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Riyadh to Host First Gathering of Energy Economies in the Middle East  

A night view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (AFP)
A night view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (AFP)
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Riyadh to Host First Gathering of Energy Economies in the Middle East  

A night view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (AFP)
A night view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (AFP)

Preparations are underway in Riyadh to host the Energy Economics Conference, which is being organized by the International Association for Energy Economics (IAEE), for the first time in the Middle East and North Africa region. 

Under the slogan, “Pathways to a Clean, Stable and Sustainable Energy Future”, the conference will be held at the King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center (KAPSARC) from February 4 to 9, 2023. It will bring together policy makers, academic and corporate and non-government organizations, to present, discuss and debate critical challenges and solutions surrounding the unfolding energy trilemma. 

An official statement on Sunday pointed to the importance of the conference “in light of rising energy costs and increasing pressures to transition from fossil fuel reliance to clean and renewable alternatives.” 

The statement added: “Individuals, businesses, industries, and nations require a long-term balance between energy reliability, affordability, and sustainability.”

“The foundations for successful post-conference outcomes have already been laid with Egypt’s recent hosting of COP27. The event also has the potential to consolidate the wider region’s climate change leadership credentials ahead of COP28 in the UAE in 2023.”

Fahad Alajlan, President of KAPSARC, said: “As accelerating the energy transition becomes ever more imperative for achieving net zero and definitively overcoming the evolving climate crisis in due course, the global community has a unique opportunity to work together to realize mutual aspirations.” 

He continued: “The 44th IAEE Conference represents another key chapter in facilitating dialogue and exchanging knowledge and innovation on the local, regional, and international levels and we are proud to be hosting an event of such profile and influence.” 

Dr. Majid Al Moneef, chairman of the Saudi Association for Energy Economic (SAEE), said: “This timely conference will address the energy and environmental issues facing the region and the world.” 

The event program will feature over 11 plenary sessions and three workshops, beginning with an inaugural speech by Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al Saud, Saudi Minister of Energy and KAPSARC’s Chairman of the Board of Trustees.

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Saudi Arabia Makes History with Adoption of Riyadh Treaty on Design Law

Photo of the Riyadh Diplomatic Conference on the Design Law Treaty (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Photo of the Riyadh Diplomatic Conference on the Design Law Treaty (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia Makes History with Adoption of Riyadh Treaty on Design Law

Photo of the Riyadh Diplomatic Conference on the Design Law Treaty (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Photo of the Riyadh Diplomatic Conference on the Design Law Treaty (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia has made history by uniting the 193 member states of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) to adopt the Riyadh Treaty on Design Law. This landmark achievement, realized after two decades of deliberation, underscores the Kingdom’s leadership in enhancing the global intellectual property system.

The announcement came at the conclusion of the Riyadh Diplomatic Conference on the Design Law Treaty, a rare event for WIPO, which has not held a diplomatic conference outside Geneva for more than a decade. It was also the first such event hosted in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East, representing the final stage of negotiations to establish an agreement aimed at simplifying and standardizing design protection procedures across member states.

Over the past two weeks, intensive discussions and negotiations among member states culminated in the adoption of the Riyadh Treaty, which commits signatory nations to a unified set of requirements for registering designs, ensuring consistent and streamlined procedures worldwide. The agreement is expected to have a significant positive impact on designers, enabling them to protect their creations more effectively and uniformly across international markets.

At a press conference held on Friday to mark the event’s conclusion, CEO of the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property Abdulaziz Al-Suwailem highlighted the economic potential of the new protocol.

Responding to a question from Asharq Al-Awsat, Al-Suwailem noted the substantial contributions of young Saudi men and women in creative design. He explained that the agreement will enable their designs to be formally protected, allowing them to enter markets as valuable, tradable assets.

He also emphasized the symbolic importance of naming the convention the Riyadh Treaty, stating that it reflects Saudi Arabia’s growing influence as a bridge between cultures and a global center for innovative initiatives.

The treaty lays critical legal foundations to support designers and drive innovation worldwide, aligning with Saudi Arabia’s vision of promoting international collaboration in the creative industries and underscoring its leadership in building a sustainable future for innovators.

The agreement also advances global efforts to enhance creativity, protect intellectual property, and stimulate innovation on a broader scale.

This achievement further strengthens Saudi Arabia’s position as a global hub for groundbreaking initiatives, demonstrating its commitment to nurturing creativity, safeguarding designers’ rights, and driving the development of creative industries on an international scale.

The Riyadh Diplomatic Conference, held from November 11 to 22, was hosted by the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property and attracted high-ranking officials and decision-makers from WIPO member states.