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Saudi Arabia, Kyrgyzstan Sign Agreement to Invest in Renewable Energy

Participants at the Saudi-Kyrgyz Business Forum in Riyadh. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Participants at the Saudi-Kyrgyz Business Forum in Riyadh. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia, Kyrgyzstan Sign Agreement to Invest in Renewable Energy

Participants at the Saudi-Kyrgyz Business Forum in Riyadh. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Participants at the Saudi-Kyrgyz Business Forum in Riyadh. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

A high-level Kyrgyz delegation discussed in Riyadh on Sunday means of bolstering ties with Saudi Arabia.

Both sides signed five agreements that will increase trade exchange and launch joint investments in the energy, renewable energy, food and electronic industries, agriculture, transport, culture, sports and tourism sectors.

First Deputy Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan Arzybek Kozhoshev underscored the importance of providing an investment environment that attracts foreign investors, including Saudi partners, and boosting mutual trade as a top priority of his country’s economic policy.

He revealed that 50 Kyrgyz companies from various sectors are taking part in the Saudi-Kyrgyz Business Forum, which kicked off on Sunday.

Participants aim to establish and develop ties with Saudi companies, Kozhoshev said, stressing that Kyrgyzstan hopes to attract major Saudi companies to invest in the fields of agriculture, renewable energy, science, education, tourism, telecommunications, culture and halal industries.

He underlined his country’s economic capabilities, mainly in the tourism sector, noting that Saudi nationals can visit Kyrgyzstan without a visa for a period of up to 60 days. He said that around 7,000 Saudis visited Kyrgyzstan in 2019.

Nursultan Oronbayev, General Adviser to the Kyrgyz Minister of Trade, told Asharq Al-Awsat that his country looks forward to expanding its cooperation strategy with the Kingdom and targets increased investment and trade exchange in several fields.

He said both sides agreed to open direct flights between Riyadh and Bishkek, while remarking that the coronavirus pandemic has significantly affected economic growth.

He added however, that his country is currently recovering from the health crisis and economic growth has so far exceeded five percent.

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FAO Aims for Key Outcomes at COP16 in Saudi Arabia

Preparations in the Saudi capital ahead of hosting the COP16 conference on combating desertification (from the “COP16” page on the X platform)
Preparations in the Saudi capital ahead of hosting the COP16 conference on combating desertification (from the “COP16” page on the X platform)
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FAO Aims for Key Outcomes at COP16 in Saudi Arabia

Preparations in the Saudi capital ahead of hosting the COP16 conference on combating desertification (from the “COP16” page on the X platform)
Preparations in the Saudi capital ahead of hosting the COP16 conference on combating desertification (from the “COP16” page on the X platform)

Dr. Abdul Hakim Elwaer, Assistant Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), stated that the organization will take an active role at COP16, the UN conference on combating desertification, scheduled to take place in Saudi Arabia in early December.

In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, he expressed confidence that the conference—the first of its kind in the Middle East—would produce significant outcomes.

Elwaer’s comments came during a roundtable organized by FAO’s regional office in Cairo, attended by a select group of media representatives. The session focused on FAO’s participation in the upcoming conference and the importance of the Rio Trio —the integrated framework of the three major UN conventions addressing climate change, biodiversity conservation, and desertification.

Fida Haddad, FAO’s Program Officer for Land Rehabilitation and Climate Change, highlighted the interconnectedness of the three conventions and noted that COP16 would place a strong emphasis on land and water rehabilitation and their sustainable management.

Haddad pointed out that approximately 90% of the Middle East is affected by arid conditions. Despite this, local communities and Arab governments have made notable progress in addressing desertification and drought. She also announced that, for the first time, FAO has successfully placed food systems on the COP16 agenda, enabling discussions on how land rehabilitation can enhance food supply chains and systems.

Elwaer underscored FAO’s central role in achieving the second Sustainable Development Goal (SDG): eradicating hunger. He emphasized that FAO actively engages in the UN conventions on climate change, biodiversity, and desertification, which collectively contribute to this mission.

FAO’s focus, according to Elwaer, is on transforming food and agricultural systems to become more inclusive, efficient, and sustainable, aiming for better production, nutrition, and livelihoods. He highlighted the organization’s success in integrating these priorities into the agendas of the three conventions and collaborating with host countries on joint initiatives.

He further noted that Saudi Arabia’s hosting of COP16 is particularly significant for the region, which faces pressing challenges such as water scarcity, desertification, and food insecurity. The conference presents an opportunity for Middle Eastern nations to highlight these issues, explore solutions, and ensure their inclusion in global environmental discussions, not only at this event but in future COP sessions, he underlined.

Elwaer emphasized the growing global attention on desertification, as it is now impacting regions previously unaffected, such as southern Europe and parts of Latin America. These areas are witnessing alarming declines in arable land and forests, prompting them to seek lessons from the Arab world, which has developed resilience strategies to combat desertification over centuries.

FAO will have a strong presence at COP16, with two dedicated pavilions—one in the Blue Zone for official delegations and another in the Green Zone to engage civil society and conference participants, he said.

He added that in collaboration with Saudi Arabia and the UN, FAO will lead coordination on Food Day and Governance Day, scheduled for December 5 and 6, respectively. The organization will also participate in other specialized sessions throughout the conference.