Saudi Arabia, Pakistan to work on transfer of technology in vaccine production
Saudi Arabia, Pakistan to work on transfer of technology in vaccine production/node/2388936/saudi-arabia
Saudi Arabia, Pakistan to work on transfer of technology in vaccine production
Saudi Health Minister Fahad Al-Jalajel meets his Pakistani counterpart, Dr. Nadeem Jan, on the sidelines of the 70th session of the World Health Organization’s Regional Committee of the Eastern Mediterranean in Cairo, Egypt. (Supplied)
ISLAMABAD: The health ministers of Saudi Arabia and Pakistan agreed to enhance bilateral collaboration in the field of healthcare, vowing to work together on the transfer of technology for the production of vaccines.
The announcement came after Saudi Health Minister Fahad Al-Jalajel met his Pakistani counterpart, Dr. Nadeem Jan, on the sidelines of the 70th session of the World Health Organization’s Regional Committee of the Eastern Mediterranean in Cairo, Egypt, on Monday.
“The health ministries of both the countries will work on the transfer of technology in vaccine production,” a statement from the Pakistani side said, adding that the ministers agreed on an exchange of expertise “soon” through a team of health experts to formalize the proposal and MoU for the transfer of technology.
Technical assistance in the field of nursing and paramedics between the two nations was also discussed and it was decided that a Saudi delegation would visit Pakistan to finalize recommendations and agreements.
Jan informed the Saudi minister about the plan to set up Pharma Pak, under which the production of medicines in Pakistan would be promoted, and Al-Jalajel offered his full support for the project.
Al-Jalajel also said Riyadh would support Pakistan in its plans to organize the South Asian nation’s first global health security summit on Dec. 1-2.
Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have always enjoyed close defense and diplomatic ties, and in recent years have sought to broaden and deepen their cooperation and add more strategic value to the relationship.
A large number of medical professionals from Pakistan are employed at hospitals in Saudi Arabia, which recognized the services of Pakistani doctors during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Saudi civil defense issues safety warnings as heavy rainfall sweeps across kingdom
Updated 01 September 2024
Arab News
RIYADH: The Saudi Ministry of Environment detailed significant rainfall across eight regions in Saudi Arabia, with the National Center for Meteorology registering the highest amount in the Madinah region at 37.4 millimeters.
The rainfall occurred between 9 a.m. on Friday and 9 a.m. on Saturday, impacting areas including Makkah, Madinah, Qassim, Aseer, Tabuk, Jazan, Najran, and Al-Baha.
The airport in Madinah received 35.2 millimeters of rain, while the Haram area saw 27.6 millimeters.
In Makkah, Yalamlam and Al-Leith recorded 17.4 millimeters, with 8.0 millimeters in Al-Leith Dam.
Other regions saw varying amounts, such as 1.8 millimeters in Qassim's Uqlat Al Saqoor and 28.6 millimeters in Al-Baha’s Bilkhazmar and Al Mandaq.
The Directorate General of Civil Defense issued a warning to the public, advising against swimming in areas where water has accumulated or crossing valleys, which can be dangerous after rainfall.
The Civil Defense urged citizens and residents to follow safety instructions broadcast through various media channels and social media platforms.
KSrelief continues medical services, water project across Yemen
Updated 01 September 2024
Arab News
RIYADH: Saudi aid agency, KSrelief, continued to provide medical services to beneficiaries in Yemen, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
With support from KSrelief, Al-Ja'dah Health centers in Yemen's Hajjah Governorate offered treatment to 8,425 beneficiaries in July.
During this period, the epidemic control clinic treated 986 patients, the emergency clinic assisted 3,657 patients, and the internal medicine clinic served 1,333 beneficiaries.
KSrelief also supported the Kidney Dialysis Center in Al-Ghidhah District in Yemen's Al-Muhrah Governorate.
