IMF: Gov. Strategy Helped the Saudi Economy

Business

May 4th, 9:37am

Riyadh - Asharq Al-Awsat

Saudi Arabia continues to support the strategy of reducing dependence on oil through the growth of private sector business (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) confirmed that government-led reforms and private investment growth in new sectors would help support non-oil economic growth in Saudi Arabia to be less dependent on oil. The Saudi economy grew 8.7 percent last year, while the real GDP during the fourth quarter of 2022 increased 5.5 percent compared to Q4/2021, according to the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT). The IMF projected that Saudi GDP growth would more than halve, to 3.1 percent, this year, in line with the forecast for Middle East oil exporters. The forecast, however, is higher than the 2.6 percent growth rate that the IMF projected in January. The director for the Middle East and Central Asia at the IMF, Jihad Azour, told Reuters that the oil sector is expected to slow down with the implementation of the new OPEC+ quotas. Azour added that the impact on the Kingdom's budget depended on prices. He said that the drop in production will affect growth because output will decline, and that revenues could grow, which could have a positive impact on both external accounts, the reserves, and the budget deficit. Azour added that the government's strategy over the past five years has helped the Saudi and public finances to be less dependent on the oil cycle. Azour went on to say that the non-oil economy is growing in Saudi Arabia, mainly driven by the private sector. In addition, the IMF expected non-oil GDP growth in Saudi Arabia by 4.9 percent this year and 4.2 percent next year. The Kingdom's economy would grow 3.1 percent this year, an upward revision of the previous estimate of 2.6 percent in January. Saudi Arabia's oil exports are expected to reach 7.44 million barrels per day (bpd) in 2023 and 7.48 million bpd in 2024. The IMF pointed out that the oil price that Saudi Arabia needs for budget breakeven is $80.90 per barrel in 2023, expecting the average oil price at $73.13 per barrel this year. Meanwhile, the Riyad Bank Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) revealed that non-oil private sector companies witnessed a continuous improvement in overall performance during April, as new orders increased at the fastest rate since September 2014. According to the index, the slight decline in export sales was offset by an increase in domestic demand, and job creation continued in April, as evidenced by the rise in total employment numbers for the 13th consecutive month. The Kingdom's PMI went up to 59.6 in April from 58.7 in March, fractionally lower than the eight-year peak in February, when the metric hit 59.8. The sharp and rapid increase in new business volume was the main driver of the rise in the index during April, and the growth rate of new orders was the fastest in just over eight and a half years. Companies participating in the study commented on positive factors supporting customer demand, including the increase in tourists and consumer spending. According to the report, job creation continued in April, as signaled by a rise in total employment numbers for the 13th month. The report, however, noted that new orders from abroad declined for the first time since February 2022 due to intense competition and less favorable economic conditions in overseas markets. Chief economist at Riyad Bank Naif al-Ghaith said the April PMI data highlighted another steep expansion of business activity across the Kingdom's non-oil private sector economy. "We have witnessed rising tourism numbers, higher consumer spending, and new business opportunities related to major infrastructure projects," Gaith said, adding that long-term business expansion plans have made the rate of job creation slightly stronger than seen on average in the first quarter of 2023.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/4310361/imf-gov-strategy-helped-saudi-economy

Sisi: Egypt Facing Growing Difficulties with More Sudanese Seeking Refuge

Arab World

May 4th, 8:40am

Cairo - Asharq Al-Awsat

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Cairo. (AFP)

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi said that his country is facing growing economic “difficulties” because of Sudanese people fleeing the conflict raging in their country to Egypt . In an interview with a Japanese newspaper on Tuesday, The Asahi Shimbun, Sisi said that the Egyptian economy is doomed to worsen if the country continues to receive more Sudanese escaping the war in Sudan. The Egyptian economy has seen a downturn as a result of Russia’s war on Ukraine. The Egyptian President stated that Egypt hosts nearly nine million individuals from different countries including Sudan, Libya, Syria, Yemen, and other African nations. The conflict in Sudan between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces could easily impact the whole region, explained Sisi, expressing willingness to cooperate with Japan to help the rival Sudanese parties agree on a ceasefire and form a civilian government. Fighting between Sudan's army and the RSF erupted on April 15 resulting in multiple fatalities and injuries. On Sunday, Sisi met with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. The two officials agreed to promote relations between their countries.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/4310251/sisi-egypt-facing-growing-difficulties-more-sudanese-seeking-refuge

UN Envoy Meets Alimi in Aden After 'Constructive Discussions' with Houthis

Arab World

May 4th, 7:50am

Aden - Ali Rabih

Head of the Presidential Leadership Council Rashad al-Alimi meets UN envoy to Yemen Hans Grundberg (Saba)

