Saudi Arabia Calls for Adoption of Sustainable Global Aviation

Saudi Minister of Transport and Logistics Services Saleh Al-Jasser speaks at the Future of Aviation conference on Tuesday. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Minister of Transport and Logistics Services Saleh Al-Jasser speaks at the Future of Aviation conference on Tuesday. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia Calls for Adoption of Sustainable Global Aviation

Saudi Minister of Transport and Logistics Services Saleh Al-Jasser speaks at the Future of Aviation conference on Tuesday. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Minister of Transport and Logistics Services Saleh Al-Jasser speaks at the Future of Aviation conference on Tuesday. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Minister of Transport and Logistics Services Saleh Al-Jasser announced that the Kingdom would be hosting the Future of Aviation conference every two years, revealing efforts to find new partners and forge major aviation agreements.

Speaking during the conference on Tuesday, Al-Jasser said Saudi Arabia is “paving the way to establish a clear vision for the future of international aviation, consolidate travelers’ confidence, address challenges, and become a leader in innovation by building sustainable global aviation and achieving customers’ well-being.”

The Future of Aviation conference, which is organized by the General Authority of Civil Aviation in Riyadh, saw on Tuesday a dialogue session on women’s role in the aviation and space industry.

The participants discussed efforts to empower women and encourage their participation in the sector, as well as promoting their leadership and innovation.

Eng. Mishaal Ashemimry, the first Saudi woman in the field of aircraft, spacecraft and missile engineering, emphasized that the Kingdom attaches great importance to the participation of women in the aviation sector. She added that women are encouraged to enter this industry and actively contribute to its different fields.

Dr. Shefali Juneja, India’s representative to the International Aviation Organization (ICAO), stressed the need to improve the perception of women’s participation in the aviation sector, noting that women “have made their mark and achieved great successes.”

Another session on Tuesday tacked sustainability in the aviation system, with the speakers underlining the importance of finding environment-friendly solutions for the supply chains.

They also pointed to the need to focus on the issues of cost, feasibility and practical application of solutions.

The Future of Aviation conference is being attended by an elite of public and business sector leaders, executives and organizers from around the world, with the aim of creating a mechanism for the development of international air travel and offering future solutions to the difficulties facing the industry in the post-pandemic era.

During an open session also held on Tuesday, experts discussed the future of the aviation sector, which they said revolved around people, investments, innovations and infrastructure.

They stressed that digital innovations would accelerate and drive the sector’s recovery efforts, noting that smarter airports and the elimination of sequential procedures would further boost the travel interface system.



Gold Rises on Dip-buying, Focus on US-China Trade Updates

FILE PHOTO: Gold bars are stacked in the safe deposit boxes room of the Pro Aurum gold house in Munich, Germany, January 10, 2025. REUTERS/Angelika Warmuth//File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Gold bars are stacked in the safe deposit boxes room of the Pro Aurum gold house in Munich, Germany, January 10, 2025. REUTERS/Angelika Warmuth//File Photo
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Gold Rises on Dip-buying, Focus on US-China Trade Updates

FILE PHOTO: Gold bars are stacked in the safe deposit boxes room of the Pro Aurum gold house in Munich, Germany, January 10, 2025. REUTERS/Angelika Warmuth//File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Gold bars are stacked in the safe deposit boxes room of the Pro Aurum gold house in Munich, Germany, January 10, 2025. REUTERS/Angelika Warmuth//File Photo

Gold prices rebounded on Thursday as investors bought bullion following a sharp decline in the previous session, while focus still remained on US-China trade tensions.
Spot gold was up 1.6% to $3,340.79 an ounce, as of 0907 GMT, Reuters reported. Bullion lost over 3% on Wednesday, in its worst daily performance since late November.
US gold futures gained 1.8% to $3,352.10.
"Gold's pullback earlier has cleared some of the froth from its latest surge. That in turn attracted some buy-the-dip action, amid still-persistent global trade war fears," said Han Tan, Exinity Group's chief market analyst.
"Given the still-evident tailwinds for this precious metal, gold bugs could ultimately conquer the $3,500 level with conviction."
Non-yielding bullion, traditionally seen as a hedge against global instability, has risen over 27% so far this year.
The International Monetary Fund made sharp reductions to its outlook for both US and global growth this year, with President Donald Trump's tariff policy the central reason behind the downgrade.
"If the economic outlook deteriorates further, then there's no reason why gold could not receive another strong bid," said Ole Hansen, head of commodity strategy at Saxo Bank.
However, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the US economic growth will surpass the IMF's revised estimate of 1.8%, down from 2.7% in January, if Trump administration's policies are implemented.
He also said that the excessively high tariffs between the US and China are unsustainable, and must be reduced before trade negotiations can proceed.
Supporting gold, the US dollar eased, making the greenback-priced bullion cheaper for overseas buyers.
Spot silver fell 0.5% to $33.37 an ounce, platinum was steady at $973.25 and palladium was down 0.6% to $939.53.