Saudi Arabia Signs Coordination Agreement to Boost Exports, Foreign Trade

SEDA and GAFT sign the strategic coordination agreement on Tuesday (Photo: Asharq Al-Awsat).
SEDA and GAFT sign the strategic coordination agreement on Tuesday (Photo: Asharq Al-Awsat).
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Saudi Arabia Signs Coordination Agreement to Boost Exports, Foreign Trade

SEDA and GAFT sign the strategic coordination agreement on Tuesday (Photo: Asharq Al-Awsat).
SEDA and GAFT sign the strategic coordination agreement on Tuesday (Photo: Asharq Al-Awsat).

The Saudi Export Development Authority (SEDA) signed a memorandum of understanding with the Saudi General Authority for Foreign Trade (GAFT), with the aim of coordinating cooperation and enhancing communication between the two parties at the strategic and executive levels, and in support of achieving the strategic objectives of the Made in Saudi program.

Signed by the Secretary-General of SEDA, Faisal Al-Bedah, and GAFT Governor, Abdul Rahman bin Ahmed Al-Harbi, the MoU aims to provide multiple aspects of cooperation between the two bodies, in support of the Made in Saudi Arabia program, to achieve diversity in foreign trade, enhance the Kingdom’s commercial gains in international organizations, in addition to enabling access to the target markets for non-oil exports.

The Made in Saudi program seeks to increase domestic consumption and market share of local goods and services, support Saudi non-oil exports in priority export markets, and contribute to enhancing the attractiveness of the Saudi industrial sector for local and foreign investment.

Meanwhile, the CEO of the Saudi Export-Import Bank, Eng. Saad Alkhalb, held a joint open meeting on Tuesday with the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Jeddah Chamber, Mohammed Yousuf Naghi, and a number of businessmen in the Makkah region.

The meeting focused on introducing products, services, financing and credit opportunities dedicated to developing the export of Saudi non-oil products and strengthening its presence in global markets.

The meeting comes after the bank approved financing requests worth 8.95 billion riyals (USD 2.3 billion) for Saudi products and services that were exported to more than 50 countries around the world.

Approvals for financing requests covered vital sectors such as plastics, pharmaceuticals, petrochemicals and other products, such as paper, rubber, food products, as well as construction and agricultural materials.



New KSrelief Aid Convoy Crosses Rafah to Deliver Food Baskets to Gaza

The latest KSrelief convoy was carrying food baskets for the people of Gaza. (SPA)
The latest KSrelief convoy was carrying food baskets for the people of Gaza. (SPA)
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New KSrelief Aid Convoy Crosses Rafah to Deliver Food Baskets to Gaza

The latest KSrelief convoy was carrying food baskets for the people of Gaza. (SPA)
The latest KSrelief convoy was carrying food baskets for the people of Gaza. (SPA)

A new humanitarian aid convoy from the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) crossed the Rafah border into Gaza on Friday with essential food baskets for Palestinians affected by the ongoing crisis, as part of the Saudi fundraising campaign to aid the Palestinian people.

The Saudi Center for Culture and Heritage, KSrelief’s implementing partner, has established several new camps in Al-Qarara area of southern Gaza and Al-Mawasi area of Khan Younis in preparation for winter.

Through these efforts, KSrelief aims to alleviate the severe suffering caused by the dire living conditions in Gaza, ensuring that vital food and shelter reach those in the most vulnerable areas.


Joint Military 'Gulf Shield Exercise 2026' Concludes in Saudi Arabia

Flags of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries at an event (AFP)
Flags of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries at an event (AFP)
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Joint Military 'Gulf Shield Exercise 2026' Concludes in Saudi Arabia

Flags of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries at an event (AFP)
Flags of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries at an event (AFP)

The joint military "Gulf Shield Exercise 2026" concluded in Saudi Arabia on Friday, with the participation of the air forces and air-defense forces of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, alongside the GCC Unified Military Command, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The exercise was conducted as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen regional defense cooperation and enhance combat readiness.

Its maneuvers included advanced operational scenarios featuring simulations of multidimensional air and missile threats, joint air maneuvers, and integrated field exercises, with a focus on improving operational integration, strengthening command-and-control systems, and enhancing operational efficiency within a joint operational environment.
The exercise seeks to develop qualitative military capabilities, bolster combat readiness to confront current, emerging, and future threats, and entrench the concepts of collective defense and flexible deterrence, thereby contributing to the region's security and stability.

Gulf Shield Exercise 2026 is regarded as one of the key pillars of military cooperation among GCC countries, reflecting ongoing efforts to enhance defense integration and strengthen the capacity to respond to regional and international challenges.

At the conclusion of the exercise, the participating forces carried out a joint aerial display that demonstrated a high level of harmony and operational integration, as well as their ability to plan and execute in accordance with unified operational concepts and advanced professional standards.


Saudi Arabia Expresses Deep Regret over Damage to Qatari Embassy in Kyiv

 Smoke rises in the city after Russian drone and missile strikes, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine January 9, 2026. (Reuters)
Smoke rises in the city after Russian drone and missile strikes, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine January 9, 2026. (Reuters)
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Saudi Arabia Expresses Deep Regret over Damage to Qatari Embassy in Kyiv

 Smoke rises in the city after Russian drone and missile strikes, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine January 9, 2026. (Reuters)
Smoke rises in the city after Russian drone and missile strikes, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine January 9, 2026. (Reuters)

The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed on Saturday the Kingdom’s deep regret over the damage sustained by the Qatari Embassy in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, as a result of recent shelling.

The ministry stressed the need to protect diplomatic missions and their personnel in line with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

The ministry reiterated the Kingdom's support for all diplomatic efforts aimed at resolving the Russian-Ukrainian crisis through peaceful means.