Riyadh Forum Brings Financial Entities, SMEs Together

Biban Forum in Riyadh (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Biban Forum in Riyadh (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Riyadh Forum Brings Financial Entities, SMEs Together

Biban Forum in Riyadh (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Biban Forum in Riyadh (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Biban Forum in Riyadh succeeded in mobilizing 36 finance entities amid the presence of business incubators and the participation of 120 companies operating in the framework of stimulating the development of the SME sector.

Biban aims to encourage new enterprises and entrepreneurs to launch projects and establish themselves in the market by examining the tools and ideas needed to find and attract investors.

It is organized in collaboration with Monshaat, the Kingdom’s Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) General Authority, which aims to support and develop the sector.

Biban Forum concluded on Sunday with the participation of four incubators and business accelerators that provide services to support the establishment and development of Saudi entrepreneurial projects.

They also offer intensive programs to accelerate the growth and expansion of entrepreneurial and emerging companies during a period ranging between three to six months by providing work spaces and services.

During the forum, 36 financing agencies from the public and private sectors provided services to visitors with the aim of diversifying financial support for small and medium enterprises and setting policies and standards for financing projects that are classified as SME.

They also want to activate the role of banks and lenders to motivate them into playing a bigger and more effective role in financing and investing in SMEs.

The finance companies participating in the indirect lending initiative provided their services by offering low-cost loans to finance companies licensed by the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency (SAMA).

SAMA provides financing solutions and loans with competitive advantages for small and medium enterprises and entrepreneurs.

Meanwhile, 120 Saudi and Gulf companies presented their experiences in entrepreneurship aiming to create a stimulating environment for the forum’s visitors and project owners and spread the culture of entrepreneurship and innovation while highlighting the achievements of Saudi and Gulf business leaders.

The startups competed among themselves to attract the largest number of visitors to showcase their experiences.

One Saudi startup reviewed its experiences in the field of employment indicating that it started eight months ago collecting data on those interested in part time and seasonal jobs, above the age of 17. The company wants to develop the applicant's skills, prepare their early entrance to the market, and reduce operational burdens of companies.

Over 15,000 subscribers and more than 300 companies joined the company’s site offering job opportunities available to them.



Gold, Silver Hit Records After US Probe Targets Fed

FILE - An employee of Pro Aurum gold house lifts 1 Kg silver bars of 999.9 purity besides 1 Kg gold bars in the safe deposit boxes room in Munich, Germany, Friday, April 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader, File)
FILE - An employee of Pro Aurum gold house lifts 1 Kg silver bars of 999.9 purity besides 1 Kg gold bars in the safe deposit boxes room in Munich, Germany, Friday, April 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader, File)
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Gold, Silver Hit Records After US Probe Targets Fed

FILE - An employee of Pro Aurum gold house lifts 1 Kg silver bars of 999.9 purity besides 1 Kg gold bars in the safe deposit boxes room in Munich, Germany, Friday, April 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader, File)
FILE - An employee of Pro Aurum gold house lifts 1 Kg silver bars of 999.9 purity besides 1 Kg gold bars in the safe deposit boxes room in Munich, Germany, Friday, April 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader, File)

Gold and silver surged to record highs after the US Justice Department targeted the Federal Reserve in an investigation, fueling fears over the bank's independence and raising demand for safe haven assets.

Gold vaulted toward $4,600 an ounce and silver approached $85 for the first time after Fed chair Jerome Powell warned a potential criminal indictment is part of President Donald Trump's pressure campaign on monetary policy decisions.


Saudi Arabia, Japan Sign Memorandum on Peaceful Use of Space

The Saudi Space Agency signed a memorandum of cooperation with the Japanese government on the peaceful use of outer space. (SPA)
The Saudi Space Agency signed a memorandum of cooperation with the Japanese government on the peaceful use of outer space. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia, Japan Sign Memorandum on Peaceful Use of Space

The Saudi Space Agency signed a memorandum of cooperation with the Japanese government on the peaceful use of outer space. (SPA)
The Saudi Space Agency signed a memorandum of cooperation with the Japanese government on the peaceful use of outer space. (SPA)

The Saudi Space Agency signed a memorandum of cooperation with the Japanese government on the peaceful use of outer space on the sidelines of the Saudi-Japan Ministerial Investment Forum.

The memorandum was signed with Japan’s Cabinet Office, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.

Minister of Communications and Information Technology and Chairman of the Board of the Saudi Space Agency Abdullah Alswaha represented the agency during the signing.

The move underscores the Kingdom’s commitment to enhancing international cooperation in peaceful space activities and supporting strategic partnerships in the sector. It aims to establish a framework for cooperation in space science and technology, capacity building, and the exchange of expertise, contributing to the development of the space sector and promoting the peaceful uses of outer space.

The Saudi Space Agency affirmed that the agreement builds on the Kingdom’s ongoing efforts to strengthen international partnerships in the space sector and to play an active role in shaping a global space ecosystem that supports research and innovation and serves humanity.


Saudi-Canadian Business Forum Explores Opportunities to Strengthen Investment

The Saudi-Canadian Business and Investment Forum was held on Sunday. (SPA)
The Saudi-Canadian Business and Investment Forum was held on Sunday. (SPA)
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Saudi-Canadian Business Forum Explores Opportunities to Strengthen Investment

The Saudi-Canadian Business and Investment Forum was held on Sunday. (SPA)
The Saudi-Canadian Business and Investment Forum was held on Sunday. (SPA)

The Saudi-Canadian Business and Investment Forum was held on Sunday in Riyadh under the “Invest Saudi” umbrella, with the participation of Minister of Investment Eng. Khalid Al-Falih, Canadian Minister of International Trade Maninder Sidhu, and several senior officials and representatives from major companies in both countries.

The forum reviewed prospects for investment partnerships across a number of key sectors, including digital transformation, infrastructure, defense, and other areas of mutual interest, with a focus on strengthening cooperation and increasing investment flows between Saudi and Canadian companies, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Six memoranda of understanding were signed during the forum in the fields of communications, information technology, cybersecurity, education, and manufacturing. In addition, private-sector workshops were held to facilitate dialogue between investors, exchange expertise, and explore opportunities for joint ventures and long-term cooperation.