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.



Foreign Ministers of UAE, Israel Discuss Gaza Ceasefire

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan received Israel’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Gideon Saar in Abu Dhabi. (WAM)
Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan received Israel’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Gideon Saar in Abu Dhabi. (WAM)
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Foreign Ministers of UAE, Israel Discuss Gaza Ceasefire

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan received Israel’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Gideon Saar in Abu Dhabi. (WAM)
Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan received Israel’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Gideon Saar in Abu Dhabi. (WAM)

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, received Gideon Saar, Israel’s Minister of Foreign Affairs in Abu Dhabi where the talks focused on bilateral relations between the two countries, WAM news agency said on Tuesday.
Discussions also addressed the latest developments in the region, particularly the escalating humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, and the regional and international efforts aimed at achieving a sustainable ceasefire.
Sheikh Abdullah highlighted the urgent importance of advancing a serious political horizon to resume negotiations for achieving a comprehensive peace based on the two-state solution, adding that this would contribute to establishing stability, achieving sustainable security in the region, and ending the escalating violence.
He emphasized the need for concerted efforts to reach a permanent ceasefire and prevent the expansion of conflict in the region, noting that the priority is to end tension and violence, protect civilian lives, and make every effort to facilitate the flow of urgent humanitarian aid, added WAM.
Sheikh Abdullah stressed that the Middle East is experiencing unprecedented tension and instability, requiring enhanced collective international efforts to end extremism, tension, and escalating violence while adopting a path of peace, prosperity, and development for the benefit of its people.
He reiterated the UAE's support for the mediation efforts of Qatar, Egypt, and the United States to broker a prisoner exchange agreement that could lead to a permanent ceasefire, the release of hostages, and the safe and sustainable delivery of adequate humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza.
He underlined that building peace in the region is the key to establishing lasting stability, sustainable security, and fulfilling the aspirations of its people for comprehensive development and a dignified life.
Sheikh Abdullah reaffirmed the UAE’s unwavering commitment to supporting the Palestinian people and their right to self-determination, highlighting the nation's longstanding solidarity with Palestinians over the decades.