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UN Coordinator: Partnership with Saudi Arabia in Sustainable Development Goals Focuses on 4 Strategic Areas

The United Nations Resident Coordinator in Saudi Arabia addressing the dialogue sessions in Riyadh on Monday (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The United Nations Resident Coordinator in Saudi Arabia addressing the dialogue sessions in Riyadh on Monday (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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UN Coordinator: Partnership with Saudi Arabia in Sustainable Development Goals Focuses on 4 Strategic Areas

The United Nations Resident Coordinator in Saudi Arabia addressing the dialogue sessions in Riyadh on Monday (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The United Nations Resident Coordinator in Saudi Arabia addressing the dialogue sessions in Riyadh on Monday (Asharq Al-Awsat)

United Nations Resident Coordinator in the Kingdom, Nathalie Fustier, said that partnership with Saudi Arabia was moving to a new stage, pointing to the progress achieved by the Kingdom in sustainable development.

In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, Fustier said that the UN partnership with the Saudi government has evolved over the years and continues today amid a new stage in the field of sustainable development, which will direct the general work of the international organization in the Kingdom from 2022 to 2026 to cooperate primarily through three elements of sustainable development.

Fustier participated in dialogue sessions between the UN and Saudi Arabia, in Riyadh on Monday, on ways to achieve Goal 17 of the Sustainable Development Goals, namely revitalizing the global partnership for sustainable development.

The UN official pointed to Saudi Arabia’s sustainable development priorities stipulated in Vision 2030, its efforts achieve the 2030 Agenda of the United Nations and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, and reform the UN development system through four strategic areas, including people, planet, prosperity and peace.

In this regard, she stressed the need to combine the efforts of all sectors and segments of society in order to attain the required change and achieve the goals of sustainable development.

Fustier said that the UN partnerships with the Kingdom have expanded in recent years in all sectors, including the strategic partnership with government agencies, the private and educational sectors, in addition to civil society institutions.

She noted that through Vision 2030, the Kingdom was seeking to promote the renaissance of the Saudi economy to become one of the leading economies in the world.

The UN resident coordinator told Asharq Al-Awsat that the support her office received from the Saudi government and the relevant authorities was a great contribution to strengthening UN efforts towards achieving the sustainable development goals.

She added that the Kingdom has recently established the Steering Committee for Sustainable Development, which consists of 20 national bodies with the aim of coordinating governmental efforts and supervising performance to achieve the sustainable development goals.

As for the role of the private sector, Fustier pointed to the Saudi call on companies across the country to align their operations and strategies with ten comprehensive principles in the areas of human rights, labor, environment and anti-corruption by joining the local network of the United Nations Global Compact, which has reached 46 members so far, with the support of the Ministry of Economy and Planning and the Federation of Chambers of Commerce.

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Gulf

Crown Prince of Kuwait Meets with GCC Secretary-General

Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi. GCC
Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi. GCC
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Crown Prince of Kuwait Meets with GCC Secretary-General

Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi. GCC
Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi. GCC

Kuwaiti Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah met with Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Albudaiwi on Monday at the Bayan Palace in Kuwait.

Albudaiwi presented a comprehensive report to Sheikh Sabah regarding Kuwait’s presidency of the 45th session of the GCC Supreme Council, and expressed his appreciation for the generous support and steadfast commitment Kuwait provides to the GCC's journey, SPA reported.

He underscored that such support serves as a powerful catalyst for continued efforts toward achieving greater integration and cooperation, ultimately fostering prosperity and well-being for the GCC member states and their peoples.

