Experts Call on World Bank, IMF to Invest in Green Technologies

A group photo of participants at the Middle East Green Initiative Summit. (SPA)
A group photo of participants at the Middle East Green Initiative Summit. (SPA)
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Experts Call on World Bank, IMF to Invest in Green Technologies

A group photo of participants at the Middle East Green Initiative Summit. (SPA)
A group photo of participants at the Middle East Green Initiative Summit. (SPA)

The Middle East Green Initiative summit stressed the need to establish green sustainability, as participating financial experts unanimously agreed to enhance cooperation between the public and private sectors and enhance the role of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

CEO of BlackRock Larry Fink explained that the private sector faces the challenges of using sustainable financing to enable green transformation.

Fink stressed the need to enhance cooperation between the public and private sectors to establish net-zero carbon emissions.

He expects capital allocations to shift towards green climate strategies.

Fink sees climate change as massive potential for new opportunities, saying it is a business opportunity because it will require reinventing every segment of the industry.

"Getting to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 is going to require a revolution in the production of everything we produce and a revolution in everything we consume. The process of creating fuel, food, and construction materials, with all the needs that we have as humanity, it all has to be reinvented," Fink said.

He explained that it will require a "large amount of investment, a large amount of ingenuity and a large amount of innovation."

Fink pointed out that green technologies cost a lot, saying that organizations like the IMF and the World Bank "must play a critical role" in helping to ensure capital is invested in green climate technology in developing nations.

The CEO of HSBC Group, Noel Quinn, called for strengthening partnerships between the public and private sectors to facilitate green investments.

Quinn stressed the need to benefit from the "Middle East Green Initiative" recommendations in light of the expected commercial and industrial transformation during the next decade to become carbon neutral.

"This year alone, we have already helped our customers issue $170bn of green bonds with a broader range of structures and a greater variety of issuers than ever before. But the next phase of development will require more than just capital market activity," Quinn said.

He pointed out that the commercial banking industry needed "a fundamental re-engineering" to support corporate activity transitioning to net zero.

Quinn stressed that Europeans, the World Bank, and the IMF play an influential role amid the need to consolidate the concept of the transition towards green sustainability to enhance transparency and legislation so that the private sector achieves its role in the green economy and the transition to green sustainability.

In this context, BTG Pactual Senior Partner Andre Esteves affirmed devoting efforts to conserve the planet, pointing out that his country has the largest area of forests and is primarily concerned with the wildfires that burn the trees.

Esteves stressed the need to mobilize efforts to move to a cleaner and more sustainable planet, pointing out to the importance of preserving forests and the ecosystem.

He indicated that his company has a $3 billion funded project to purchase damaged areas and restore them. The project also aims to preserve commercial forests and tackle issues of wood products.

Esteves expected his country to benefit from the "Middle East Green Initiative" outputs in planting and preserving forests by local communities.



Saudi Crown Prince Receives Message on Bilateral Ties from President of Kazakhstan

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister. (SPA file)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister. (SPA file)
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Saudi Crown Prince Receives Message on Bilateral Ties from President of Kazakhstan

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister. (SPA file)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister. (SPA file)

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, received on Tuesday a written message from President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on bilateral relations between their two countries.

The message was received by Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah during a meeting with his Kazakh counterpart Yermek Kosherbayev in Riyadh.


Princes and Officials Take Oath Before Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and other officials are seen during the ceremony in Riyadh on Tuesday. (SPA)
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and other officials are seen during the ceremony in Riyadh on Tuesday. (SPA)
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Princes and Officials Take Oath Before Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and other officials are seen during the ceremony in Riyadh on Tuesday. (SPA)
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and other officials are seen during the ceremony in Riyadh on Tuesday. (SPA)

Princes and officials appointed by royal orders to their new positions took the oath of office before Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud in Riyadh on Tuesday.

They included Deputy Governor of Al-Baha Region Prince Fahd bin Saad bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki; Member of the Shura Council Prince Dr. Saad bin Saud bin Mohammed bin Abdulaziz; Deputy Governor of Madinah Region Prince Saud bin Nahar bin Saud; Deputy Governor of Northern Borders Region Prince Mohammed bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz; and Minister of Investment Fahd Al-Saif.

They swore to be faithful to their religion, then their King and country, not to reveal any of the state’s secrets, to preserve its interests and regulations, and to perform their duties with honesty, trustworthiness, and sincerity.


Saudi Arabia Reiterates Its Categorical Rejection of Israel’s ‘State Land’ Decision in West Bank

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chairs the Cabinet meeting in Riyadh. (SPA)
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chairs the Cabinet meeting in Riyadh. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia Reiterates Its Categorical Rejection of Israel’s ‘State Land’ Decision in West Bank

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chairs the Cabinet meeting in Riyadh. (SPA)
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chairs the Cabinet meeting in Riyadh. (SPA)

The Saudi government condemned on Tuesday Israel’s decision to West Bank lands as "state lands."

Reiterating its absolute rejection of these illegal measures, the Cabinet warned that they undermine peace efforts and violate the Palestinian people's inherent right to establish an independent, sovereign state within the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chaired the Cabinet session that was held in Riyadh.

The Cabinet congratulated citizens and Muslims on the advent of the holy month of Ramadan, expressing gratitude for the Kingdom's honor in caring for the two holy mosques and their visitors.

The Cabinet highlighted the success of the Hajj and Umrah seasons, noting that the Kingdom welcomed 19.5 million international pilgrims and Umrah performers in 2025, setting new records that reflect rapid progress toward the goals of Vision 2030 and the Pilgrim Experience Program.

The Cabinet described the Kingdom's Founding Day celebration on February 22 as an expression of pride in the Saudi state's nearly three-century history, underscoring the foundations of justice, unity, and development established by leaders and citizens throughout history to ensure the nation remains a global leader in all fields.

The Cabinet was briefed on recent talks between Saudi Arabia and various nations, which focused on strengthening bilateral and multilateral cooperation and boosting coordination to foster regional and international security, stability, and prosperity.

The session further reviewed the Kingdom's economic, cultural, and social activities, stressing the state's commitment to social solidarity and giving. This includes continued support for the sixth National Campaign for Charitable Work, set to begin on Friday.

The Cabinet commended the success of the third World Defense Show held in Riyadh under the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques' patronage, during which strategic partnerships, agreements, and memoranda of understanding were signed to localize military technologies and strengthen local supply chains in alignment with Vision 2030 objectives.