Supported by KSrelief, Yemen's Al-Ja'dah Healthcare Center treats 8,425 patients (SPA)
In July, the center treated 126 patients. Of these, 54 received 446 sessions of kidney dialysis and three emergency sessions, while 75 patients received inspection and medical tests in the kidney diseases clinic.
Meanwhile, the Saudi aid agency continued its water supply and environmental sanitation project in Yemen, specifically in Midi, Haradh, Hayran, and Abs districts of Hajjah and in Al-Azhour camp in the Razih district of Saada Governorate.
In July, 41,663,000 liters of usable water and 4,343,000 liters of drinkable water were pumped in Hajjah, and 156 trips were made to remove waste from displaced persons camps.
In Saada, 210,000 liters each of drinking water and usable water were pumped, benefiting 30,100 individuals.
The Saudi aid agency continued its water supply and environmental sanitation project in Yemen. (SPA)
Saudi king, crown prince offer condolences to Thai king over victims of floods and landslides
Updated 01 September 2024
Arab News
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman sent condolences to King Maha Vajiralongkorn of Thailand over the victims of floods and landslides in various areas of the Southeast Asian nation.
Heavy rainfall since August 16 caused widespread havoc across the kingdom, leaving at least 22 people dead and 20 injured, including 13 due to a landslide in Phuket island, according to the United Nation's Relief Web news site.
The report said at least 30,000 people have been affected by floods across five provinces, including Chiang Rai, Sukhothai and Prae in northern Thailand.
PIF’s gaming entity aims to become a global games leader by 2030
Savvy’s CEO Brian Ward sheds light on company’s achievements, future plans
Updated 01 September 2024
Lama Alhamawi
RIYADH: The CEO of Savvy Gaming Group recently detailed the latest progress from its 2023 annual report and highlighted key areas of expansion in 2025.
Brian Ward told Arab News: “2025 is going to be a very exciting year for Savvy.
“First of all, on the esports side, we have the inaugural Olympic Esports Games here in Riyadh, sometime later in the second half of the year. So, a huge tournament, the first official addition to the Olympic movement since the Winter Games in 1928,” he explained.
“On the game development and publishing side, we expect to be able to announce another major investment or acquisition, hopefully in a top team or publisher that can bring another great game to our portfolio,” he said.
HIGHLIGHTS
• The company emphasized its mission and commitment to transparency through the publication of its first inaugural annual report providing key resources for understanding Savvy’s trajectory in the gaming sector.
• On creating jobs, Ward said that the team has now doubled in size within the last year.
Savvy is one of the entities responsible for positioning the Kingdom as a major global hub for the games industry, with a mission to become a world leader by 2030.
Since its launch in September 2022 by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, also the chairman of the board of Savvy Games Group, the PIF-owned company has expanded its assets on multiple fronts from human capital, acquisitions, game development, and investment.
Brian Ward, Savvy Gaming Group CEO
“I think we’ll see a lot more collaboration amongst all the stakeholders in the Kingdom toward creating great incentives to attract foreign investment and to bring jobs to Saudi Arabia, as well as training and development programs actually kicking off to help develop skills for Saudis,” Ward said.
According to the 2023 annual report published by Savvy, there are more than 21 million self-identified game players in Saudi Arabia — 70 percent of the population — with over 48 percent of these players being women.
The company emphasized its mission and commitment to transparency through the publication of its first inaugural annual report providing key resources for understanding Savvy’s trajectory in the gaming sector.
On the game development and publishing side, we expect to be able to announce another major investment or acquisition, hopefully in a top team or publisher that can bring another great game to our portfolio.
Brian Ward, Savvy Gaming Group CEO
One of the major central themes of the report is Savvy’s role in delivering Saudi Arabia’s National Gaming and Esports Strategy.
In a statement released by Savvy, the CEO said: “2023 was a transformative year for Savvy. Our investments and initiatives have expanded our global footprint and contributed to exciting developments within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and added significant shareholder value.