The UN envoy to Yemen, Hans Grundberg, outlined the Yemeni agreement he sought to conclude after holding "frank, detailed, and constructive" discussions with the Houthis in Sanaa. The UN envoy arrived in Sanaa Monday within the international efforts to support the Saudi and Omani mediation to achieve lasting peace in Yemen. In a media briefing before leaving Sanaa, Grundberg said he had "positive engagements with the authorities in Sanaa" and had "frank, detailed, and constructive discussions on the way forward." The envoy indicated that he was encouraged by what he heard and, indeed, by the constructive engagement by all sides at this critical time. The envoy revealed the broad lines of the agreement he wants to achieve, saying that any deal must deliver tangible benefits for all Yemenis. It should durably stop the violence through a cease-fire that ensures the safety of the Yemeni people, ensure more destinations and flights to and from Sana'a airport, guarantee the smooth and unhindered opening of the Hodeidah ports, and the resumption of the country's oil exports. The envoy indicated that key roads in Taiz and other governorates must be opened, and public sector salaries must be paid regularly, transparently, and sustainably across the country. It is crucial that any agreement also provides for the "preparation and the resumption of an inclusive, Yemeni-owned political process under the UN auspices," said Grundberg, adding that "only through such a process can Yemenis discuss, debate, and decide the terms of reaching a sustainable and just peace." The envoy indicated that he was encouraged by the "positive and constructive atmosphere" during his meetings here in Sanaa. "I look forward to returning in the near future to continue our engagement. I am heading to Aden today to engage with the Government of Yemen and hear their views on the way forward. I will also discuss the way forward with Saudi and Omani officials." After a year of unprecedented calm in Yemen, the parties need to take the next bold steps toward ending the conflict, said Grundberg. The UN envoy asserted that "cooperation at the regional level is also contributing to the current conducive environment." "Opportunities like this are precious, yet at the same time, precarious. More than ever, now is the time for dialogue, compromise, and a demonstration of serious political will and leadership to achieve peace." He asserted that the UN would accompany and support Yemenis every step of the way. After his meetings in Sanaa, Grundberg headed to Aden to meet with the head of the Presidential Leadership Council, Rashad al-Alimi, who affirmed support for the UN endeavors, accusing the Houthis of not being "ready for peace." Meanwhile, the official media reported that the President of the Presidential Leadership Council discussed with the UN envoy Yemeni developments and coordinated international efforts to revive the peace process. Alimi returned Tuesday to Aden from Cairo after a "personal leave," according to state media. Saba news agency reported that Grundberg briefed Alimi on the results of his recent meetings at the local and regional levels. According to the agency, Alimi praised Saudi Arabia's efforts based on its 2021 peace initiatives and the importance of building on them to push the terrorist Houthi militia to deal seriously with regional and international endeavors. The President welcomed the recent statement of the UN Security Council calling for engagement in good faith in peace efforts, stressing the need for any negotiation process based on the agreed terms of reference, particularly the relevant Security Council resolutions. Alimi affirmed the Council's and the government's commitment to supporting the envoy's efforts and regional and international mediators, accusing Houthi militia of "not being ready for peace." Houthi militia doesn't care about the exacerbating suffering that was clear in the painful stampede disaster in Sanaa that killed dozens of poor people looking for any humanitarian aid to survive, indicated Alimi, referring to the stampede that killed more than 200 people and wounded, just before Eid al-Fitr. He called on the international community to pressure the Houthi militia to fulfill its obligations under the Stockholm Agreement, including visits to detention facilities and revealing the fate of thousands of abductees and disappeared persons. Saba agency reported that Alimi warned the international community against overlooking Houthi's unilateral measures and gross human rights violations, encouraging them to mobilize more than a million children into sectarian camps. Meanwhile, the UN envoy and US Special Envoy to Yemen, Tim Lenderking, began a new round of meetings supporting the efforts led by Saudi Arabia and Oman to bring peace to Yemen. Lenderking arrived in Riyadh to discuss the recent developments and reviewed the Kingdom's efforts to back peace efforts, alleviate the humanitarian suffering of the Yemeni people, and support the Yemeni government and economy and the actions of the UN envoy.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/4310166/un-envoy-meets-alimi-aden-after-constructive-discussions-houthis

Iranian Official Says Saudi Trade Delegation to Visit Tehran Soon

Iran

May 4th, 5:52am

Tehran - Asharq Al-Awsat

Mehdi Safari. (Fars News Agency)

A Saudi trade delegation will visit Iran soon to attend a business exhibition, said Deputy Foreign Minister for Economic Diplomacy Mehdi Safari on Wednesday. Running from May 7-10, Iran Expo 2023 is an exhibition focused on Iranian export potential and sponsored by the Trade Promotion Organization of Iran and the Ministry of Industry, Mining, and Trade. "In the next few days, a trade delegation from Saudi Arabia will come to Iran accompanied by a deputy minister to attend the Iran Expo exhibition," Reuters quoted Safari as telling Iranian media. In a mediated agreement brokered by China, Saudi Arabia and Iran announced on March 10 their decision to restore diplomatic ties and reopen their respective embassies and consulates within two months at most. This development was broadly welcomed by the Arab world and the international community. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani announced that Iranian missions in Saudi Arabia have taken their first steps to resume diplomatic activity in the Kingdom.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/4309966/iranian-official-says-saudi-trade-delegation-visit-tehran-soon

Road Accident Leaves 14 Dead in Egypt

Arab World

May 4th, 4:50am

Asharq A-Awsat

People gather at the site where a passenger train derailedin Banha, Qalyubia province, Egypt, Sunday, April 18, 2021. (AP Photo/Fadel Dawood)

Fourteen people were killed and 25 injured after a public transport bus collided with a heavy transport truck on a desert highway in southwestern Egypt on Wednesday, medical and security sources said. The accident occurred on Assuit-Kharga highway, around 400 km (250 miles) southwest of Cairo, in New Valley province, the sources said. Seventeen ambulances were dispatched to the scene to ferry the injured to hospitals, state news agency MENA quoted New Valley governor Mohamed el-Zamlout as saying. It was not immediately clear how the accident occurred.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/4309916/road-accident-leaves-14-dead-egypt

