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Human Capability Initiative Conference in Riyadh Explores Increasing Employment Rate in New Industries

Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman speaking to the audience at the HCI conference in Riyadh (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman speaking to the audience at the HCI conference in Riyadh (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Human Capability Initiative Conference in Riyadh Explores Increasing Employment Rate in New Industries

Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman speaking to the audience at the HCI conference in Riyadh (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman speaking to the audience at the HCI conference in Riyadh (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Human Capability Initiative (HCI) Conference was launched in Riyadh at the King Abdulaziz International Convention Center under the patronage of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

On the sidelines of the conference, Energy Minister and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center (KAPSARC), Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, inaugurated the Kingdom's first specialized educational institution for higher studies in public policy.

- Women's Empowerment

During his speech, the Energy Minister stated that the government is committed to a localization program with 75%, highlighting the global disparity in female participation across sectors.

He pointed out that while most sectors have 39-49% female participation, the energy sector lags with only about 15% globally.

"With our current leadership, we went to self-discovery of what truly drives our economy, and you will find it in no more than the two factors that I'm going to mention: youth and women empowerment," added Prince Abdulaziz.

He added that developing human resources is the most critical measure for determining the development of any society, stressing that there is a need to fill the gaps in education and training.

- Attracting talent

He pointed out that the energy sector can't be isolated from other entities and institutions, adding that there must be cooperation with all concerned parties to develop the human resources.

The Energy Minister asserted the need for cooperation with the Ministries of Education and Labor.

He noted the attempt to involve training institutions to ensure the achievement of the strategic goal of covering the workforce, organizing its affairs, building capabilities, attracting and retaining talented people, and empowering women.

The energy minister announced the launch of the Saudi Technical Institute for Petroleum Services, rebranded as the Energy Tech Institute.

Saudi Arabia is set to create 150,000 new jobs in chemical plants and renewable energy facilities with a commitment to achieving 75% localization, said the Minister.

"We see somewhere around 150,000 jobs being created, including not only working in chemical plants and with heavy wind or renewable facilities, but also we see many jobs are coming through the localization programs," announced Prince Abdulaziz.

"We also are committed to a localization program which is 75%."

- Enhance strategies

For his part, Saudi Education Minister Yousef al-Benyan stressed during his opening speech at the conference that the Human Capability Initiative demonstrates the Kingdom's commitment to enriching the global dialogue and promoting implementable strategies and solutions.

He stated that more than 200 global leaders and experts will join the conference to share their views on unleashing the potential of human capabilities and stimulate international cooperation to achieve maximum flexibility in times of uncertainty.

Benyan highlighted that global estimates indicate a potential disruption of 40% of workers' skills within the next four to five years due to these changes, and technology adoption is set to transform approximately 75% of business practices globally.

Highlighting the critical role of human capital in navigating a dynamic labor market, he emphasized the need for comprehensive efforts to enhance human capabilities.

"The success of industrial developments in green technology, healthcare, generative technology, and artificial intelligence hinges on a future-proof workforce equipped with the necessary skills," Benyan said, stressing that HCI aligns with Vision 2030.

- Shift in the employment landscape

He added that such a global platform aims to equip individuals with the skills and knowledge needed to navigate the evolving job market, ultimately fostering empowered individuals and resilient economies for the future.

The Kingdom's Human Capability Development Program has created a dynamic strategy that extends across the stages of learning.

He described the program as a comprehensive strategy designed to empower individuals to unleash their full potential, prioritizing collaboration among government agencies, the private sector, and non-profit organizations to ensure collective success and prosperity.

"The Kingdom welcomes collaboration with all stakeholders to explore opportunities and design innovative policies and solutions that enhance human capabilities," he said.

More than 45 agreements that reflect the Kingdom's commitment to cooperating with all partners will be announced during the conference.

The agreements were reached with representatives of over 70 countries with the shared mission of unlocking human potential.

- Innovation and development

Furthermore, Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar al-Khorayef launched the Strategy for Developing Human Capability in the Industrial and Mining Sectors and the National Academy for Industry during the Human Capability Initiative (HCI) Conference, in partnership with the Public Investment Fund (PIF).

Khorayef revealed that more than 50,000 employees had been trained during the past year in coordination with the private sector, with a 40% increase in the workforce.

Saudi Arabia should become an innovative country in research, development, and innovation, and those priorities lead to achieving sustainability in many sectors.

Khorayef highlighted efforts in the industry and mining sectors to incorporate new business models and technologies to shape the future of jobs for citizens.

- Attracting talent

The Minister unveiled the Human Capital Development Strategy for mining and industries with four key objectives.

