Saudi Arabia localizes rose cultivation to boost agriculture

Saudi Arabia localizes rose cultivation to boost agriculture
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Key incentives include the success of tissue culture rose cultivation, which lowers production costs while promoting growth. (SPA)
Saudi Arabia localizes rose cultivation to boost agriculture
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Key incentives include the success of tissue culture rose cultivation, which lowers production costs while promoting growth. (SPA)
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Updated 19 September 2024
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Saudi Arabia localizes rose cultivation to boost agriculture

Saudi Arabia localizes rose cultivation to boost agriculture

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has announced the localization of rose cultivation to meet rising local demand, create jobs, and reduce reliance on costly, lower-quality imports.

The initiative also aims to boost exports to Gulf and Middle Eastern markets, supporting agricultural growth in line with Vision 2030, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture unveiled incentives to strengthen the sector, offering financial returns to enhance rose producers’ economic standing.

Key incentives include the success of tissue culture rose cultivation, which lowers production costs while promoting growth.

The ministry also offers affordable agricultural land, investment opportunities leveraging the comparative advantages of roses, and loans covering 70 percent of project costs from the Agricultural Development Fund.

Additionally, it provides technical support and streamlined licensing for rose cultivation projects.

The ministry emphasized using technologies such as hydroponics and smart systems to reduce costs and improve efficiency, as well as opportunities to produce rare and in-demand rose varieties for higher economic returns.


Turkish ambassador notes country’s ‘historic ties’ with Saudi Arabia

Turkish ambassador notes country’s ‘historic ties’ with Saudi Arabia
Updated 5 sec ago
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Turkish ambassador notes country’s ‘historic ties’ with Saudi Arabia

Turkish ambassador notes country’s ‘historic ties’ with Saudi Arabia
  • Emrullah Isler speaks during event to mark 101st anniversary of Turkiye’s founding
  • Nations ‘share similar perspectives on many regional and international issues,’ he says

RIYADH: Relations between Saudi Arabia and Turkiye have a “historical depth,” Turkiye’s ambassador to the Kingdom said at an event at the Cultural Palace in Riyadh held to mark the 101st anniversary of the founding of the republic.

Envoy Emrullah Isler said: “Turkiye was one of the first countries to recognize the Kingdom of Hejaz, establishing its diplomatic mission by 1926. These ties were later crowned by the Treaty of Friendship in 1929.”

When Saudi Arabia was founded in 1932, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, Turkiye’s founding father, was among the first to congratulate King Abdulaziz.

“The reception of Prince Faisal bin Abdulaziz by Ataturk that year and Prince Faisal’s later visit to Ankara as king in 1966 were signs of strong relations that would continue for many years,” Isler said.

Those first and future visits — King Abdullah visited Turkiye in 2006 and King Salman visited in both 2015 and 2016 — were an “expression of this friendship,” the ambassador said.

Also, the recent visits to Saudi Arabia by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s visit to Turkiye in 2022, “confirm strong political will at the highest level to develop our relations and give tangible momentum to the pace of our joint cooperation,” he said.

“The fact that Saudi Arabia and Turkiye share similar perspectives on many regional and international issues undoubtedly allows us to make significant contributions to ensuring regional peace, security and stability,” Isler said.

“In this context, I would like to highlight that the role of both countries in achieving regional peace and prosperity based on common sensitivities is becoming more and more important day by day.”

On future cooperation between the two countries, the ambassador said he was confident it would expand in the defense and construction sectors.

He also said Turkiye was a prime tourist destination for visitors from the Kingdom.

“We are pleased to host our dear Saudi sisters and brothers, along with tourists from around the world,” he said.

“Moreover, the progress of the Turkish economy, which continues to rise within the global economic hierarchy, will naturally reflect in the relations between our two countries, both of which are G20 members.”


Saudi FM demands immediate ceasefire in Palestine

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan chairs the High-Level Meeting of the Global Alliance for the Two-State Solution
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan chairs the High-Level Meeting of the Global Alliance for the Two-State Solution
Updated 2 min 6 sec ago
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Saudi FM demands immediate ceasefire in Palestine

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan chairs the High-Level Meeting of the Global Alliance for the Two-State Solution

RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan demanded an immediate ceasefire in Palestine on Wednesday.

Speaking at the High-Level Meeting of the Global Alliance for the Two-State Solution in Riyadh, Prince Faisal called on the international community to provide safe humanitarian corridors to provide relief to Gaza.

He said the situation in Gaza is tragic and catastrophic due to the Israeli blockade, adding that the meeting is a step that aims to end the Palestinian crisis. 


