Saudi Arabia, Türkiye Agree to Expand Exports

Saudi Investment Minister Khalid al-Falih concluded a visit to Türkiye during which he agreed with Turkish officials to expand the export and import movement. (SPA)
Saudi Investment Minister Khalid al-Falih concluded a visit to Türkiye during which he agreed with Turkish officials to expand the export and import movement. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia, Türkiye Agree to Expand Exports

Saudi Investment Minister Khalid al-Falih concluded a visit to Türkiye during which he agreed with Turkish officials to expand the export and import movement. (SPA)
Saudi Investment Minister Khalid al-Falih concluded a visit to Türkiye during which he agreed with Turkish officials to expand the export and import movement. (SPA)

Saudi Investment Minister Khalid al-Falih concluded a visit to Türkiye during which he agreed with Turkish officials to expand the export and import movement and announced the first direct financing agreement for Saudi non-oil exports.  

Saudi Export-Import Bank signed a $26 million financing line agreement with Türkiye Finans Katilim Bank to finance Saudi non-oil exports to Türkiye.  

The two agreements were signed by CEO of the Saudi Export-Import Bank, Saad al-Khalab, CEO of Türkiye Finans Katilim Murad Aksim and CEO of the Turkish Export Bank, Ali Koni.  

The agreements come within the framework of Saudi partnerships with Turkish financial institutions and within the Bank's aims to develop its local and foreign associations, provide sustainable financing solutions, and guarantee services that support the development of Saudi non-oil exports and enhance its competitiveness in global markets.  

Khalab explained that the two agreements were a step that strengthened bilateral relations and towards developing trade relations between the two countries.  

It also comes within the framework of the Bank's efforts to support Saudi exporters and importers in Türkiye with a package of financing and credit solutions and guarantee services that help the flow of Saudi products to Turkish markets and contribute to reducing export risks and bridging export financing gaps to Ankara.  

The Bank will conclude several upcoming agreements with local and international financing and credit institutions, which will positively impact Saudi exports and increase non-oil exports' contribution to supporting non-oil GDP from 16 percent to 50 percent by 2030, he added. 

For his part, Aksim described the agreement as a step to support trade relations between Saudi Arabia and Türkiye and a new opportunity to open investment horizons that benefit both countries.  

Koni indicated that the agreement represents a new phase in the trade movement between the Kingdom and Türkiye, stressing Ankara's keenness to develop areas of cooperation with the Bank and other Saudi financial institutions.  

He noted that both countries enjoy two distinct geographical locations in the international trade movement, and a good reputation in the global market, asserting that they were looking forward to boosting their position on the global economic map.  

Meanwhile, Saudi Minister of Commerce, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the General Authority for Foreign Trade, Majid al-Qasabi, met with several Omani ministers and officials during a visit to Muscat.  

Qasabi held bilateral meetings with Oman's Minister of Commerce, Industry, and Investment Promotion, Qais bin Mohammed al-Youssef, Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad al-Busaidi, Finance Minister Sultan bin Salem al-Habsi, Minister of Information Abdullah bin Nasser al-Harrasi, and the head of Oman's Vision 2040 implementation follow-up unit Khamis al-Jabri.  

The Minister also met with Chairman of the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry Faisal al-Rawas, and President of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority Halima al-Zaria.  

The meetings focused on boosting relations, trade exchange, cooperation, and promising opportunities that could arise from Vision 2030 and Oman's Vision 2040.  

Trade and investment relations between Saudi Arabia and Oman are witnessing significant development, as the neighbors share ambitious visions. The volume of trade exchange between them in the past five years reached $14 billion. 



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.