Al-Swaha: 'Expo 2030' Reflects Saudi Arabia's Readiness to Play Pioneering Global Role

Saudi Minister of Communications and Information Technology during his meeting with the delegation of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) Enquiry Mission - (Saudi Arabia Ministry of Communications and Information Technology)
Saudi Minister of Communications and Information Technology during his meeting with the delegation of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) Enquiry Mission - (Saudi Arabia Ministry of Communications and Information Technology)
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Al-Swaha: 'Expo 2030' Reflects Saudi Arabia's Readiness to Play Pioneering Global Role

Saudi Minister of Communications and Information Technology during his meeting with the delegation of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) Enquiry Mission - (Saudi Arabia Ministry of Communications and Information Technology)
Saudi Minister of Communications and Information Technology during his meeting with the delegation of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) Enquiry Mission - (Saudi Arabia Ministry of Communications and Information Technology)

Saudi Minister of Communications and Information Technology Eng. Abdullah Al-Swaha stressed that Saudi Arabia was looking forward to host the Expo 2030, affirming that it will reflect the Kingdom's readiness to play a global pioneering role.

His remarks came during his meeting with the delegation of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) Enquiry Mission, as part of their meetings to evaluate the Riyadh candidacy for Expo 2030.

Al-Swaha said the theme of Riyadh Expo 2030 "Together for a Foresighted Tomorrow” reflects Saudi Arabia’s depth of aspiration and willingness to play an active role on the global stage and to solve the most pressing challenges of this era.

"Our vision is to make Riyadh Expo 2030 a collaborative platform, to design and share the tools to create the blueprints for a better tomorrow. We also aspire for the Expo 2030 to enable foresight-led action by countries with impact at a global scale, and to offer the greatest impact and biggest possibilities to co-create the future,” state news agency SPA quoted Al-Swaha as saying.

The theme focuses on three areas of national and global interest:“A Different Tomorrow”, “Climate Action”, and “Prosperity for All”.

The BIE delegation also met with senior officials from the Public Investment Fund and NEOM, as well as Princess Haifa Al-Mogrin, Saudi Arabia’s Permanent representative to the UNESCO, Dr. Hala Al-Tuwaijri, President of the Saudi Human Rights Commission, and Dr. Eman Al-Mutairi,Vice Minister of Commerce.



Lebanon’s Struggling Economy Slides Toward Full Recession

The Jousieh crossing between Lebanon and Syria following an Israeli strike on October 25. (AFP)
The Jousieh crossing between Lebanon and Syria following an Israeli strike on October 25. (AFP)
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Lebanon’s Struggling Economy Slides Toward Full Recession

The Jousieh crossing between Lebanon and Syria following an Israeli strike on October 25. (AFP)
The Jousieh crossing between Lebanon and Syria following an Israeli strike on October 25. (AFP)

The ongoing Israeli war on Lebanon has led to significant economic losses estimated between $10 billion and $20 billion.

This range reflects the difficulty in accurately assessing the damage amid Israel’s ongoing military operations, including airstrikes and ground attacks.

The destruction of homes, infrastructure, and farmland has contributed to a state of uncertainty, along with an unprecedented wave of displacement affecting many families.

Experts agree that reliable economic data is hard to obtain while the conflict continues.

Reports from the Ministry of Health and international organizations said nearly 3,000 people have been killed and around 15,000 injured, mostly civilians.

Additionally, about 1.4 million people have been displaced from their homes, representing roughly a quarter of Lebanon’s population.

Growing economic crisis ahead

The war came at a time when Lebanon’s economy was already struggling after five years of crisis.

According to Mohammad Choucair, head of the Economic Bodies Association, the situation is worsening rapidly, threatening serious economic and social consequences.

Current estimates suggest that direct losses from the conflict could reach between $10 billion and $12 billion, impacting various sectors.

As the war continues, key sectors like tourism, agriculture, and trade are experiencing a sharp decline in business activity.

Many small and medium-sized enterprises are being forced to close or suspend operations due to direct damage from attacks, reduced consumer demand, and disruptions in trade and supply chains caused by the influx of displaced people.

International financial institutions are warning that the ongoing Israeli attacks could continue for several more months, possibly lasting until mid-2025.

The Institute of International Finance (IIF) forecasts a 7% contraction in Lebanon’s GDP by the end of this year, followed by a 10% decline next year.

This would bring the total economic decline to nearly 60% from the peak GDP of around $53 billion recorded at the end of 2018.