"The first is to cultivate, grow, and attract the right talent; second is to empower the talent and leadership, create and complement the culture and environment for competitive human capital; third, boost innovation, productivity, and future readiness of the human capital," Khorayef said.

It also aims to drive a collaborative ecosystem where the ministry will orchestrate and build the regulatory foundation, and the private sector will lead.

A dialogue session within the "Human Capabilities Initiative Conference" shed light on advanced industries by empowering human capabilities and the importance of technology in creating more jobs.

- Stimulate human potential

The conference included a "Going Far, Going Together – The Critical Role of Collaboration" session with the participation of Saudi Permanent Representative to the EU Haifa al-Jedea, Dean of Said Business School at Oxford University Professor Soumitra Dutta, Udacity CEO Kai Roemmelt, Regional Director – Human Development for MENA at the World Bank Fadia Saadah, and Managing Director World Economic Forum Saadia Zahidi.

Participants pointed out to the importance of the Kingdom's Human Capacity Initiative Conference sponsorship, which is closely linked to Vision 2030.

They indicated that the conference is a testimony to Saudi Arabia's firm commitment to enhancing cooperation to stimulate human potential and innovation and evidence of its dedication to building a prosperous and sustainable future for its citizens and the world.

Jedea discussed providing everyone with good job opportunities, adding that policies must include all concerned parties.

She stressed the importance of government investments and multinational companies in human resources, investment in peace and work efforts, and cooperation with various sectors in empowering human capabilities.

For her part, the World Bank official touched on the influential role of human capabilities and that they are an essential factor in development, as they contribute to achieving 80% of the wealth of any developed country.

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Business

Leading Harvard Trade Economist Says Saudi Arabia Holds Key to Success in Fragmented Global Economy

Professor Pol Antràs speaks during a panel discussion at the AlUla Conference for Emerging Market Economies (Asharq Al-Awsat).
Professor Pol Antràs speaks during a panel discussion at the AlUla Conference for Emerging Market Economies (Asharq Al-Awsat).
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Leading Harvard Trade Economist Says Saudi Arabia Holds Key to Success in Fragmented Global Economy

Professor Pol Antràs speaks during a panel discussion at the AlUla Conference for Emerging Market Economies (Asharq Al-Awsat).
Professor Pol Antràs speaks during a panel discussion at the AlUla Conference for Emerging Market Economies (Asharq Al-Awsat).

Harvard University economics professor Pol Antràs said Saudi Arabia represents an exceptional model in the shifting global trade landscape, differing fundamentally from traditional emerging-market frameworks. He also stressed that globalization has not ended but has instead re-formed into what he describes as fragmented integration.

Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat on the sidelines of the AlUla Conference for Emerging Market Economies, Antràs said Saudi Arabia’s Vision-driven structural reforms position the Kingdom to benefit from the ongoing phase of fragmented integration, adding that the country’s strategic focus on logistics transformation and artificial intelligence constitutes a key engine for sustainable growth that extends beyond the volatility of global crises.

Antràs, the Robert G. Ory Professor of Economics at Harvard University, is one of the leading contemporary theorists of international trade. His research, which reshaped understanding of global value chains, focuses on how firms organize cross-border production and how regulation and technological change influence global trade flows and corporate decision-making.

He said conventional classifications of economies often obscure important structural differences, noting that the term emerging markets groups together countries with widely divergent industrial bases. Economies that depend heavily on manufacturing exports rely critically on market access and trade integration and therefore face stronger competitive pressures from Chinese exports that are increasingly shifting toward alternative markets.

Saudi Arabia, by contrast, exports extensively while facing limited direct competition from China in its primary export commodity, a situation that creates a strategic opportunity. The current environment allows the Kingdom to obtain imports from China at lower cost and access a broader range of goods that previously flowed largely toward the United States market.

Addressing how emerging economies should respond to dumping pressures and rising competition, Antràs said countries should minimize protectionist tendencies and instead position themselves as committed participants in the multilateral trading system, allowing foreign producers to access domestic markets while encouraging domestic firms to expand internationally.

He noted that although Chinese dumping presents concerns for countries with manufacturing sectors that compete directly with Chinese production, the risk is lower for Saudi Arabia because it does not maintain a large manufacturing base that overlaps directly with Chinese exports. Lower-cost imports could benefit Saudi consumers, while targeted policy tools such as credit programs, subsidies, and support for firms seeking to redesign and upgrade business models represent more effective responses than broad protectionist measures.

Globalization has not ended

Antràs said globalization continues but through more complex structures, with trade agreements increasingly negotiated through diverse arrangements rather than relying primarily on multilateral negotiations. Trade deals will continue to be concluded, but they are likely to become more complex, with uncertainty remaining a defining feature of the global trading environment.