“I would like to extend my gratitude to our chairman for his wise counsel and leadership and our shareholder, the PIF, for their unwavering support and guidance.”
The annual report detailed how 2023 marked a major year of investment for Savvy, with the largest transaction being a $4.9 billion acquisition of Scopely, the rebranding of Savvy Games Studios to Steer Studios, and the launch of “MONOPOLY GO!”
On creating jobs, Ward said that the team has now doubled in size within the last year. Savy’s workforce now has over 3,500 employees across 22 countries with an emphasis on hiring people in key areas such as finance, strategy, legal, human resources, and communications.
When asked how Savvy aims to contribute to the Kingdom’s growing gaming sector, Ward said they are executing on three fronts: games development and publishing investment worldwide, esports development, and then Saudi Arabian ecosystem-building.
“On the KSA ecosystem-building front, our main mission, as we see it, is to help coalesce and drive further collaboration amongst local stakeholders to ensure that we have the right incentives, packages to attract foreign investment and jobs, training and development programs, coming to fruition to give Saudis the right skills to fill those jobs,” he explained.
Ward highlighted how Savvy’s local studio is doing “extremely well,” adding that “there’s about 85 or 90 people in that studio now. They’re in development of two mobile games, one of which is in soft launch and, hoping to kick off a console project with an important, local third party.”
Speaking on the recent New Global Sports Conference, Ward said it was very successful.
“We were remarking that I don’t think any of us had seen that number of senior executives from the games industry all in one place in many, many years, so super well-attended from that point.”
Al-Jouf: A fruitful fusion of local and global fruit production
“The Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture champions cultivating specific fruit varieties through the Sustainable Agricultural Rural Development Program”
Updated 31 August 2024
Arab News
RIYADH: Every year, farmers in the region of Al-Jouf harvest fruits from more than two million trees, contributing to Al-Jouf’s reputation as the “fruit basket” of the Kingdom, according to a recent Saudi Press Agency report.
The SPA stated that the fruits of Al-Jouf are “known for their exceptional quality and taste.”
The fruit farms are also one of Al-Jouf’s major tourist attractions. (SPA)
According to the National Center for the Prevention and Control of Plant Pests and Animal Diseases statistics, the region — known for its fertile soil — is home to more than 1.3 million fruit trees, as well as 816,000 palm trees.
The farms yield over 170,000 tons of fruit annually, which is sold at both local and international markets.
FASTFACT
According to the National Center for the Prevention and Control of Plant Pests and Animal Diseases statistics, the region is home to more than 1.3 million fruit trees, as well as 816,000 palm trees.
“This supply contributes to the Kingdom’s food security, supports farmers and producers, and provides consumers with high-quality natural products,” the SPA report said.
The farms yield over 170,000 tons of fruit annually, which is sold at both local and international markets. (SPA)
Fruit harvesting takes place year-round, peaking between May and December. Fruits produced in Al-Jouf include figs, grapes, peaches, apricots, lemons, oranges, tangerines, apples, pears, watermelons, plums, nectarines, pomegranates, and various berries, thanks to its favorable environmental conditions and access to fresh water in Tabarjal Governorate. Pistachios and almonds are also grown in the region.
Embracing tropical and global varieties
Their success in cultivating tropical and non-native fruits in Al-Jouf has encouraged farmers to experiment with imported crops, including passion fruits and pineapples. Trees native to Al-Jouf are also in demand overseas and are regularly exported for processing industries.
Fruit harvesting takes place year-round, peaking between May and December. (SPA)
“The Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture champions cultivating specific fruit varieties through the Sustainable Agricultural Rural Development Program,” the SPA noted. “Additionally, associations and government bodies offer training programs for farmers and entrepreneurs in agricultural production, fruit cultivation, and processing industries.”
The fruit farms are also one of Al-Jouf’s major tourist attractions, the SPA said, along with, “the region’s natural beauty, moderate weather, and historical sites.”