UN: 258 Million People Faced Acute Food Insecurity in 2022

World

May 3rd, 8:43am

Asharq Al-Awsat

This aerial view shows makeshift structures of people displaced by drought at the Ladan internally displaced people (IDP) camp in Dolow on May 1, 2023. (AFP)

More than a quarter-billion people in 58 countries faced acute food insecurity last year due to conflicts, climate change, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine, according to a report published Wednesday. The Global Report on Food Crises, an alliance of humanitarian organizations founded by the UN and European Union, said people faced starvation and death in seven of those countries: Somalia, Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Haiti, Nigeria, South Sudan and Yemen. The report found that that the number of people facing acute food insecurity and requiring urgent food aid — 258 million — had increased for the fourth consecutive year, a “stinging indictment of humanity’s failure” to implement UN goals to end world hunger, said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. While the increase last year was due in part to more populations being analyzed, the report also found that the severity of the problem increased as well, “highlighting a concerning trend of a deterioration.” Rein Paulsen, director of emergencies and resilience for the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, said an interplay of causes was driving hunger. They include conflicts, climate shocks, the impact of the pandemic and consequences of Russia's war in Ukraine that has had an impact on the global trade in fertilizers, wheat, maize and sunflower oil. The impact has been most acute on the poorest countries that are dependent on food imports. “Prices have increased (and) those countries have been adversely affected,” Paulsen said. He called for a “paradigm shift” so that more funding is spent investing in agricultural interventions that anticipate food crises and aim to prevent them. “The challenge that we have is the disequilibrium, the mismatch that exists between the amount of funding money that’s given, what that funding is spent on, and the types of interventions that are required to make a change,” he said. Acute food insecurity is when a person’s inability to consume adequate food puts their lives or livelihoods in immediate danger.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/4308196/un-258-million-people-faced-acute-food-insecurity-2022

UK Security in ‘No Way Complacent’ Ahead of Coronation, Says Minister

Varieties

May 3rd, 7:45am

Asharq Al-Awsat

Coronation plates and mugs are displayed for sale in a gift shop in London, Monday, April 24, 2023. (AP)

British security forces are prepared for King Charles' coronation, security minister Tom Tugendhat said on Wednesday, hours after a man was arrested outside Buckingham Palace for throwing shotgun cartridges. "We're in no way complacent" Tugendhat told Sky News. "I'm very glad to see that the police reacted incredibly quickly, incredibly professionally to the incident last night." He added that months of planning went into preparing for the event, keeping in mind any number of different threats. The incident outside the palace on Tuesday happened days before Saturday's crowning, which is expected to attract large crowds to London in addition to heads of state from around the world who are invited for the formal ceremony. Tugendhat told Times Radio the event was "one of the most important security operations that the country has put into plan." "The police are, to put it mildly, all over it, and our intelligence and other security forces are extremely aware of the challenge that we face," he said.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/4308076/uk-security-%E2%80%98no-way-complacent%E2%80%99-ahead-coronation-says-minister

Blinken and Egypt’s Foreign Minister Discuss Sudan Ceasefire

Arab World

May 3rd, 6:47am

Asharq Al-Awsat

People walk on an almost empty street in southern Khartoum, on May 2, 2023. (AFP)

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry discussed extending and expanding the ceasefire in Sudan during a call on Tuesday, the State Department said. "The Secretary and the Foreign Minister agreed to continue close US-Egypt consultation regarding ongoing efforts to achieve a durable cessation of hostilities in Sudan," State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/4307956/blinken-and-egypt%E2%80%99s-foreign-minister-discuss-sudan-ceasefire

Israeli FM Addresses Rapprochement with Europe to Confront Iran

Iran

May 3rd, 5:40am

Brussels - Tel Aviv - Asharq Al-Awsat

Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen with the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell (Josep Borrell Twitter account)

Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen has said that Europe is finally coming to Israel's side on Iran. Cohen held consultations with senior European officials in Brussels as part of Tel Aviv's efforts to push the EU to take a more assertive policy with Iran, according to the Times of Israel website. Cohen said that he discussed with the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, the importance of the EU designating the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization. Cohen said on his Twitter account that he discussed with Metsola ways to promote a determined fight against Iranian nuclear plans. He said Europe "understands the danger of the Iranian reign of terror now more than ever," adding that economic and political sanctions should be expanded to include other entities. On Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel's top priority was preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon and confronting Tehran's "proxies" in the region. Meanwhile, 25 members of the Knesset withdrew their signatures from a letter recommending the Foreign Ministry supports the independence of "South Azerbaijan" in northwestern Iran. Initially, a group of 32 lawmakers from parties supporting Netanyahu supported the demands of some Azeri parties opposing Iran to establish the "South Azerbaijan" state. Israeli Intelligence Minister Gila Gamliel tweeted that she had persuaded the deputies who signed the recommendation to retract the letter. She said that she was informed of the so-called proposal to support the movement for autonomy, and the members of the Knesset were convinced to back down." The minister asserted that fighting the regime of religious extremism is a common desire of many countries. The recommendation angered the Iranian media, but the authorities did not comment. It also prompted angry reactions among the nationalist parties in Iran, including supporters of the Shah's son, Reza Pahlavi, who visited Israel last month at the invitation of Gamliel. In a tweet, Reza Pahlavi described the Israeli lawmakers' statement as a "verbal assault on Iran's territorial integrity," saying it was "unacceptable and a service to the interests of the anti-Iranian Islamic Republic regime." He added that the letter was "in total conflict with the positions communicated to me by Israeli leaders and senior government officials during my recent meetings with them."

