Jeddah Chamber of Commerce Creates Investment Opportunities in SMEs

The Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry signed a MoU with KAUST to create investment opportunities in the field of SMEs.
The Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry signed a MoU with KAUST to create investment opportunities in the field of SMEs.
TT

Jeddah Chamber of Commerce Creates Investment Opportunities in SMEs

The Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry signed a MoU with KAUST to create investment opportunities in the field of SMEs.
The Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry signed a MoU with KAUST to create investment opportunities in the field of SMEs.

The Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry signed on Monday a MoU with King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) to create investment opportunities in the field of SMEs, build the digital transformation strategy and develop artificial intelligence.

The KAUST delegation at the signing event was chaired by Vice President of Innovation and Economic Development at the university, Kevin Cullen.

Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Jeddah Chamber Mohammed bin Yousuf Naghi said the future is focused on investment in the knowledge-based economy in the Kingdom.

He noted that the Chamber is an active channel and a bridge to communicate with the private sector, highlighting the successful experiences of KAUST in entrepreneurship and emerging firms.

The chairman further added that there are four sectoral councils at the Chamber that share the university’s strategy.

They are the Councils of Industry, Education and Training, Tourism and Culture, and Urban Development.



World Bank Redirects Funds Towards Lebanon Emergency Aid

Flames rise from Israeli airstrikes in Dahiyeh, Beirut, Lebanon, Friday, Oct. 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
Flames rise from Israeli airstrikes in Dahiyeh, Beirut, Lebanon, Friday, Oct. 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
TT

World Bank Redirects Funds Towards Lebanon Emergency Aid

Flames rise from Israeli airstrikes in Dahiyeh, Beirut, Lebanon, Friday, Oct. 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
Flames rise from Israeli airstrikes in Dahiyeh, Beirut, Lebanon, Friday, Oct. 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

The World Bank announced on Thursday that it was redirecting funds originally earmarked for development programs in Lebanon towards emergency aid for people displaced by Israeli bombardment of the country.

"The World Bank is activating emergency response plans to be able to repurpose resources in the portfolio to respond to the urgent needs of people in Lebanon," said a statement from the US-based multilateral institution.

The multilateral institution currently has $1.5 billion in funding for programs in Lebanon. Part of this amount will be redirected.

Since September 23, more than 1,000 people have been killed in an Israeli air-and-ground campaign on Lebanon that has targeted armed group Hezbollah in the south and east of the country, with strikes expanding to include the capital Beirut.

Thousands have been displaced since the bombing began, and the funds would be used to provide aid to those populations, the World Bank said.

"This would include emergency support to displaced people that could be deployed through a digital platform the World Bank helped put in place during the Covid epidemic," the statement said.