عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Business

Saudi Agricultural Exhibition Opens with Over SAR800 Million in Development Investments

The 41st Saudi Agricultural Exhibition was inaugurated in Riyadh on Monday. (SPA)
The 41st Saudi Agricultural Exhibition was inaugurated in Riyadh on Monday. (SPA)
TT
TT

Saudi Agricultural Exhibition Opens with Over SAR800 Million in Development Investments

The 41st Saudi Agricultural Exhibition was inaugurated in Riyadh on Monday. (SPA)
The 41st Saudi Agricultural Exhibition was inaugurated in Riyadh on Monday. (SPA)

Saudi Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Eng. Abdulrahman Alfadley inaugurated on Monday the 41st Saudi Agricultural Exhibition in Riyadh.

The event, which runs from October 21-24, highlights key investment opportunities and features cutting-edge technologies, solutions, and innovations in the agriculture sector. Over 420 agricultural companies representing 29 countries are taking part. Qatari Minister of Municipality Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Subaie attended the opening ceremony.

Alfadley emphasized the importance of strengthening national economic priorities and achieving food security in Saudi Arabia while striking a balance between agricultural development and the preservation of natural resources.

This is key to boosting sustainability and ensuring the protection of the environment and agricultural assets for future generations, he stressed.

Alfadley underscored the significant economic growth of the agricultural sector over the past three years, attributing it to the unwavering support from the country’s leadership and to the ministry’s efforts to promote sustainable agricultural practices. These have led to the sustainability of agricultural production; the preservation of soil, water, and natural resources; and self-sufficiency in a variety of agricultural products.

The sector achieved its highest-ever contribution to gross domestic product (GDP), amounting to SAR109 billion, further driving sustainable development and supporting the national economy, he revealed.

During the exhibition, Alfadley witnessed the signing of 12 agreements and memoranda of understanding with total investments exceeding SAR800 million to bolster agricultural production in the Kingdom.

The event saw the launch of the KAUST Center of Excellence for Sustainable Food Security. The strategic initiative aims to boost food security in the Kingdom by developing sustainable innovations and solutions in agriculture in line with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.

Most Viewed

 
 
Business

Saudi Arabia Makes History with Adoption of Riyadh Treaty on Design Law

Photo of the Riyadh Diplomatic Conference on the Design Law Treaty (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Photo of the Riyadh Diplomatic Conference on the Design Law Treaty (Asharq Al-Awsat)
TT
TT

Saudi Arabia Makes History with Adoption of Riyadh Treaty on Design Law

Photo of the Riyadh Diplomatic Conference on the Design Law Treaty (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Photo of the Riyadh Diplomatic Conference on the Design Law Treaty (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia has made history by uniting the 193 member states of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) to adopt the Riyadh Treaty on Design Law. This landmark achievement, realized after two decades of deliberation, underscores the Kingdom’s leadership in enhancing the global intellectual property system.

The announcement came at the conclusion of the Riyadh Diplomatic Conference on the Design Law Treaty, a rare event for WIPO, which has not held a diplomatic conference outside Geneva for more than a decade. It was also the first such event hosted in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East, representing the final stage of negotiations to establish an agreement aimed at simplifying and standardizing design protection procedures across member states.

Over the past two weeks, intensive discussions and negotiations among member states culminated in the adoption of the Riyadh Treaty, which commits signatory nations to a unified set of requirements for registering designs, ensuring consistent and streamlined procedures worldwide. The agreement is expected to have a significant positive impact on designers, enabling them to protect their creations more effectively and uniformly across international markets.

At a press conference held on Friday to mark the event’s conclusion, CEO of the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property Abdulaziz Al-Suwailem highlighted the economic potential of the new protocol.

Responding to a question from Asharq Al-Awsat, Al-Suwailem noted the substantial contributions of young Saudi men and women in creative design. He explained that the agreement will enable their designs to be formally protected, allowing them to enter markets as valuable, tradable assets.

He also emphasized the symbolic importance of naming the convention the Riyadh Treaty, stating that it reflects Saudi Arabia’s growing influence as a bridge between cultures and a global center for innovative initiatives.

The treaty lays critical legal foundations to support designers and drive innovation worldwide, aligning with Saudi Arabia’s vision of promoting international collaboration in the creative industries and underscoring its leadership in building a sustainable future for innovators.

The agreement also advances global efforts to enhance creativity, protect intellectual property, and stimulate innovation on a broader scale.

This achievement further strengthens Saudi Arabia’s position as a global hub for groundbreaking initiatives, demonstrating its commitment to nurturing creativity, safeguarding designers’ rights, and driving the development of creative industries on an international scale.

The Riyadh Diplomatic Conference, held from November 11 to 22, was hosted by the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property and attracted high-ranking officials and decision-makers from WIPO member states.