|
 "JEF
2006 -- This
year's conference calls for the honor and
recognition of culture, identity and diversity
as the building blocks for a world of
"common grounds' rather than a global
economy of "one size fits all."
The conference will further seek to underscore
stories of success and actionable solutions both
within and outside the context of Saudi Arabia.
Whether locally, regionally or globally, we seek
to highlight and celebrate achievements that are
special and inspirational about the human quest
for inclusion and participation in the building
of one world: our world, our tomorrow.."
| Issues
of the Day: Saudi Ambassador to the US On Sunday Talk Show |
|
 "Ambassador Turki al Faisal, Saudi Arabia's top diplomat in the United States, was interviewed by Wolf Blitzer on CNN's
"Late
Edition" on Sunday, February 5, 2006. A number of issues of the day were discussed. This SUSRIS IOI provides excerpts from the interview for your consideration.
Links to reports and other materials related to
the discussion are provided.."
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Makkah
Governor to Open JEF [Feb 10]
"One of the Middle East’s most prestigious economic events
begins tomorrow with the opening of the Jeddah Economic Forum
(JEF) at the Hilton Hotel tomorrow. The three-day JEF 2006, with
“Seeding potentials for economic growth: Honoring identity and
celebrating common grounds” as its theme will have 35 sessions
with some of the most prominent national, regional and
international participants, among them heads of state and decision
makers, government officials, businessmen and
businesswomen, economic strategists, academics and
entrepreneurs.." [more]
Saudi
Diplomat Dies in Accident [Feb 10]
"A Saudi diplomat was killed in Pompano Beach, Florida, after
he and his companion were hit by a car Tuesday.. ..The diplomat
was identified later as Mahmoud Abdul K. Fustock, a well-known
Saudi who has residences in New York, Kentucky and Florida.
Fustock was a horse breeder and well-known in the industry in the
US.." [more]
National
Dialogue Center Sets Up Website in English [Feb 10]
"The King Abdul Aziz Center for National Dialogue launched
the English-language version of its website last week. The website
provides a background of the center, set up in 2003, with an aim
to promote internal dialogue among Saudis about current issues.
'The complete English version is still under development, but we
hope that non-Arabic speakers get a full picture of the center’s
various activities,' said Saeed Abu Melha, the center’s
spokesman.." [more]
Saudi-Irish
Talks to Focus on Education [Feb 10]
"Saudi Arabia and Ireland will explore the possibilities of
closer cooperation in the field of higher education. The issue is
expected to dominate during Ireland President Mary McAleese’s
talks with Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah next
week. McAleese will be a key speaker at the Jeddah Economic Forum
on Feb. 12.." [more]
Border
Security Intensified [Feb 10]
"Saudi security forces have tightened their security along
its border with Yemen after 23 prisoners escaped a Sana a prison
last Friday. Security sources assured that there was already a
high level of security along the southern border before the
convicts escaped which would have prevented any of them from
entering the Kingdom.." [more]
Four
Die of Dengue Fever [Feb 10]
"Four people have of dengue fever in two months and 662
suspected cases have been registered, Dr. Ma touq Al-Ossaimi,
Assistant Director of Health Affairs for Primary Health Care in
Jeddah, told Al-Watan Arabic newspaper.. ..The state of alert in
the departments concerned has been heightened over the
deteriorating situation. Stagnant pools of water, swamps, the
overflow of groundwater and its mixing with sewage water to form
lakes are causing problems.." [more]
U.S.
Shaw Stone and Webster in SABIC Deal [Feb 10]
"Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (Sabic) has signed a
Letter of Intent (LOI) with US Shaw Stone & Webster for the
engineering, procurement and construction of a High Density
Polyethylene (HDPE) plant at the Yansab affiliate.. ..Sabic
vice-chairman and CEO Mohamed Al-Mady.. ..said that he expects
Yansab will go on-stream by 2008.." [more]
Move
to Generate Awareness About Safe Stoning Ritual [Feb 10]
"Saudi Arabia, which is determined to take all measures to
avoid any stampede incidents at Jamarat in future, is planning to
send an experts' panel to Muslim countries to generate awareness
among pilgrims about performing a safe stoning ritual.." [more]
From
Riyadh to Portland [Feb 10]
"Among this large group of students from distant lands was a
smaller group, one that Portland State has not seen for awhile:
exchange students from Saudi Arabia. Thanks to a scholarship from
their government, and an agreement between President Bush and King
Abdullah, these students have come to study at Portland State.