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/4307901/israeli-fm-addresses-rapprochement-europe-confront-iran

Saudi Arabia Condemns Storming of its Cultural Attaché Office in Sudan

Gulf

May 3rd, 4:41am

Asharq Al-Awsat

People walk on an almost empty street in southern Khartoum, on May 2, 2023. (AFP)

The Saudi Foreign Ministry announced on Tuesday that its cultural attaché office in Khartoum was stormed earlier in the day by an armed group that looted the property. The group also destroyed equipment and cameras. The ministry expressed the Kingdom’s strong condemnation of the incident, calling on all sides to respect the diplomatic missions and for the perpetrators to be brought to justice. It reiterated Riyadh’s call for a halt to the military escalation between the warring parties and for civilians, residents and diplomats to be protected from the violence.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/4307841/saudi-arabia-condemns-storming-its-cultural-attach%C3%A9-office-sudan

Tehran: Our Missions in Saudi Arabia Have Taken First Steps to Resume Operations

Iran

May 2nd, 8:39am

London, Tehran - Asharq Al-Awsat

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani speaks at a press conference in Tehran. (Iranian Foreign Ministry)

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani announced that Iranian missions in Saudi Arabia have taken their first steps to resume diplomatic activity in the Kingdom. Speaking at a weekly press conference in Tehran, Kanaani expressed Iran’s desire to reopen both the Saudi and Iranian embassies in their respective capitals by the agreed-upon date of May 10, as outlined in the diplomatic relations resumption agreement between the two nations. Kanaani underscored that the Iranian embassy in Riyadh, as well as its consulate and mission office to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) both in Jeddah, have initiated the necessary process to restart their operations. This information was relayed by Iranian government agencies. Kanaani also lauded Saudi Arabia for its role in easing and assisting the movement of many Iranian residents from Sudan to Iran. This appreciation follows Iran’s recent announcement that 65 of its citizens had left Port Sudan for Iran via Jeddah. In a mediated agreement brokered by China, Saudi Arabia and Iran announced on March 10 their decision to restore diplomatic ties and reopen their respective embassies and consulates within two months at most. This development was broadly welcomed from both regional and international communities. In April, representatives from both nations visited their respective embassies in Riyadh and Tehran to commence the process of reopening them. Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian announced on Friday that the embassies of Saudi Arabia and Iran would be reopened “in the coming days.” Speaking at a press conference in Beirut, he stated that during a recent phone call between the foreign ministers of their countries on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr, they agreed to work towards reopening the embassies in Tehran and Riyadh in the near future. Last week, Kanaani expressed hope that Iran’s diplomatic missions in Saudi Arabia would be reopened by May 9.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/4306226/tehran-our-missions-saudi-arabia-have-taken-first-steps-resume-operations

Iran, Syria to Sign Agreements During Raisi's Visit to Damascus

Iran

May 2nd, 7:43am

Damascus – Asharq Al-Awsat

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi (Reuters)

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi will visit Damascus Wednesday at the head of a sizeable ministerial delegation, the first by an Iranian president to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad since war broke out in Syria in 2011. A local newspaper revealed an Iranian plan to invest in the electricity sector in Syria, which will be discussed during the President's visit. Al-Watan quoted informed sources saying that the Syrian government is arranging to sign new agreements with Iran in energy and electricity and that negotiations will occur during the Iranian President's visit. The talks will also address a new Iranian line of credit to be invested in electricity, aiming to help Syria improve the sector, which has been suffering for over a decade. According to the newspaper's sources, the Iranian delegation will discuss assisting Syria in repairing and establishing new electric power plants. The Iranian President's agenda includes talks with his Syrian counterpart, meetings with Syrian politicians and clerics, and a tour of several areas in Damascus and its countryside. Meanwhile, the joint Syrian-Iraqi committee began meeting in Damascus less than a week after the joint Syrian-Iranian economic committee sessions in Damascus. The meetings discussed establishing the railway line through Iran, Iraq, and Syria and constructing the Basra-Shalamcheh line, announced Iranian minister for roads and construction Mehrdad Bazerbash. Bazerbash chaired the Iranian delegation in the meetings that focused on the electricity and priorities in the Iranian credit line. They also addressed the railway corridor, increasing the number of trips between the two countries, assisting the Syrian fleet, and inaugurating the al-Hamidiyah Port in Tartus. The Iranian side renewed its request for 5,000 hectares of Syrian agricultural land for agricultural experiments and transferred Iranian expertise to the Syrian side. Iraqi Trade Minister, Atheer al-Ghurairy, headed the Iraqi delegation, and the Syrian Minister of Economy and Foreign Trade, Mohammad Samer al-Khalil, chaired the team to the meetings of the Syrian-Iraqi joint committee. According to local media in Damascus, a number of joint memorandums of understanding are expected to be signed. Meanwhile, Syrian authorities are removing the checkpoints in Damascus near the security square, including a barrier at the entrance to the al-Maliki neighborhood close to the presidential palace. Earlier, Damascus governorate removed illegal stalls and kiosks on sidewalks and roads to facilitate traffic. The services department warned all stalls and kiosks' owners and then began removing the illegal businesses, issuing tickets for their owners. Notably, Damascus preceded the visit of the Saudi Foreign Minister to Damascus last April by removing three roadblocks leading to the Abu Rummaneh neighborhood, where most Arab embassies are located. It is close to the presidential palace and the Four Seasons Hotel, the residence of international delegations. The streets surrounding religious shrines, such as Sitt Ruqayyah in Old Damascus and the shrine of Sayyida Zeinab in southern Damascus, are witnessing a cleaning campaign amid a security alert. The Iranian President is expected to visit the areas and the shrines.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/4306116/iran-syria-sign-agreements-during-raisis-visit-damascus

