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.



Kuwait’s Emir Receives Prince Turki bin Mohammed

Emir of Kuwait receives Prince Turki bin Mohammed bin Fahd and his accompanying delegation (KUNA)
Emir of Kuwait receives Prince Turki bin Mohammed bin Fahd and his accompanying delegation (KUNA)
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Kuwait’s Emir Receives Prince Turki bin Mohammed

Emir of Kuwait receives Prince Turki bin Mohammed bin Fahd and his accompanying delegation (KUNA)
Emir of Kuwait receives Prince Turki bin Mohammed bin Fahd and his accompanying delegation (KUNA)

Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah received on Wednesday Saudi Minister of State and Member of the Cabinet Prince Turki bin Mohammed bin Fahd and his accompanying delegation at the Bayan Palace in Kuwait.

Prince Turki bin Mohammed conveyed to the Emir greetings from Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and from Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, according to Kuwait’s news agency, KUNA.

In response, the Kuwaiti Emir conveyed his greetings to King Salman and Prince Mohammed, wishing them good health and wellness.

During the meeting, both men reviewed the long-standing strong ties between the two countries and ways to further strengthen them.

The meeting was attended by Prince Sultan bin Saad bin Khalid, Saudi Ambassador to Kuwait, and Hamad bin Suleiman Al-Saleem, Director General of the Office of Prince Turki bin Mohammed bin Fahd. A number of senior officials of Kuwait were also present.