as President Donald Trump speaks at a charter school in The Villages, Fla., Friday, May 1, 2026. (AP)
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent listens as President Donald Trump speaks at a charter school in The Villages, Fla., Friday, May 1, 2026. (AP)

Senior Chinese and US officials will hold talks in South Korea next week, Beijing's commerce ministry and Washington's Treasury secretary said Sunday, ahead of an expected summit between leaders Xi Jinping and Donald Trump.

The Chinese commerce ministry said in a statement that Vice Premier He Lifeng, Beijing's top economic official, will attend "consultations on mutual economic and trade issues" on Tuesday and Wednesday.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a post on X: "On Wednesday, I will stop in Seoul for a discussion with Vice Premier He Lifeng of China, before continuing on to Beijing for the Leaders' Summit between President Trump and President Xi."

Trump is set to visit China for a high-stakes summit with Xi, with the two leaders expected to focus on easing tensions over trade and Taiwan, with the war in the Middle East looming large over talks.

While Washington and Beijing slapped tit-for-tat tariffs on each other's exports a year ago, Trump and Xi agreed on a year-long trade truce at their October meeting in South Korea.


Aramco CEO Warns 1 Billion Barrels Lost Will Slow Oil Market Recovery

President and CEO of Saudi's Aramco, Amin Nasser, speaks during the Future Investment Initiative (FII) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia October 29, 2024. (Reuters)
President and CEO of Saudi's Aramco, Amin Nasser, speaks during the Future Investment Initiative (FII) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia October 29, 2024. (Reuters)
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Aramco CEO Warns 1 Billion Barrels Lost Will Slow Oil Market Recovery

President and CEO of Saudi's Aramco, Amin Nasser, speaks during the Future Investment Initiative (FII) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia October 29, 2024. (Reuters)
President and CEO of Saudi's Aramco, Amin Nasser, speaks during the Future Investment Initiative (FII) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia October 29, 2024. (Reuters)

The world has lost about 1 billion barrels of oil over the past two months and energy markets will take time to stabilize even if ‌flows resume, ‌Saudi Aramco’s CEO said on ‌Sunday, ⁠as shipping disruptions ⁠choke traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.

"Our objective is simple: keep energy flowing, even when the system is under strain," Amin Nasser told Reuters in a statement after Aramco reported a 25% ⁠jump in net profit in ‌its first-quarter.

Global energy supplies ‌have been sharply squeezed by Iran’s blockade of ‌the Strait of Hormuz, which ‌has curtailed shipping and driven prices higher following the US-Israeli war.

"Reopening routes is not the same as normalizing a market that has ‌been deprived of about one billion barrels of oil," Nasser said, ⁠adding ⁠that years of underinvestment have compounded the strain on already-low global inventories.

Aramco has used its East-West Pipeline to bypass Hormuz and transport crude to the Red Sea, an asset Nasser described as a "critical lifeline" to mitigate the global supply crisis.

Despite shifts in shipping routes, Nasser reiterated that Asia remained a key priority for the company and was central to global demand.