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.



King of Bahrain Issues Royal Decree Pardoning 457 Prisoners

File photo: Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa attends a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister in the capital Manama, on May 31, 2022. (Russian Foreign Ministry/AFP)
File photo: Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa attends a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister in the capital Manama, on May 31, 2022. (Russian Foreign Ministry/AFP)
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King of Bahrain Issues Royal Decree Pardoning 457 Prisoners

File photo: Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa attends a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister in the capital Manama, on May 31, 2022. (Russian Foreign Ministry/AFP)
File photo: Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa attends a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister in the capital Manama, on May 31, 2022. (Russian Foreign Ministry/AFP)

Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa pardoned 457 prisoners Wednesday night to mark his 25th anniversary as the nation's ruler.
Bahrain news agency said: “The royal pardon reflects HM the King’s dedication to fostering social cohesion and upholding the principles of justice and the rule of law. It also aims to balance legal accountability with the humanitarian and social circumstances of the inmates, providing them with an opportunity to reintegrate into society. This approach aligns with Bahrain’s commitment to human rights and its prominent standing within the region.”
In April, King Hamad pardoned 1,584 prisoners, including prisoners convicted of triggering chaos.