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Saudi Arabia, Poland Agree to Bolster Digital Partnership

The Saudi delegation's visit to Poland was centered on exploring trade and investment partnership prospects. SPA
The Saudi delegation's visit to Poland was centered on exploring trade and investment partnership prospects. SPA
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Saudi Arabia, Poland Agree to Bolster Digital Partnership

The Saudi delegation's visit to Poland was centered on exploring trade and investment partnership prospects. SPA
The Saudi delegation's visit to Poland was centered on exploring trade and investment partnership prospects. SPA

Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Affairs Krzysztof Gawkowski has expressed his endorsement for initiating collaborative digital initiatives with Saudi Arabia, which would benefit both nations.

Gawkowski's remarks came during his meeting Tuesday in Warsaw with Federation of Saudi Chambers Chairman Hassan Al-Huwaizi and a delegation of Saudi businessmen. The visit was centered on exploring trade and investment partnership prospects.

Gawkowski underlined Poland's keenness to enhance cooperation with Saudi Arabia on digital development and cybersecurity, particularly considering the substantial progress underway in the sector in both countries.

During the meeting, Alhwaizy stressed the significance of augmenting Saudi-Polish investments in technology and digital transformation, recognizing the pivotal role of the fields in economic advancement and business expansion.

Saudi Polish Business Council chairman Abdullah Abu Dabeel highlighted that Saudi Arabia’s ambitious plan for a $100 billion artificial-intelligence (AI) project, coupled with Poland's prominent position as the third-ranked country globally in terms of the quality and number of programmers, presents promising avenues for collaboration between the two nations.

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Apple Sales Fall y/y on China's Singles' Day, Huawei Up 7%

FILE PHOTO: A Chinese flag flutters near a Huawei store in Shanghai, China September 8, 2023. REUTERS/Aly Song/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A Chinese flag flutters near a Huawei store in Shanghai, China September 8, 2023. REUTERS/Aly Song/File Photo
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Apple Sales Fall y/y on China's Singles' Day, Huawei Up 7%

FILE PHOTO: A Chinese flag flutters near a Huawei store in Shanghai, China September 8, 2023. REUTERS/Aly Song/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A Chinese flag flutters near a Huawei store in Shanghai, China September 8, 2023. REUTERS/Aly Song/File Photo

Apple sold fewer smartphones during China's Singles' Day shopping festival this year as it faced pressure from an "abnormally high" number of rival handsets launched around the event, Counterpoint Research said on Wednesday.

The iPhone manufacturer saw its sales decline year-on-year by "double digit percentages" from Oct. 18 to Nov. 10, the research consultancy said. In comparison, its main rival in China, Huawei, recorded 7% sales growth, fueled by price cuts on its Pura 70 and Mate 60 models.

Xiaomi also saw sales decline, with volumes falling 6%, Reuters reported.

"To capitalize on one of the biggest sales festivals of the year, major Chinese OEMs (manufacturers) except Huawei launched their latest flagships ahead of the festival," Counterpoint said, describing this as a key reason for Apple's decline. Only Xiaomi did so last year, it noted.

Huawei declined to comment. Apple and Xiaomi did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Overall, smartphone sales in China during the event, the country's biggest online shopping festival, fell 9% year-on-year as a slowing economy weighed on consumer enthusiasm despite the promotions, Counterpoint said.

Apple's Singles' Day performance underscores the growing competition it faces in the world's largest smartphone market, especially from Huawei which has come back strongly in the premium segment.

The US tech giant has since responded with multiple discount campaigns to boost sales. Apple's iPhone 16 Pro and the iPhone 16 Pro Max were the festival's best selling models, Counterpoint said.

China's e-commerce platforms such as Alibaba and JD.com did not release sales figures for the festival, having dropped the practice in 2022, but Alibaba said Apple and Xiaomi were among brands that surpassed 1 billion yuan in gross merchandising value.