Gulf

Botanical Facility Inaugurated at Saudi King Salman Royal Reserve to Boost Ecosystem Sustainability

Saudi  Minister of Interior and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the King Salman bin Abdulaziz Royal Reserve Development Authority Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz (R) is seen at the inauguration. (SPA)
Saudi  Minister of Interior and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the King Salman bin Abdulaziz Royal Reserve Development Authority Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz (R) is seen at the inauguration. (SPA)
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Botanical Facility Inaugurated at Saudi King Salman Royal Reserve to Boost Ecosystem Sustainability

Saudi  Minister of Interior and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the King Salman bin Abdulaziz Royal Reserve Development Authority Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz (R) is seen at the inauguration. (SPA)
Saudi  Minister of Interior and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the King Salman bin Abdulaziz Royal Reserve Development Authority Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz (R) is seen at the inauguration. (SPA)

Saudi Minister of Interior and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the King Salman bin Abdulaziz Royal Reserve Development Authority Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz inaugurated a central nursery and wild seed research and production station in Al-Jouf, reported the Saudi Press Agency on Monday.

The project aims to boost vegetation cover and sustainability within the reserve. Spanning 1,600 hectares, the project includes advanced botanical facilities, including parent seed fields, seed storage, nurseries, and a wild plant garden, to support local seed and seedling production.

The parent seed fields consist of 14 areas with over 400,000 trees and shrubs from more than 30 local species.

The central nursery covers 60,000 square meters and contains 30 greenhouses, with an annual production capacity of 1.5 million seedlings across 15 plant species. The project boasts a botanical garden spanning 12,000 square meters, featuring over 280 species of trees, shrubs, and perennial grasses.

The central nursery and seed station have contributed to planting over four million seedlings and dispersing more than 8,000 kilograms of seeds across 10 locations within the reserve, resulting in five million wild plants. This reflects the reserve’s commitment to restoring ecosystems and expanding vegetation cover.

Gulf

Saudi-Tunisian Joint Committee Kicks Off 12th Session in Riyadh

Alkhorayef stressed that the convening of the 12th session comes at an important time that requires intensified coordination in growth-driving sectors - SPA
Alkhorayef stressed that the convening of the 12th session comes at an important time that requires intensified coordination in growth-driving sectors - SPA
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Saudi-Tunisian Joint Committee Kicks Off 12th Session in Riyadh

Alkhorayef stressed that the convening of the 12th session comes at an important time that requires intensified coordination in growth-driving sectors - SPA
Alkhorayef stressed that the convening of the 12th session comes at an important time that requires intensified coordination in growth-driving sectors - SPA

The 12th session of the Saudi-Tunisian Joint Committee kicked off Sunday in Riyadh, organized by the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources and bringing together representatives from government entities of both countries to discuss opportunities for expanding cooperation and developing strategic partnerships across various economic and development sectors.

The committee session was co-chaired by Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef and Tunisian Minister of Economy and Planning Dr. Samir Abdelhafidh, attended by official delegations and government sector representatives from both countries, SPA reported.

In his opening remarks, Alkhorayef emphasized the strength of Saudi-Tunisian relations and the brotherly and economic ties between the two countries, which span more than 70 years. He noted that these ties are reflected today in shared visions and ambitious work programs that align with the aspirations of both countries’ leaderships and peoples, as well as their mutual interests.

He pointed out that the Saudi-Tunisian Joint Committee, launched in 1998, represents an institutional framework aimed at translating cooperation into executable programs and initiatives. He expressed his hope that this session would serve as a new starting point for joint strategic projects and more impactful agreements that contribute to the economic development of both countries.

Alkhorayef stressed that the convening of the 12th session comes at an important time that requires intensified coordination in growth-driving sectors. The minister called on companies in both countries to build practical partnerships in promising industries and value chains. He also highlighted the outcomes of the third meeting, held in Tunisia in July 2025, namely the agreements on mutual recognition of product conformity certificates, which positively contributed to a 38% growth in trade exchange through September 2025 compared with the same period last year.

The committee’s current session focused on boosting cooperation mechanisms, discussing investment opportunities, and exchanging expertise in key sectors, including industry, mining, tourism, transport and logistics, and the judiciary and justice sectors. These efforts aim to enhance trade efficiency, support the access of Saudi products to international markets, and strengthen economic and investment cooperation.