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Saudi Arabia Establishes 1st Council for Sustainable Economies Transformation

Officials sign a tripartite agreement to form an advisory council for sustainable economic transformations, during the LEAP conference on Tuesday. (SPA)
Officials sign a tripartite agreement to form an advisory council for sustainable economic transformations, during the LEAP conference on Tuesday. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia Establishes 1st Council for Sustainable Economies Transformation

Officials sign a tripartite agreement to form an advisory council for sustainable economic transformations, during the LEAP conference on Tuesday. (SPA)
Officials sign a tripartite agreement to form an advisory council for sustainable economic transformations, during the LEAP conference on Tuesday. (SPA)

The King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), the Saudi Research, Development and Innovation Development Authority, and Microsoft Corporation have announced the formation of the Sustainability Council to respond to the transformations of sustainable economies.

Dr. Munir El-Desouki, the president of KACST, said that the establishment of the council came in line with the Saudi Arabia Green initiative and the Green Middle East to reach zero neutrality by 2060 and to lead a new wave of green Saudi investments of a sustainable economic nature.

Al-Desouki stressed that the new council would seek to promote innovation and build partnerships by motivating stakeholders to ensure the achievement of the Kingdom’s goals and aspirations at the level of the global competitiveness map.

Eng. Thamer Alharbi, the head of Microsoft Arabia, said the council would help organizations transform their business, increase productivity, drive innovation, and manage more sustainable operations, by providing roundtable discussions for leaders, and stimulating scientific research.

The Sustainability Council, which was announced on the sidelines of the LEAP 2023 conference, is an advisory platform that brings together key stakeholders from industry, academia, government agencies and international experts to facilitate regular meetings and knowledge exchange between leaders.

The LEAP 2023 conference kicked off in Riyadh on Monday, in the presence of more than 700 experts, scientists and specialized companies from around the world, who are discussing the latest developments in virtual reality, creative economy, edutech, retail, Fourth Industrial Revolution, future energy, smart cities, fintech, and healthtech.

Sibi Gurnani, CEO of Tech Mahindra - a world leader in information technology solutions – stressed that Saudi Arabia had promising technical investments in a number of fields, especially energy and environment.

In remarks during a session on the second day of LEAP 2023, Gurnani said that Prince Mohammed bin Salman had a clear plan to face challenges and build broad partnerships in the field of automation, innovations and human engineering.

For his part, CEO of Natanix Rajeev Ramaswamy said that Saudi Arabia launched an inspiring and bold vision that would lead to major social and economic transformations and employ technology to serve humanity.

Phalgun Kompalli, CEO of UpGrad, praised the Kingdom’s endeavor to adopt new technologies, pointing to the great opportunities available for investment in technology to cover the needs of industry, education, health, and other service and logistical sectors.

CEO of 2U Inc. Chip Paucek said that around a billion jobs would be available in the Arab Gulf region thanks to technology changes and the expansion of the uses of artificial intelligence.

He added that partnerships between the public and private sectors contributed to a greater chance of success in the fields of education and provided appropriate platforms to help people access advanced technology services and capabilities, and localize technology.

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Inflation Rose to 2.3% in Europe. That Won't Stop the Central Bank from Cutting Interest Rates

A view shows the Bercy Economy and Finance Ministry as a metro operated by the Paris transport network RATP passes over the Pont de Bercy bridge in Paris, France, November 28, 2024. REUTERS/Stephanie Lecocq
A view shows the Bercy Economy and Finance Ministry as a metro operated by the Paris transport network RATP passes over the Pont de Bercy bridge in Paris, France, November 28, 2024. REUTERS/Stephanie Lecocq
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Inflation Rose to 2.3% in Europe. That Won't Stop the Central Bank from Cutting Interest Rates

A view shows the Bercy Economy and Finance Ministry as a metro operated by the Paris transport network RATP passes over the Pont de Bercy bridge in Paris, France, November 28, 2024. REUTERS/Stephanie Lecocq
A view shows the Bercy Economy and Finance Ministry as a metro operated by the Paris transport network RATP passes over the Pont de Bercy bridge in Paris, France, November 28, 2024. REUTERS/Stephanie Lecocq

Inflation in the 20 countries that use the euro currency rose in November — but that likely won’t stop the European Central Bank from cutting interest rates as the prospect of new US tariffs from the incoming Trump administration adds to the gloom over weak growth.
The European Union’s harmonized index of consumer prices stood up 2.3% in the year to November, up from 2.0% in October, the EU statistics agency Eurostat reported Friday.
Energy prices fell 1.9% from a year ago, but that was offset by price increases of 3.9% in the services sector, a broad category including haircuts, medical treatment, hotels and restaurants, and sports and entertainment, The Associated Press reported.
Inflation has come down a long way from the peak of 10.6% in October 2022 as the ECB quickly raised rates to cool off price rises. It then started cutting them in June as worries about growth came into sharper focus.
High central bank benchmark rates combat inflation by influencing borrowing costs throughout the economy. Higher rates make buying things on credit — whether a car, a house or a new factory — more expensive and thus reduce demand for goods and take pressure off prices. However, higher rates can also dampen growth.
Growth worries got new emphasis after surveys of purchasing managers compiled by S&P Global showed the eurozone economy was contracting in October. On top of that come concerns about how US trade policy under incoming President Donald Trump, including possible new tariffs, or import taxes on imported goods, might affect Europe’s export-dependent economy. Trump takes office Jan. 20.
The eurozone’s economic output is expected to grow 0.8% for all of this year and 1.3% next year, according to the European Commission’s most recent forecast.
All that has meant the discussion about the Dec. 12 ECB meeting has focused not on whether the Frankfurt-based bank’s rate council will cut rates, but by how much. Market discussion has included the possibility of a larger than usual half-point cut in the benchmark rate, currently 3.25%.
Inflation in Germany, the eurozone’s largest economy, held steady at 2.4%. That “will strengthen opposition against a 50 basis point cut,” said Carsten Brzeski, global chief of macro at ING bank, using financial jargon for a half-percentage-point cut.
The ECB sets interest rate policy for the European Union member countries that have joined the euro currency.