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DHAKA: Bangladesh is seeking to send more agriculturists and trained farmers to Saudi Arabia as the country wants to take part in the Kingdom’s green initiatives, Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud said on Monday.
Nearly 3 million Bangladeshis live and work in Saudi Arabia, making them the largest expat group in the Kingdom and also the biggest Bangladeshi community outside of their origin country.
The South Asian nation is hoping to tap into green initiatives launched by Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman in 2021, which are focused on combating climate change and safeguarding the environment for future generations in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East through emissions reduction, afforestation, and land and sea protection.
“During my meeting with the Saudi counterpart, I discussed the opportunity to take part in this initiative,” Mahmud told a presser in Dhaka.
The Bangladesh foreign minister, who is a renowned ecologist and academic specializing in environmental sciences, was referring to his meeting with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan in Jeddah last week.
The planting of 50 billion trees across the Middle East is the equivalent of restoring 200 million hectares of degraded land. A fifth of the trees will be planted within the Kingdom’s borders, with the remaining 40 billion set to be planted across the broader region in the coming decades.
“I informed the Saudi foreign minister that the people of Bangladesh have much expertise in agriculture and that they are good farmers as well,” he said. “I urged him to take more agriculturists and trained farmers from Bangladesh. He regarded the matter with much importance.”
Mahmud and Prince Faisal discussed migrant welfare during their meeting, as well as potential Saudi investments in green energy and port management in Bangladesh.
The two officials also discussed the ongoing Rohingya crisis, as Bangladesh is struggling to support more than 1.2 million refugees fleeing death and persecution in Myanmar and spends an estimated $1.2 billion annually to support the group.
“We sought Saudi support for resolving the Rohingya crisis. Saudi FM promised to give all-out support in this regard,” Mahmud said.
RIYADH: Tourism and hospitality operators in Makkah and Madinah have been reminded they must follow all regulations, instructions and guidelines that apply to them, along with the contents of circulars issued by the General Directorate of Civil Defense, to help keep pilgrims and other visitors safe during Umrah season in the holy month of Ramadan, and the upcoming Hajj season.
The Saudi Ministry of Tourism said on Thursday that all facilities must have officially approved evacuation plans in place in case of emergencies, and strategies for responding to a range hypothetical situations that might arise, developed in coordination with Civil Defense.
The ministry said the reminder is part of its efforts to ensure public safety and provide quality services that meet all requirements of regulations governing the sector.
RIYADH: Jubail in Saudi Arabia, a member of UNESCO’s Global Network of Learning Cities, will host the sixth International Conference on Learning Cities between Dec. 3 and 5.
“UNESCO learning cities are uniquely positioned to instill climate consciousness and equip local residents with the green skills essential for a sustainable society,” Isabell Kempf, the director of the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning said during the announcement on Thursday.
“The sixth International Conference on Learning Cities in Jubail will pave the way for impactful climate action.”
The international event will be hosted by Jubail Industrial City at the offices of the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu. It comes as the commission, which was founded in 1975, prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary. King Salman will serve as patron of the event, in keeping with his views on the importance of international cooperation in efforts to confront global challenges and achieve sustainable development through education, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Exciting news!
We are pleased to announce that the UNESCO Learning City of Jubail will host the upcoming sixth International Conference on #LearningCities #ICLC6 from 3 to 5 December 2024.
More about the conference theme, aims and participation https://t.co/PYjpWpWOre pic.twitter.com/QJcgGD0Z8H
“Hosting this international conference confirms the pioneering role of Jubail Industrial City as a role model in the field of education for sustainable development,” the SPA added.
“Hosting the conference also represents an important opportunity to exchange experiences and ideas with cities around the world, and develop joint action plans to enhance the role of learning cities in facing global challenges, especially climate change.”
The Global Network of Learning Cities said Jubail was chosen to host the conference in recognition of its commitment to the event, the initiatives it has developed to enhance lifelong learning opportunities for all, and its active participation in the network since joining in 2020.
Jubail Industrial City received the UNESCO Learning Cities Award in 2021 for its efforts to enhance sustainable development, boost entrepreneurship and improve skills, in keeping with the spirit of the network.
The theme of the conference will be “Learning Cities at the Forefront of Climate Action,” which officials said is in line with the aims of the Saudi and Middle East Green Initiatives launched in 2021 by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, chairman of the Supreme Committee for Green Saudi Arabia.