Most of the students are straight out of high school and are
planning to stay here for five years.." [more]
Convergys
Signs Saudi Deal for Billing, Customer Care [Feb 10]
"Convergys Corp. nabbed its biggest Mideast deal ever, with a
contract to provide its Infinys customer care and billing software
to the Saudi Telecom Co. The Saudi Telecom Co., which provides
mobile, land-line, data and Internet services in Saudi Arabia,
chose the Convergys product for its 12 million mobile subscribers
to reduce costs and to support expected growth in that sector. The
software will be implemented during the first quarter of
2006.." [more]
Saudi
Arabia: 15% Unemployment Rate [Feb 9]
"Mr. Helmi Salam, former head of the International Federation
of Training and Development Organizations (IFTDO), said that the
rate of unemployment in Saudi Arabia reached last year 15%.. ..The
report added that unemployment grows by 3% annually in the Arab
World.." [more]
Saudi
Ambassador Decries Iran Nuke Program [Feb 9]
"The Saudi Arabian ambassador to the United States on
Wednesday denounced Iran's uranium enrichment program and what he
called inconsistent U.S. policy toward countries that are seeking
or already have nuclear weapons.. ..Iran's persistence with the
enrichment program is only increasing tensions in the Middle East,
ambassador Turki Al-Faisal said during a speech here.." [more]
S
Arabia Declines Pak Request for Free Oil [Feb 9]
"Saudi Arabia has declined Pakistan's request to resume
supply of free crude oil worth two billion dollars under the
Special Financing Arrangement, a Pakistani official said.. ..The
request to Saudi King for SFA was made in the back drop of growing
Pakistan trade deficit which has already increased by over 132 per
cent to 5.6 billion dollars during first six months of the current
fiscal year compared with 2.4 billion dollars of the same period
last year.." [more]
US
Warns Americans in Saudi Arabia Against Flu [Feb 9]
"The United States embassy in Saudi Arabia issued a warning
to its citizens living in the Kingdom to be vigilant of a possible
outbreak of bird flu, while the Saudi authorities denied reports
of avian virus cases in the country.. ..the embassy in Riyadh
urged Americans to keep themselves updated by checking the latest
news on the websites of World Health Organisation (WHO) and the
Department of Health and Human Services' Centres for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC).." [more]
Saudi
Exports Cross $100 Billion [Feb 9]
"Saudi Arabia's value of total exports hit a record in 2004
according to the 2005 trade statistics of the United Nations
Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). The trade
statistics, which were published in the last week of January, show
that for the first time in the past 25 years, the total value of
Saudi exports reached its highest level of $106.9 billion in 2004.
This was the first time for Saudi exports to exceed $100 billion
in a single year since 1980 when the value of the exports was
$101.5 billion.." [more]
NCB
Launches New Shariah-Compliant Fund [Feb 9]
"..As the Saudi stock market is booming with over 100 percent
increase in 2005, Amr Banaja, the head of marketing for the asset
management sector at the NCB, said 'The new fund will invest in
Shariah-compliant stocks listed on the Saudi stock market, cash,
Murabaha and Murabaha funds approved by the NCB’s Shariah Board
and managed in compliance with the mutual funds regulations in the
Kingdom'.." [more]
Prince
Turki Seeks US Investment [Feb 9]
"Saudi ambassador to Washington, Prince Turki Al-Faisal,
yesterday invited American businessmen to invest in projects worth
$624 billion offered by his country, especially in petrochemicals,
gas, electricity, information technology railways and
agriculture.. ..Prince Turki was bullish about growing trade
relations between Saudi Arabia and the US as the volume of
bilateral trade rose from $160 million in 1970 to more than $26
billion in 2004.." [more]
London’s
Lord Mayor visits Saudi Arabia [Feb 9]
"The Lord Mayor of the City of London, the Rt Hon David
Brewer, has started a five-day visit to the Kingdom accompanied by
senior representatives of British companies. His visit will take
the delegation to Jeddah, Riyadh, and the Eastern Province and see
him give a keynote address at this year’s Jeddah Economic
Forum.." [more]
Al-Naimi:
Oil Industry Needs Better Data to Plan Growth [Feb 8]
"The oil industry's lack of knowledge about current world
demand for crude and its subsequent growth "is probably the
weakest link in our efforts to understand the future," said
Ali I. al-Naimi, Saudi Arabia's oil minister, in his opening
address to the Cambridge Energy Research Associates annual energy
conference Feb. 7 in Houston.." [more]
Shiites
Test Religious Freedoms in Saudi Arabia [Feb 8]
"Several thousand Saudi Shiites took to the streets on
Wednesday to mourn the death of the Prophet Mohammed's grandson,
pushing the boundaries in a country that regards them as heretics.
Participants said the mourning ceremonies were large in the
kingdom because Shiites are slowly testing government pledges to
let them practice their religious rites more freely.." [more]
Saudi
Arabia Will Continue to Bolster Oil Output Capacity [Feb 8]
"Saudi Arabia's minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources
said that the kingdom will continue to bolster its output capacity
to quell global shortages, but has concerns about the Bush
administration's call to cut its addiction to Middle East oil..