Hemedti to Asharq Al-Awsat: We Have Control of Khartoum, We Don’t Fear Foreign Meddling

Arab World

May 2nd, 5:53am

London – Aidroos Abdulaziz

Commander of Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) General Mohamed Hamdan “Hemedti” Daglo. (Reuters)

General Mohamed Hamdan “Hemedti” Daglo, commander of Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) stressed that his forces are now in complete control of the capital Khartoum’s three main districts: Khartoum, Khartoum Bahri and Omdurman. In an interview to Asharq Al-Awsat, he added that the RSF is working closely with the citizens to find solutions to water and electricity problems and shortages in over services. He added that it was unfortunate that the Sudanese people have to endure such dire humanitarian conditions as a result of the conflict. “This is largely the responsibility of those who sparked the war,” he stated. Moreover, Hemedti revealed that his forces agreed to the humanitarian truce to ease the suffering of the people. He expressed his gratitude to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and United States for their efforts aimed at ending the war. Commenting on the conflicting information about the situation on the ground, he explained that the “coupist armed forces and their backers from the ousted regime are fabricating lies and misleading the media.” “A short trip to the cities of the capital will eliminate any claims and set the records straight,” he added. “Our forces are in complete control of Khartoum and have greatly outmatched the coupists and remnants of the former regime,” Hemedti declared. Asked to specify which areas the RSF is holding, he replied that there are too many to count, but confirmed that the three main districts of Khartoum are under the RSF’s control. He declined to divulge his forces’ next moves or their field plans. “Some describe the declaration of victories as a attempt to raise morale. How do you comment on this?” asked Asharq Al-Awsat. “Perhaps this applies to the other party that is trying to draw up an unrealistic image. Our control on the ground reflects the extent and reality of these victories,” replied Hemedti. Asked if the battles will end some time soon, he remarked that the end cannot be predicted through assumptions, but through the situation on the field. “We hope to put this chapter behind us as soon as possible to ease the suffering of our people. We have repeatedly said that the war was never our choice, but it was imposed on us and we were forced to defend ourselves and the aspirations of our people who refuse the return of the ousted regime,” Hemedti stressed. Commenting on the 72-hour ceasefire and whether it can be extended, he first expressed his gratitude to the US, specifically Secretary of State Antony Blinken, for their efforts to that end. “Blinken was in constant communication with us. We also thank friendly and fraternal countries, especially Saudi Arabia and the UAE,” he added. “We agreed to the truce to ease the suffering of the people and open humanitarian corridors. However, the other side did not commit to the conditions of the ceasefire and continued to violate it. In fact, it committed major atrocities against innocent civilians, who were hit by air strikes and artillery fire,” Hemedti went on to say. “Those who cannot commit to a 72-hour ceasefire are unlikely to commit to any pledges in the near or distant future,” he noted. Moreover, he revealed that the “coup forces and remnants of the former regime are running their battles against us from several command centers. More than one side is running the military, so which side can we cooperate with over a ceasefire?” The people are suffering from a lack of water and electricity, hospitals have gone out of service, banks and shops have been shut and there are real fears of famine. “It is unfortunate that the people have to suffer such humanitarian conditions. This is largely on the shoulders of those who sparked the war,” Hemedti stated. “We are working with the people to find immediate solutions to these problems and we will reach them.” Addressing claims that the RSF members are undisciplined and using the people as human shields, he replied: “This is propaganda promoted by the leaders of the coup and their backers from the remnants of the extremist former regime. They are seeking to tarnish our image before the local and international public. We have grown accustomed to such lies.” “Our forces are exerting great efforts and have thwarted many plots, including the latest coup. We have largely helped evacuate foreigners from the country. How can undisciplined forces commit such acts?” Hemedti added. “It is the leaders of the armed coup that are using the people as human shields. Their barracks are located in residential areas, while ours are not,” he emphasized. “The coupists have killed the people in air strikes and shelled neighborhoods. As for the diplomatic missions, you can ask them if they were evacuated by the RSF or not. We have evacuated over 30 missions, as well as foreign residents from a number of countries,” he continued. Furthermore, Hemedti denied that he had received an initiative from the National Umma Party to hold a meeting with army chief Abdul Fattah al-Burhan. “We never received such an initiative,” he stressed to Asharq Al-Awsat. Commenting on fears that the conflict could turn into a civil war given the several armies and lack of security in the country, he remarked: “The coupist commanders of the armed forces and their extremist supporters from the former regime are seeking a civil war.” “We are coordinating with several parties to maintain security and stability in the country and ease the dangers that could emerge from this war,” he added. Asharq Al-Awsat asked if he feared foreign meddling playing a role in the conflict, to which he replied: “I don’t believe this is true. The regional countries are working closely on the security and stability of Sudan and the entire region. Of course, they will not interfere in a purely Sudanese affair.” “You have repeatedly said that your war is not with the army, but its command and the Islamists,” said Asharq Al-Awsat. “Yes, this is the truth. We are fighting the coupist commanders of the armed forces and their extremist backers from the former regime,” he responded. “The facts were revealed in the statement released by Ahmed Haroun, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court, when he confirmed the coordination and participation of the so-called ‘Mujahideen Brigades’ and ‘Civil Defense’ with the armed forces in this war,” Hemedti stressed. “The remnants of the regime are in control of decision-making positions in the army, but some honorable members in the military oppose the situation,” he remarked. Hemedti declined to divulge the size of his forces. Asked if he believed that parties will again return to the Framework Agreement, he replied: “Yes, this will happen after the defeat or surrender of the coupist commanders of the armed forces. This is a vow we made before our people and we do not renege on vows.” Addressing reports that members of the ousted regime had fled prison, he said it was expected. “This was part of the coup that was arranged by the commanders of the armed forces with the remnants of the regime.” “This was all arranged by Burhan and his allies in the military and extremists in the former regime,” he added.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/4305901/hemedti-asharq-al-awsat-we-have-control-khartoum-we-don%E2%80%99t-fear-foreign-meddling

Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai

Varieties

May 2nd, 5:46am

Asharq Al-Awsat

Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai

Saudi Arabia, represented by the Tourism Authority, is participating in the 30th edition of the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai, which will run until May 4, aiming to boost the Kingdom's position on the global tourism map and feature its destinations, experiences, products, and investment opportunities. The Kingdom's pavilion hosts the largest Saudi delegation ever, with 67 partners of the Saudi tourism sector, in addition to more than 500 prime tourism packages and itineraries that are ready for immediate reservations, according to SPA. The Kingdom's participation in the global tourism forum integrates with its efforts to become an easier and more entertaining travel destination, with increasing demand for bookings along the Red Sea coast and the southern highlands. Saudi Arabia offers visitors various types of visas, such as the Umrah visa, transit visa, and family visit visa, in addition to making an electronic visa available to residents of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries without requiring specific professions. The on-arrival visa was also made available to citizens of the United States, the United Kingdom, and European Union countries, as well as holders of US, UK and Schengen visas. Nusuk, the unified national platform for visitors to Makkah and Madinah destinations, is participating in the Saudi pavilion at the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai with more than 20 partners representing the major Umrah companies, organizing trips, and providing services to the Umrah performers. At the Arabian Travel Market, CEO and board member of the Saudi Tourism Authority Fahd Hamidaddin stated that Saudi Arabia today is the top investor globally in tourism and an ideal destination for major international tourism investors. He added that the number of visitors to the Kingdom who came for tourism, Umrah, and business purposes in the first quarter of this year exceeded what was achieved in the same period last year. Saudi tourism has recorded an accelerated growth that reached 121% compared to the growth rates of international tourism in the pre-pandemic period, as the Kingdom achieved 93.5 million visits in 2022. Today, the Kingdom is the largest investor in tourism in the world, by allocating more than $550 billion to major projects and new destinations to be inaugurated by 2030.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/4305891/saudi-tourism-authority-participates-arabian-travel-market-exhibition-dubai

Agreement Signed to Establish Saudi Arabia’s 1st Integrated Steel Plate Manufacturing Complex

Business

May 2nd, 4:31am

Asharq Al-Awsat

Officials sign the agreement on Monday, (Aramco)

Saudi Aramco, one of the world’s leading integrated energy and chemicals companies, Baoshan Iron & Steel Co., Ltd. (Baosteel), the world’s leading steel conglomerate, and the Public Investment Fund (PIF) signed on Monday a shareholders’ agreement to establish an integrated steel plate manufacturing complex in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Subject to customary regulatory approvals and closing conditions, the joint venture complex is expected to be located in Ras al-Khair Industrial City, one of the four new Special Economic Zones recently announced by Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince, Prime Minister and Chairman of the Council of Economic and Development Affairs. The complex would bring together Aramco’s unrivaled energy and industrial services ecosystem, Baosteel’s advanced steel plate industry capability and PIF’s strong financial capabilities and investment expertise, said a press statement. It would be the first facility of its kind in the Kingdom and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, advancing the regional steel industry ecosystem. The project aims to enhance the domestic manufacturing sector through localizing the production of heavy steel plates, transferring knowledge and creating export opportunities. The facility is expected to have a steel plate production capacity of up to 1.5 million tons per year. It would also be equipped with a natural gas-based direct reduced iron (DRI) furnace and an electric arc furnace, which aims to reduce CO2 emissions from the steel-making process by up to 60% compared to a traditional blast furnace. The DRI plant would be compatible with hydrogen without the need for major equipment modifications, potentially reducing CO2 emissions by up to 90% in the future. Amin Nasser, Aramco President & CEO, said: “The Kingdom’s first steel plate production facility is expected to enhance Saudi Arabia’s steel industry ecosystem and improve supply chain localization.” “Under Aramco’s flagship industrial investment program, Namaat, and supported by the government’s Shareek program, this joint venture is expected to create jobs and contribute to economic growth and diversification. This joint venture is also an example of bringing together expertise from other sectors. With Baosteel and PIF supporting in capacity building in the Kingdom’s industrial sector, Aramco aims to create additional value for our company and our partners,” he added. Yazeed A. Al-Humied, Deputy Governor and Head of MENA Investments at PIF, said: “PIF is diversifying the Saudi economy by unlocking opportunities and enabling key strategic sectors in the local market. This partnership aims at establishing an integrated steel plate manufacturing facility that will strengthen Saudi Arabia’s industrial development and enable its role as a supplier within the metal industry.” “It will also build on PIF’s mandate to establish new strategic partnerships locally and globally; localize technologies and knowledge; enable the private sector; and create more direct and indirect job opportunities in the local market. Since 2017, PIF has invested in 13 strategic sectors and established 77 new companies domestically,” he stressed. Zou Jixin, Chairman of Baosteel, said: “This project is an active practice by Baosteel to explore lower-carbon paths for the steel industry, a major achievement in promoting the international development strategy of Baosteel. The project aims to contribute positively to the localization of the steel industry chain, job creation and local economic prosperity in Saudi Arabia.” Chen Derong, Chairman of Baowu Group (the parent company of Baosteel), and Hu Wangming, President of Baowu Group, have further endorsed the project with full confidence. Saudi Arabia would be the project’s primary target market, with plans to export to the GCC and broader MENA region. It is expected to create new jobs and significantly reduce reliance on imported steel, serving customers in several strategic industrial sectors including pipelines, shipbuilding, rig manufacturing, offshore platform fabrication and tank and pressure vessel manufacturing. It also would aim to serve the construction, renewables and marine sectors. The investment aligns with PIF’s strategy to unlock the capabilities of promising sectors and strategically important industries that can drive the diversification of the local economy. It will support a number of PIF’s priority sectors that require steel plate and create a more resilient steel industry in the region. The steel plate complex is supported by the Kingdom’s Shareek program for large companies, which aims to foster greater private-public cooperation, create jobs and enhance the development of the Saudi economy by providing incentives for domestic investment. It also falls under Aramco’s Namaat program, which aims to establish strategic partnerships that drive Saudi Arabia’s economic, supply chain and industrial investment diversification and expansion.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/4305846/agreement-signed-establish-saudi-arabia%E2%80%99s-1st-integrated-steel-plate

