‘Transforming for Inclusive Growth’ Prelude to Opening of G20 Business Group Summit

Business Group Logo (B20) at the G20 Summit (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Business Group Logo (B20) at the G20 Summit (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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‘Transforming for Inclusive Growth’ Prelude to Opening of G20 Business Group Summit

Business Group Logo (B20) at the G20 Summit (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Business Group Logo (B20) at the G20 Summit (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is scheduled to host activities of the G20 business group Summit (B20) in its capital, Riyadh, this week.

This year, the summit will be held under the slogan “Transforming for Inclusive Growth.”

Saudi Arabia has assigned six task-force teams to work on priority fields and a specialized action council to empower women in the fields of work.

Preparations are ongoing to host meetings of the business group, which is a platform for entrepreneurs to present their visions and ideas to leaders at the G20 summit.

The Kingdom will launch this two-day mega event with opening activities in Riyadh on January 15. It officially assumed presidency of the G20 in December 2019 and will preside it until its annual two-day summit, which is scheduled to take place in Riyadh on November 21, 2020.

The Business Group is the official platform for the business community at the G20. It acts as a representative of the private sector, representing the global business community in all member states and all economic sectors.

The group was formed in 2010, to be the first business community working group of the G20.

According to B20 Chair Yousef Abdullah al-Benyan, vice chairman and CEO of SABIC and a member of the Investment Committee, the business group is committed to promoting inclusiveness and working according to a deliberate approach.

He said this would help recommendations achieve a tangible impact on the future needs of various businesses, regardless of their size, whether they are within SMEs or startups, and without geographical boundaries.

The main themes in this year’s B20 meetings include digitization, energy, sustainability, climate, finance, infrastructure, trade and investment, integrity and compliance, and the future of work and education, Benyan explained.

He stressed that this represents a unique opportunity for the business community to share best practices in these areas that are crucial for growth.

“These themes will address priority areas and identify and implement potential solutions to achieve the goals. We can benefit from many examples of how to improve and make business more efficient,” he noted.



Saudi-British Air Connectivity Expands with New Virgin Airlines Route

The agreement was signed in the presence of Saudi Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al-Khateeb. (Photo: Turki Al-Aqili)
The agreement was signed in the presence of Saudi Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al-Khateeb. (Photo: Turki Al-Aqili)
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Saudi-British Air Connectivity Expands with New Virgin Airlines Route

The agreement was signed in the presence of Saudi Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al-Khateeb. (Photo: Turki Al-Aqili)
The agreement was signed in the presence of Saudi Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al-Khateeb. (Photo: Turki Al-Aqili)

Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom are set to launch a direct route connecting Riyadh and London, following the signing of a cooperation agreement between the Air Connectivity Program and Virgin Atlantic.

The agreement, which was signed on Monday in Riyadh in the presence of Saudi Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al-Khateeb, aims to enhance air connectivity between the two kingdoms, facilitating access to various cities in Saudi Arabia. The route will operate daily between London Heathrow Airport and King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh starting in March 2025, using Airbus A330 aircraft.

Virgin Atlantic’s entry into the Saudi market marks the tenth airline to collaborate with the Air Connectivity Program since the beginning of 2024.

In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, Majed Khan, the CEO of the Air Connectivity Program said that the agreement will help bring visitors to and from Riyadh and other areas of Saudi Arabia, such as Jeddah, Dammam, and Madinah as major cities, and then to the Red Sea, Jazan, and Al-Baha, supporting the national tourism strategy.

He further explained that Virgin Atlantic’s direct flights between London and Riyadh will support the growth of inbound international tourism from the UK and North America’s airline network.

As a member of the SkyTeam alliance, Virgin Atlantic will enhance air connectivity alongside Saudi Arabia’s national carrier, Saudia Airlines, between Riyadh, London, and other destinations within the network.

Virgin Atlantic CEO Shai Weiss told Asharq Al-Awsat that the Kingdom is experiencing rapid growth driven by Vision 2030, noting that he looks forward to introducing UK customers to Saudi Arabia’s rich culture, heritage, and commercial hub.

Weiss noted that the new services will offer great opportunities for connecting friends, relatives, and businesses, not only within the UK but also in the US, thanks to the partnership with Delta Airlines.

He continued that the agreement will boost the codeshare with its SkyTeam partner, Saudia, further expanding connectivity across the region and beyond while offering new benefits to frequent customers.

Weiss also highlighted the positive impact this step will have in attracting more tourists to Saudi Arabia, which is developing its tourism industry.

Virgin Atlantic, which has a fleet of 45 wide-body aircraft, announced last month the purchase of seven additional Airbus aircraft.

The Air Connectivity Program aims to boost tourism growth in the Kingdom by enhancing connections between Saudi Arabia and the world, through the development of current and potential air routes.