Saudi Commitment to Building a Green Future

The Governor of the Public Investment Fund (PIF) and Chairman of Saudi Aramco, Yasir Al Rumayyan, speaking to an audience during the Saudi Green Initiative Forum in Sharm El-Sheikh (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The Governor of the Public Investment Fund (PIF) and Chairman of Saudi Aramco, Yasir Al Rumayyan, speaking to an audience during the Saudi Green Initiative Forum in Sharm El-Sheikh (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Commitment to Building a Green Future

The Governor of the Public Investment Fund (PIF) and Chairman of Saudi Aramco, Yasir Al Rumayyan, speaking to an audience during the Saudi Green Initiative Forum in Sharm El-Sheikh (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The Governor of the Public Investment Fund (PIF) and Chairman of Saudi Aramco, Yasir Al Rumayyan, speaking to an audience during the Saudi Green Initiative Forum in Sharm El-Sheikh (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Governor of the Public Investment Fund (PIF) and Chairman of Saudi Aramco Yasir Al Rumayyan said the Middle East Green Initiative (MGI) is a turning point in the environmental efforts, which aim to transition national ambitions into practical steps that affect the entire world.

Al Rumayyan underlined the great efforts being made by the Kingdom to build a green future, as part of its ambitions for carbon neutrality by 2060.

The Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM) Initiative was the first of its kind in the MENA region, Al Rumayyan added during the Saudi Green Initiative Forum on the sidelines of the COP27 climate summit in Sharm El Sheikh.

The world’s largest-ever carbon credit auction took place last month, when 1.4 million tons of carbon credits were sold to 15 Saudi and regional entities.

The PIF was also the first sovereign wealth fund to issue a 100-year tranche green bond, Al Rumayyan added.

The success of this issue reflects investor confidence in Saudi Arabia and the PIF, as well as the Kingdom’s ability to establish a sustainable economy for the next 100 years.

No entity can achieve these goals alone, the PIF Governor said, stressing the significance of cooperation between the governments and private sector to drive innovation.

“I hope you are as inspired as I am about investing and partnering in the green transition. I see a world, in which we can seek both economic growth and environmental stewardship,” Al Rumayyan added.

“Here, the Saudi Green Initiative is creating a whole society movement, where we will pursue these goals. And if we act in a spirit of partnership, we will arrive at where we need to be in Saudi Arabia, the Middle East and around the world,” he concluded.



15th Turkish-Arab Economic Cooperation Forum Kicks Off in Istanbul

Aboul Gheit addressing the opening session of the forum (Arab League - X)
Aboul Gheit addressing the opening session of the forum (Arab League - X)
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15th Turkish-Arab Economic Cooperation Forum Kicks Off in Istanbul

Aboul Gheit addressing the opening session of the forum (Arab League - X)
Aboul Gheit addressing the opening session of the forum (Arab League - X)

The Secretary-General of the Arab League, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, stressed the need for Arab-Turkish economic cooperation to extend beyond trade into broader areas that drive sustainable economic development for both sides.

Speaking at the 15th Turkish-Arab Economic Forum in Istanbul, Aboul Gheit emphasized the importance of collaboration in infrastructure, clean energy, green technology, and services such as tourism and fintech. He also highlighted the potential for joint efforts in scientific research and innovation aimed at mutual economic benefit.

Aboul Gheit pointed out the significant growth in trade between the Arab world and Türkiye in recent years. In 2022, Turkish exports to Arab countries amounted to $46 billion, while Arab exports to Türkiye reached $36 billion, representing a notable share of both sides’ overall trade. However, he urged expanding this relationship to include sectors like energy, technology, and logistics, leveraging the strategic geographical position of both regions as a crucial economic bridge connecting Asia, Europe, and Africa.

The forum, themed “Türkiye and the Arab World: A Global Corridor in Investment, Trade, and Technology,” was organized with the support of Türkiye’s Ministry of Treasury and Finance, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and other major regional institutions. It aimed to explore new opportunities in emerging sectors such as green energy, fintech, logistics, and capital markets, while addressing the regional and global economic challenges impacting both sides.

Turkish Minister of Treasury and Finance Mehmet Simsek acknowledged the uncertainty facing the global economy, which is limiting growth, especially in global trade. He also noted the rapid advancements in artificial intelligence, which are expected to reshape industries and societies. Simsek emphasized the need for Türkiye and the Arab world to capitalize on their potential for economic integration, particularly in this time of global economic shifts.

For his part, Egyptian Finance Minister Ahmed Kojak underlined Egypt’s efforts to ensure financial stability, production growth, and export competitiveness. He pointed to Egypt’s role in regional cooperation, highlighting initiatives such as the electricity grid connection with Saudi Arabia, which showcases the potential for regional collaboration in energy.

Tunisian Minister of Economy and Planning Samir Abdelhafidh focused on the advantages of developing economic corridors between Türkiye and the Arab world, particularly through free trade agreements, while Iraqi Finance Minister Taif Sami Mohammed stressed Iraq’s openness to cooperation with Türkiye, noting the country’s strategic position for global trade.

In turn, Kuwaiti Finance Minister Noura Suleiman Al-Fusam highlighted the need to remove trade barriers to increase interactions between Türkiye and the Arab world, with a focus on fostering investments.