Expert: Gulf Countries Have Opportunities to Lead Economic Change

Jarmo Kotilaine, Chief Economic Advisor of the Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB) and Vice President of the Bahraini Tamkeen Fund
Jarmo Kotilaine, Chief Economic Advisor of the Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB) and Vice President of the Bahraini Tamkeen Fund
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Expert: Gulf Countries Have Opportunities to Lead Economic Change

Jarmo Kotilaine, Chief Economic Advisor of the Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB) and Vice President of the Bahraini Tamkeen Fund
Jarmo Kotilaine, Chief Economic Advisor of the Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB) and Vice President of the Bahraini Tamkeen Fund

Jarmo Kotilaine, Chief Economic Advisor of the Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB) and Vice President of the Bahraini Tamkeen Fund, said that Gulf countries, led by Saudi Arabia, have been able to confront the coronavirus pandemic and turn it into a new opportunity to lead economic change through innovation and solutions for digitization and governance.

More projects are being implemented on the basis of public-private partnerships, and services are being increasingly assigned to the private sector. Fiscal consolidation will lead to the emergence of smaller and more efficient public sectors, and the end result will be more flexible economies supported by productivity, Kotilaine told Asharq Al-Awsat.

He said Saudi Arabia has shown exceptional resilience during the epidemic thanks to its strong development vision, in addition to the large investments, in parallel with building capabilities for the future.

Saudi Arabia has also shown agility in policy innovation by controlling budgets and proactively developing new sources of capital for investments,” Kotilaine emphasized, adding that the Kingdom is in a stronger position to push growth forward than it was before the epidemic.

The senior economic advisor, who recently published a book on the Gulf economy and the needed reforms titled “Experiences of Resilience,” explained that Gulf economies were well prepared to deal with the challenge of the pandemic, partly due to the previous experience with the MERS, in addition to the strong healthcare infrastructure and high levels of global digital connectivity.

He stressed that openness was still very important to achieve prosperity in the future, with the need to develop the region’s advantage as an international center for trade, along with the importance of attracting talent and capital.



King Abdulaziz International Airport Sees Inauguration of 70 E-Gates

The new system significantly boosts the airport’s capacity, enabling it to serve up to 175,000 travelers per day - SPA
The new system significantly boosts the airport’s capacity, enabling it to serve up to 175,000 travelers per day - SPA
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King Abdulaziz International Airport Sees Inauguration of 70 E-Gates

The new system significantly boosts the airport’s capacity, enabling it to serve up to 175,000 travelers per day - SPA
The new system significantly boosts the airport’s capacity, enabling it to serve up to 175,000 travelers per day - SPA

Deputy Governor of Makkah Region, Prince Saud bin Mishaal bin Abdulaziz, inaugurated on Tuesday the new e-gates system at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah.

The system includes 70 e-gates designed to enhance travel efficiency by automating check-in and departure procedures, providing a smoother and more convenient airport experience.
According to SPA, the initiative leverages modern technologies and artificial intelligence to facilitate faster and more secure passenger processing.

The e-gates are distributed across Terminal No. 1 and the Executive Office facilities, each capable of handling up to 2,500 passengers. This system significantly boosts the airport’s capacity, enabling it to serve up to 175,000 travelers per day.
King Abdulaziz International Airport is the third in Saudi Arabia to implement the e-gate system, following its successful deployment at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and Neom Bay Airport.

The expansion of this advanced system aligns with the Kingdom’s commitment to enhancing airport efficiency, passenger convenience, and technological innovation in line with Vision 2030.