Saudi beekeepers explore innovations on Italian study tour

Saudi beekeepers explore innovations on Italian study tour
Updated 30 October 2024
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Saudi beekeepers explore innovations on Italian study tour

Saudi beekeepers explore innovations on Italian study tour
  • Delegation gains advanced apiculture techniques to enhance local industry

RIYADH: A delegation of Saudi beekeepers recently completed a study tour in Italy, part of the Sustainable Agricultural Rural Development Program, known as Reef Saudi, in partnership with the UN Food and Agriculture Organization.

The program aims to modernize the Kingdom’s apiculture industry by introducing practitioners to world-leading techniques in bee cultivation and queen bee production, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.

This visit is part of Reef Saudi’s new international training initiative designed to enhance farmers’ capabilities and expose them to modern agricultural methods through targeted overseas study tours.

Participants included model beekeepers managing demonstration apiaries and representatives from cooperative societies, selected for their potential to share knowledge throughout Saudi Arabia’s beekeeping community.

“This initiative seeks to elevate Saudi beekeeping standards by exposing participants to cutting-edge global practices and queen bee production techniques, supporting Vision 2030’s agricultural goals,” Reef Saudi officials said.

They emphasized the importance of implementing these Italian innovations in Saudi Arabia’s beekeeping sector while strengthening bilateral knowledge exchange.

During their time in Rome, the delegation gained insights into advanced research at the Animal Health Institute, focusing on rare bee strains and environmental optimization for productivity.

At Bologna’s CREA research center, participants explored innovative honey production techniques and pest-control strategies.

The study tour included hands-on sessions with Italian beekeepers and visits to state-of-the-art packaging facilities. A highlight was the tour of LEGA factory, a global leader in beekeeping equipment, exporting to 65 countries.

With a century-long legacy in apiculture, Italy is a world leader in beekeeping and queen bee cultivation, the SPA reported. The country’s crown jewel is the Apis mellifera ligustica, a native bee strain preserved through conservation programs, selective breeding, and protected sanctuaries.

Italy’s beekeeping excellence is further enhanced by its sophisticated regulatory infrastructure, which includes breeder support systems and stringent quality-control measures. A key factor for Saudi-Italian cooperation is the climatic similarity, as some Italian regions experience summer temperatures of up to 40 degrees Celsius, mirroring conditions in Saudi Arabia.


King Abdulaziz Public Library displays rare stamp collection

King Abdulaziz Public Library displays rare stamp collection
Updated 30 October 2024
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King Abdulaziz Public Library displays rare stamp collection

King Abdulaziz Public Library displays rare stamp collection
  • A particularly significant historical stamp commemorates King Abdulaziz’s accession to the throne in 1931-1932

RIYADH: The King Abdulaziz Public Library in Riyadh has put up on display a rare collection of postage stamps that chronicle contemporary Saudi history covering various national occasions and events, both before and after the founding of the Kingdom.

The library’s stamp collection comprises 13,000 stamps, including rare specimens issued during the reign of King Abdulaziz Al-Saud, state news agency SPA reported on Wednesday.

The oldest stamp in the collection dates back to March 1925.

A particularly significant historical stamp commemorates King Abdulaziz’s accession to the throne in 1931-1932, preceding the unification of the Kingdom on Sept. 23, 1932. The first stamp bearing the name “Kingdom of Saudi Arabia” was issued in 1934, with several editions printed in various colors.

During King Abdulaziz’s reign, stamp collections were issued to mark significant events such as the opening of the railway, visits by Arab and Islamic leaders and the introduction of airmail services.

The rare stamp collection offers a fascinating glimpse into the historical development of Saudi Arabia and its postal system, SPA reported.


Saker falcon sold at auction for $16,000

Saker falcon sold at auction for $16,000
Updated 30 October 2024
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Saker falcon sold at auction for $16,000

Saker falcon sold at auction for $16,000
  • The club’s mission is to develop Saudi Arabia into a worldwide hub for enthusiasts and breeders

RIYADH: A falcon has been sold for $16,000 on the 11th night of this year’s Saudi Falcons Club auction, with the initial bid at $3,000 less.

The sale of the Saker falcon on Monday night was held at the club’s headquarters in Malham, where the auction will continue until Nov. 15, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.

The club’s auction is the largest event of its kind in the Kingdom and aligns with the goals of the Saudi Vision 2030 plan to support the industry.

The club’s mission is to develop Saudi Arabia into a worldwide hub for enthusiasts and breeders.

It also wants to ensure endangered species are protected by blocking sales of such birds, the SPA reported.