“The UNESCO Learning City pointed to national programs launched as part of the Saudi Vision 2030, such as the Human Capability Development Program, aimed at building a national strategy for the development of citizens’ capabilities,” the Institute for Lifelong Learning said.
“Adopting a lifelong-learning perspective and involving the participation of government agencies, the private sector and the non-profit sector, this strategy stretches from early childhood through to general education, university education, technical and vocational training, and continuous training.”
The conference in December will offer an opportunity for municipal officials, those with an interest in the field of learning and education, and representatives of the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities to come together to exchange information, ideas, solutions and best practices related to the promotion of lifelong learning.
The network, which includes 356 cities in 79 countries, says it aims to encourage learning within families and communities, and facilitate learning in the workplace, through the use of modern technologies, the promotion of quality and excellence in learning, and by fostering a culture of lifelong learning among member cities to help promote individual empowerment, social inclusion, economic development, cultural prosperity and sustainable development.
“During ICLC 6, participants, including policymakers, learning city mayors, lifelong learning and sustainability experts, private-sector representatives, nongovernmental organizations, civil society, researchers, educators and United Nations entities, will work together to identify and strengthen lifelong learning policies for climate action, resilience and the establishment of sustainable cities,” the Institute for Lifelong Learning said.
NEW YORK: The empowerment efforts of women in Saudi Arabia and work to improve female economic participation levels in the Kingdom were highlighted at the UN on Thursday.
Maimoonah Al-Khalil, secretary-general of the Saudi Family Affairs Council, spoke in New York at the 68th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women about the Kingdom’s efforts to ensure equal opportunities for females.
She said empowering women was a cornerstone of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and that the Kingdom’s leadership recognized that elevating women’s roles was pivotal to realizing its sustainable development and prosperity goals.
Al-Khalil praised the Saudi government for its policies and measures to continue women’s development across all sectors of society.
She said: “My government has pursued the development of comprehensive national plans aimed at advancing women and ensuring their full and effective participation in economic activities.
“Among the most notable achievements is the establishment of social support and assistance programs, marking a significant paradigm shift in our national efforts toward directing government support to those most deserving.
“Notably, our country’s social protection index surged from 61.34 percent in 2019 to 82.54 percent in 2023, securing a consecutive second-place ranking among G20 nations.”
She added that the Kingdom had risen 17 places in the World Giving Index and 16 places in the helping a stranger index.
Al-Khalil said that Saudi Arabia’s efforts were being recognized at a global level.
“The World Bank has praised the Kingdom as the first country in the Middle East to establish a social safety net aimed at activating and empowering all segments of society, while fostering entrepreneurial and productive initiatives,” she added.
Al-Khalil also highlighted the devastating impact of the war in Gaza on women and children in Palestine.
She said: “We reiterate the stance of my country in condemning the humanitarian violations committed by the Israeli occupation forces in the Gaza Strip. These violations contravene international law and international humanitarian law, with profound repercussions affecting women and children in Palestine.
“We emphasize the urgent need to halt hostilities and promptly institute a comprehensive ceasefire to protect Palestinian civilians, particularly women and children, and to lift all restrictions obstructing the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.”
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Thursday received a phone call from Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, during which he extended greetings on the advent of Ramadan.
The crown prince shared greetings to El-Sisi, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The Saudi Supreme Court announced on Monday the start of the Muslim holy month.
RIYADH: Riyadh Gov. Prince Faisal bin Bandar honored the winners of the 25th session of the King Salman bin Abdulaziz Award for Qur’an Memorization, Recitation and Interpretation.
Upon his arrival at the venue, Prince Faisal was received by Najran Gov. Prince Jalawi bin Abdulaziz bin Musaed; Minister of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance Dr. Abdullatif bin Abdulaziz Al-Asheikh; Media Minister Salman bin Yousef Al-Dossary; and the general director of the religious affairs administration of the Saudi Armed Forces, Musfer bin Hassan Al-Essa.
Al-Asheikh extended his congratulations to more than 3,000 male and female participants, specifically the 125 contestants who qualified for the final stages, and the winners in the various branches of the competition. He also thanked the Saudi leadership for its attention and support in this regard.
He affirmed the competition’s impact on boys and girls in the country, encouraging them to memorize, recite and understand the meanings of the Holy Qur’an.
Attendees also had the opportunity to view a visual presentation showcasing information and statistics about the current session of the award.