Saudi Arabia Explores Financing New Type for Logistics Sector

Business

May 1st, 9:13am

Riyadh - Bandar al-Mosalam

Saudi Arabia is currently conducting a technical study to provide public companies in the logistics services sector with new funding for “build to suit” warehouse construction projects. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia is currently conducting a technical study to provide public companies in the logistics services sector with new funding for “build to suit” warehouse construction projects due to the high demand for this type of loan. Specializing in providing commercial property lessees with an agreement with a developer or landowner to construct a new facility for rent, this type of financing allows for optimal use of the land and building. The lessee usually becomes the sole occupant and determines the design to meet business needs. Sources said the Saudi Ministry of Transport and Logistics Services and the Saudi Industrial Development Fund have instructed the private sector to grant direct access to new funding for three nominated companies. This decision follows a series of meetings held to discuss the mechanism, marking a step towards developing and enabling operating facilities in the sector. Sources confirm that one facility has expressed interest in participating in a trial of the new funding, with two available opportunities currently under consideration. The move aims to contribute to the development of the logistics services sector, which is experiencing a qualitative leap in Saudi Arabia, and to enable operating companies in the sector. Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, launched the National Strategy for Transport and Logistics Services in 2021, with the aim of positioning the Kingdom as a global logistics hub connecting three continents. The strategy intends to upgrade all transportation services and bolster integration in the logistics services system and modern transportation patterns. This aims to support the Kingdom's comprehensive development process. The strategy comprises a series of significant projects designed to facilitate the attainment of economic and social objectives, along with the implementation of efficient governance models to strengthen institutional operations within the system.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/4304311/saudi-arabia-explores-financing-new-type-logistics-sector

Kane Says Spurs’ Slow Starts ‘Unacceptable'

Sports

May 1st, 9:07am

Asharq Al-Awsat

Tottenham Hotspur's English striker Harry Kane applauds fans on the pitch after the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on April 30, 2023. (AFP)

Tottenham Hotspur have frequently spoken about the need to tighten up their leaky defense over the last few weeks but striker Harry Kane said it is time to put words into action after they coughed up early goals again on Sunday. Liverpool were 3-0 up inside 15 minutes at Anfield and while Tottenham pegged the hosts back to 3-3, Diogo Jota's stoppage-time goal earned the Merseyside club a 4-3 victory. Spurs conceded five in the opening 21 minutes of a 6-1 rout at Newcastle United and fell behind after only seven minutes in Thursday's 2-2 draw with Manchester United. Kane said their performance in the early stages of Sunday's game showed they had not learned their lesson. "It's not the first time it's happened this season. We need to start understanding big games better," he told Sky Sports. "We've shown we can come back into games and to do it here away at Anfield shows what we're capable of but to have the starts we have had are hard to put into words and are unacceptable. "There's only so many words you can use, the bottom line is you need to go out there and show it isn't that case." Interim coach Ryan Mason said the players had to be ready from the first whistle. "If you're not ready to start games with full intensity you're going to concede goals and to be 3-0 down after that time is hard," Mason told the BBC. "The manner in which we concede the last goal makes it impossible to take. I need to speak to the players on that, we need to address it and do it quickly."

