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Saudi Arabia Boosts Int’l Economy Protection, Supports Strategic Partnerships

Minister of Economy and Planning Faisal Bin Fadel Al-Ibrahim, Asharq Al-Awsat
Minister of Economy and Planning Faisal Bin Fadel Al-Ibrahim, Asharq Al-Awsat
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Saudi Arabia Boosts Int’l Economy Protection, Supports Strategic Partnerships

Minister of Economy and Planning Faisal Bin Fadel Al-Ibrahim, Asharq Al-Awsat
Minister of Economy and Planning Faisal Bin Fadel Al-Ibrahim, Asharq Al-Awsat

Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Economy and Planning Faisal al-Ibrahim affirmed on Saturday that the Kingdom is one of the world’s most important economic powers and is actively contributing to sustainable growth and protecting the global economy.

The Kingdom’s role, according to al-Ibrahim, is aiding humanity in confronting climate change and empowering people to shape promising futures.

“The Kingdom continues its pioneering role in expanding international cooperation and supporting strategic partnerships in a way that increases communication and activates the exchange of ideas and experiences because of its importance in drawing up policies that aim to develop effective solutions to the challenges facing the world,” said al-Ibrahim.

“These have a direct impact on achieving the Kingdom’s goals represented in Vision 2030 and enhancing its competitive capabilities,” he added in a statement on the occasion of the Kingdom’s participation in the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Italy.

Also, al-Ibrahim addressed the Economy and Planning Ministry’s role in the work of the Development Working Group under the Italian Presidency.

He pointed out that the ministry had participated in negotiations and conducted dialogue sessions as a member of the Troika and completed work on the recommendations and initiatives emanating from the Kingdom’s presidency in 2020.

The outputs of the Development Working Group focused on the potential of innovative financing instruments such as blended finance mechanisms, investment guarantees, sustainable development goals, green bonds, and support for the implementation of integrated national finance frameworks (INFFs).

Al-Ibrahim noted that the Group’s work highlighted the importance of the financial track to drive sustainable development financing, based on what was presented under the presidency of the Kingdom and previous presidencies.

The minister indicated that this year, the Group discussed communication between urban and rural areas and the role of intermediate cities as key actors for sustainable development and the localization of sustainable development goals.

The minister added that the Group worked to assess the roles of these actors in responding to the pandemic.

Additionally, the Group addressed present weaknesses to ensure a more sustainable and inclusive recovery.

Al-Ibrahim also noted that the Group paid attention to the role of cities, strengthening rural-urban linkages, and enabling rural families to diversify their sources of income.

It is noteworthy that the minister participated in a joint ministerial meeting of foreign and development ministers within the Italian presidency of G20.

The meeting focused on sustainable development goals, strengthening efforts to achieve global food security, obtaining the necessary political support to take concrete measures to confront the food crises arising from the coronavirus pandemic, and the measures that the Group will take to support trade and investment in the world.

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FAO Aims for Key Outcomes at COP16 in Saudi Arabia

Preparations in the Saudi capital ahead of hosting the COP16 conference on combating desertification (from the “COP16” page on the X platform)
Preparations in the Saudi capital ahead of hosting the COP16 conference on combating desertification (from the “COP16” page on the X platform)
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FAO Aims for Key Outcomes at COP16 in Saudi Arabia

Preparations in the Saudi capital ahead of hosting the COP16 conference on combating desertification (from the “COP16” page on the X platform)
Preparations in the Saudi capital ahead of hosting the COP16 conference on combating desertification (from the “COP16” page on the X platform)

Dr. Abdul Hakim Elwaer, Assistant Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), stated that the organization will take an active role at COP16, the UN conference on combating desertification, scheduled to take place in Saudi Arabia in early December.

In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, he expressed confidence that the conference—the first of its kind in the Middle East—would produce significant outcomes.

Elwaer’s comments came during a roundtable organized by FAO’s regional office in Cairo, attended by a select group of media representatives. The session focused on FAO’s participation in the upcoming conference and the importance of the Rio Trio —the integrated framework of the three major UN conventions addressing climate change, biodiversity conservation, and desertification.

Fida Haddad, FAO’s Program Officer for Land Rehabilitation and Climate Change, highlighted the interconnectedness of the three conventions and noted that COP16 would place a strong emphasis on land and water rehabilitation and their sustainable management.

Haddad pointed out that approximately 90% of the Middle East is affected by arid conditions. Despite this, local communities and Arab governments have made notable progress in addressing desertification and drought. She also announced that, for the first time, FAO has successfully placed food systems on the COP16 agenda, enabling discussions on how land rehabilitation can enhance food supply chains and systems.

Elwaer underscored FAO’s central role in achieving the second Sustainable Development Goal (SDG): eradicating hunger. He emphasized that FAO actively engages in the UN conventions on climate change, biodiversity, and desertification, which collectively contribute to this mission.

FAO’s focus, according to Elwaer, is on transforming food and agricultural systems to become more inclusive, efficient, and sustainable, aiming for better production, nutrition, and livelihoods. He highlighted the organization’s success in integrating these priorities into the agendas of the three conventions and collaborating with host countries on joint initiatives.

He further noted that Saudi Arabia’s hosting of COP16 is particularly significant for the region, which faces pressing challenges such as water scarcity, desertification, and food insecurity. The conference presents an opportunity for Middle Eastern nations to highlight these issues, explore solutions, and ensure their inclusion in global environmental discussions, not only at this event but in future COP sessions, he underlined.

Elwaer emphasized the growing global attention on desertification, as it is now impacting regions previously unaffected, such as southern Europe and parts of Latin America. These areas are witnessing alarming declines in arable land and forests, prompting them to seek lessons from the Arab world, which has developed resilience strategies to combat desertification over centuries.

FAO will have a strong presence at COP16, with two dedicated pavilions—one in the Blue Zone for official delegations and another in the Green Zone to engage civil society and conference participants, he said.

He added that in collaboration with Saudi Arabia and the UN, FAO will lead coordination on Food Day and Governance Day, scheduled for December 5 and 6, respectively. The organization will also participate in other specialized sessions throughout the conference.