Interest rates and artificial intelligence

According to Antràs, high global interest rates, combined with the additional risk premiums faced by emerging markets, are constraining investment, particularly in sectors that require export financing, capital expenditure, and continuous quality upgrading.

However, he noted that elevated interest rates partly reflect expectations of stronger long-term growth driven by artificial intelligence and broader technological transformation.

He also said if those growth expectations materialize, productivity gains could enable small and medium-sized enterprises to forecast demand more accurately and identify previously untapped markets, partially offsetting the negative effects of higher borrowing costs.

Employment concerns and the role of government

The Harvard professor warned that labor markets face a dual challenge stemming from intensified Chinese export competition and accelerating job automation driven by artificial intelligence, developments that could lead to significant disruptions, particularly among younger workers. He said governments must adopt proactive strategies requiring substantial fiscal resources to mitigate near-term labor-market shocks.

According to Antràs, productivity growth remains the central condition for success: if new technologies deliver the anticipated productivity gains, governments will gain the fiscal space needed to compensate affected groups and retrain the workforce, achieving a balance between addressing short-term disruptions and investing in long-term strategic gains.

Business

Aljadaan: Emerging Markets Account for 70% of Global Growth

Al-Jadaan speaking to the attendees at the "AlUla Conference for Emerging Market Economies" (Asharq Al-Awsat
Al-Jadaan speaking to the attendees at the "AlUla Conference for Emerging Market Economies" (Asharq Al-Awsat
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Aljadaan: Emerging Markets Account for 70% of Global Growth

Al-Jadaan speaking to the attendees at the "AlUla Conference for Emerging Market Economies" (Asharq Al-Awsat
Al-Jadaan speaking to the attendees at the "AlUla Conference for Emerging Market Economies" (Asharq Al-Awsat

Saudi Minister of Finance Mohammed Aljadaan stressed Sunday that the world economy is going through a “profound transition,” saying emerging markets and developing economies now account for nearly 60 percent of the global Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in purchasing power terms and over 70 percent of global growth.

In his opening remarks at the AlUla Conference for Emerging Market Economies, organized by the Saudi Ministry of Finance and the IMF in AlUla, the minister said these economies have become an increasingly important driver of global growth with their share of global economy more than doubling since 2010.

“Today, the 10 emerging economies in the G20 alone account for more than half of the world growth. Yet, they face a more complex and fragmented environment, elevated debt levels, slower trade growth and increasing exposure to geopolitical shocks.”

“Unfortunately, more than half of low income countries are either in or at the risk of debt distress. At the same time global trade growth has slowed at around half of what it was pre the pandemic,” Aljadaan added.

The Finance Minister stressed that the Saudi experience over the past decade has reinforced three lessons that may be relevant to the discussions at the two-day conference, which brings together a select group of ministers and central bank governors, leaders of international organizations, leading investors and academics.

“First, macroeconomic stability is not the enemy of growth. It is actually the foundation,” he said.

“Structural reforms deliver results only when institutions deliver. So there is no point of reforming ... if the institutions are unable to deliver,” he stated.

Finally, he said that “international cooperation matters more, not less, in a fragmented world.”

Business

Georgieva from AlUla: Growth Still Lacks Pre-pandemic Levels

Kristalina Georgieva speaking to attendees at the second edition of the AlUla Conference for Emerging Market Economies (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Kristalina Georgieva speaking to attendees at the second edition of the AlUla Conference for Emerging Market Economies (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Georgieva from AlUla: Growth Still Lacks Pre-pandemic Levels

Kristalina Georgieva speaking to attendees at the second edition of the AlUla Conference for Emerging Market Economies (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Kristalina Georgieva speaking to attendees at the second edition of the AlUla Conference for Emerging Market Economies (Asharq Al-Awsat)

International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said Sunday that world growth still lacks pre-pandemic levels, expressing concern as she expected more shocks amid high spending and rising debt levels in many countries.

Georgieva spoke at the AlUla Conference for Emerging Market Economies, organized by the Saudi Ministry of Finance and the IMF in AlUla.

The two-day conference brings together a select group of ministers and central bank governors, leaders of international organizations, leading investors and academics to deliberate on policies to global stability, prosperity, and multilateral collaboration.

Georgieva said that the conference was launched last year in recognition of the growing role of emerging market economies in a world of sweeping transformations.

“I came out of this gathering .... With a sense of hope for the pragmatic attitude and determination to pursue good policies and build strong institutions,” she said.

Georgieva stressed that “good policies pay off,” and said that growth rates across emerging economies reached four percent this year, exceeding by a large margin those of advanced economies that are around 1.5 percent.