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/4304306/kane-says-spurs%E2%80%99-slow-starts-%E2%80%98unacceptable

World Food Program Lifts Suspension of Operations in Sudan

Arab World

May 1st, 7:37am

Asharq Al-Awsat

American nationals board US Navy ship Brunswick, as they are evacuated from the port, as clashes between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese army continue, in Port Sudan, Sudan, April 30, 2023. (Reuters)

The United Nations' World Food Program said on Monday it will immediately lift the suspension of its operations in Sudan that was put in place after the tragic deaths of its team member. "WFP is rapidly resuming our programs to provide the life-saving assistance that many so desperately need right now," WFP executive director Cindy McCain wrote on Twitter. The WFP said on April 16 it had temporarily halted all operations in Sudan after three of its employees were killed in clashes between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) a day earlier.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/4304131/world-food-program-lifts-suspension-operations-sudan

Palestinians: Israeli Fire Kills Teen in West Bank Raid

Arab World

May 1st, 5:55am

Asharq Al-Awsat

File photo: Israeli soldiers secure the area at the Huwara checkpoint south of the West Bank city of Nablus, Nov. 4, 2020. (AP)

Israeli forces fatally shot a Palestinian teenager in a raid in the occupied West Bank on Monday, the Palestinian Health Ministry said, part of a relentless wave of violence that has rocked the region for the last year. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military, which has been staging near-nightly raids in West Bank cities, towns and villages in what it says is an attempt to stamp out militancy. Dozens of Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire this year and 19 people have been killed in Palestinian attacks against Israelis during that time. The Palestinian Health Ministry identified the teen as Jibril al-Laada, 17. It said three others were seriously wounded in the fighting, which took place in the Aqabat Jabr refugee camp near the West Bank city of Jericho. The camp has been a frequent target of Israeli raids, The Associated Press said. Israel launched the raids after a spate of Palestinian attacks last spring. That set off some of the worst fighting between Israel and Palestinians in the West Bank in years and while Israel says the raids are meant to thwart future attacks, violence against Israelis does not appear to be slowing. Nearly 150 Palestinians were killed in the West Bank and east Jerusalem last year, making 2022 the deadliest year in those areas since 2004, according to leading Israeli rights group B'Tselem. Casualties have spiked this year, with 98 Palestinians killed by Israeli fire, according to a tally by The Associated Press. Israel says most of those killed have been armed fighters, but youths protesting the incursions have also been killed as have people not involved in the confrontations. The Palestinians see the raids as a further entrenchment of Israel's 56-year, open-ended occupation. The Palestinians seek the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem for their hoped-for independent state. Israel captured those territories in the 1967 Mideast war.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/4303936/palestinians-israeli-fire-kills-teen-west-bank-raid

Houthis Release Faisal Rajab 8 Years after his Arrest

Arab World

May 1st, 5:47am

Aden - Ali Rabih

Supporters accompany military commander Major General Faisal Rajab (C), on April 30, 2023, following his release by the Houthis in Sanaa. (AFP)

The Iran-backed Houthi group unilaterally released on Sunday Yemeni military commander Major General Faisal Rajab eight years after his arrest. Rajab’s release is stipulated in United Nations Security Council 2216. He was detained by the Houthis in 2015 when they were attempting to occupy Aden city, now the interim capital. UN envoy to Yemen Hans Grundberg welcomed the release, tweeting: “I appeal to all parties to build on the progress achieved and intensify the efforts to release all detainees, based on the ‘all for all’ principle as stipulated in the Stockholm Agreement.” The government warily received the development, saying the Houthis were simply trying to improve their image and drive a wedge between their rivals. The Houthis claimed that Rajab was released at the initiative of their leader, Abdulmalek al-Houthi. In the build-up to his release, Houthi media had claimed that the government had abandoned him during the latest prisoner swap negotiations. The government denied the allegations. Government loyalists described the release as “theatrics”, but still welcomed the initiative and called on the Houthis to free more than thousands of other prisoners according to the “all for all” principle. A four-member delegation of tribes from Rajab’s Abeen province had traveled to Houthi-held Sanaa to mediate his release with the group. The government said the move was planned so as to polish the Houthis’ image. A Houthi official said Rajab was being released in honor of the tribal delegation. Abdul Baset Al-Qaedi, undersecretary at Yemen's Information Ministry, revealed that the governor of Abeen was appointed by the Houthis and every member of the tribal delegation that was in Sanaa “is insignificant and has no influence.” He told Asharq Al-Awsat that the Houthis had refused to release Rajab in the last prisoner swap. Rather they opted to free him “in the dramatic fashion that we saw play out in boring detail in the media,” he added. He accused the Houthis of lying when they claimed that the government had disregarded Rajab and did not negotiate his release during the last swap. Resolution 2216 calls for the release of Rajab; former Defense Minister Mahmoud al-Subaihi; Nasser Mansour Hadi, the brother of former President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi; and leading al-Islah Party member Mohammed Qahtan. Subaihi and Nasser were released during the latest prisoner exchange between the government and Houthis. The Houthis continue to oppose the release of Qahtan or even allow him to communicate with his family. Rajab reportedly was allowed to communicate with his loved ones only twice during his eight years in prison, said informed government sources. Fayyad al-Numan, another undersecretary at the Information Ministry, welcomed Rajab’s release. Such humanitarian files should not be used by the Houthis for political and media extortion, he urged. The Houthis, he added, continue to “prioritize their discriminatory agenda above all Yemeni interests.” Rajab’s release is a “failed attempt by the Houthis to improve their ugly image that is stained by the blood of the Yemeni people,” he stated. “The Houthis are continuing to exploit the prisoner and abductee file to make false media and political gains,” he added.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/4303926/houthis-release-faisal-rajab-8-years-after-his-arrest