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.



GCC Expresses Full Support to Egypt, Rejects Israel’s Provocative Statements 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a news conference in Jerusalem, 02 September 2024. (EPA)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a news conference in Jerusalem, 02 September 2024. (EPA)
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GCC Expresses Full Support to Egypt, Rejects Israel’s Provocative Statements 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a news conference in Jerusalem, 02 September 2024. (EPA)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a news conference in Jerusalem, 02 September 2024. (EPA)

Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi expressed on Tuesday the GCC's complete solidarity with Egypt in rejecting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s “provocative” statements about the Philadelphi Corridor.

“Israel's statements aim to distort Egypt's image and undermine its significant and leading role in the region, as well as its unambiguous and evident efforts in mediating to resolve the crisis in the Gaza Strip,” said Albudaiwi.

He stressed that Egypt “plays a pivotal role in boosting regional and international stability through its ongoing mediation efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza and alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people since the eruption of the crisis.”

He stressed the GCC's “total rejection of such irresponsible statements, which do not serve peace in the region but rather contribute to increasing tension and exacerbating the situation.”

He underlined the need for Israel to adhere to international principles and signed agreements, as well as to cease its aggressive actions in Gaza and all Palestinian areas.

Albudaiwi reiterated the GCC’s unwavering support to Egypt “in its diligent efforts to promote security and stability in the region and to work together to achieve the noble objectives that unite Arab and Islamic countries against common challenges.”

Netanyahu on Monday rejected calls to soften his demand to keep troops in the southern Gazan border area as the price for a ceasefire deal, saying it was vital for Israel to control a key lifeline for Hamas.

The issue of the Philadelphi Corridor, on the southern edge of the Gaza Strip bordering Egypt, has been a major sticking point in efforts to secure a deal to halt the fighting in Gaza and return Israeli hostages held by Hamas.

Hamas has rejected any Israeli presence, while Netanyahu has insisted that Israel will not abandon the corridor, where Israeli troops have uncovered dozens of tunnels they say have been used to smuggle weapons and ammunition into Gaza.