..when asked if there were plans to boost capacity beyond 12.5
million bpd, Al-Naimi made a reference to President George W.
Bush's State of the Union pledge to slash US oil imports from
Middle East suppliers by 75 percent by 2025.." [more]
Raytheon
Receives $60 Million Saudi Arabia Award to Provide Patriot, Hawk
Support [Feb 8]
"Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) has been awarded a $60 million
one-year extension to a direct sale contract from the Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia to provide technical, training and logistics support
for the Kingdom's Patriot and Hawk air defense systems.." [more]
Saudi
Arabia's Travel and Tourism Market Accounted for 8.6 Million
Tourists [Feb 8]
"..Saudi Arabia is largely known as one of the world's
leading oil producers and the birthplace of Islam, it also offers
a diverse range of attractions for the visitor. These mainly
revolve around the country's rich culture, heritage and
spectacular landscape, as well as modern cities with extensive
shopping facilities. In 2004, Saudi Arabia received almost 8.6
million international tourists. Three quarters of these were from
Middle Eastern countries, with Kuwait being the most significant
market. Arrivals travelling to Saudi Arabia for religious purposes
accounted for 43% of all arrivals, with 28% traveling for
business.." [more]
Gulf
Poultry Trade Reports Losses Over Bird Flu Fears [Feb 8]
"The spread of human cases of bird flu into Iraq has started
to hit the poultry business in the Gulf.. ..Although there is no
indication that the virus can spread to humans through eating
cooked poultry, Saudi consumers have begun to turn away from
chicken products after four confirmed fatalities from bird flu
over the last month in Turkey and Iraq.." [more]
Saudi
Oil Minister: $45 Oil Prices Required [Feb 8]
"Saudi Arabia‘s oil minister said Tuesday that today‘s
soaring oil prices were not sustainable long-term, but that prices
must be between $45 and $50 a barrel for petroleum producers to
meet global demand, which he estimated would grow by 1.4 million
barrels per day over the next year.." [more]
Saudi
Ambassador Condemns Terrorism, Stresses Stronger Bilateral Ties
[Feb 8]
"Prince Turki Al-Faisal, Saudi ambassador to the United
States, emphasized the impact of terrorism on world economies,
energy production and the importance of bilateral relations during
a speech before the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth in
Dallas Tuesday.. ..He stressed that the natural relationship
between the United States -- as the world's largest consumer of
oil -- and the Kingdom, as the world's largest producer, has been
affected by rising world demand for oil.." [more]
Unsafe
Ferry Not Allowed to Take in Passengers [Feb 8]
"Saudi authorities have refused to allow passengers to board
an Egyptian ferry deemed unsafe, days after another ferry sank
killing hundreds of people, a senior official said yesterday..
..Al-Harbi said the port authorities sent back the ferry to the
Egyptian port of Suez without allowing it to take any passengers.
He did not say how many passengers were affected or when they
would travel.." [more]
Saudi
Stock Index Soars to New High [Feb 8]
"The Saudi stock market continued to surge and stayed in a
record territory yesterday. The Tadawul All-Share Index (TASI)
after crossing the 19,500 mark in the morning session closed
100.26 points higher at an all-time high of 19,497.22. Over SR39
billion worth of shares changed hands yesterday. Out of 77 stocks
traded, 45 were up while 28 shares declined.." [more]
Thai
Business Visit Canceled [Feb 8]
"The first official visit of a Thai trade delegation to the
Kingdom that was scheduled to begin on Feb. 1 was canceled due to
visa problems, Srawut Daud Chankao, director of the Thai Trade
Center, told Arab News yesterday.." [more]
Saudi
Arabia Hogs Limelight as Contractors Flock to Kingdom [Feb 7]
"The year 2006 will be the year of the Saudis, according to
most oil and gas contractors and oilfield suppliers contacted by
Oil&Gas Middle East. State-owned Saudi Aramco will be handing
out mega projects, each worth many millions of dollars,
individually or in conjunction with joint venture partners, say
these contractors.. ..Saudi Aramco is planning both large scale
onshore and offshore work this year.." [more]
Denmark
Not Invited to Jeddah Forum [Feb 7]
" In the latest chapter of the cartoon scandal, organizers of
the international Jeddah Economic Forum said no Danish businessmen
and economists will be invited. The Director General of Public
Relations at Jeddah's Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Faycal
Batawil, said Tuesday the decision was taken 'to express
solidarity with the feelings of anger sweeping the Muslim world as
a result of slandering Prophet Mohammed in Danish newspapers.'..
..The forum convenes Feb. 11-13 with the participation of
political and economic figures from Europe, the United States and
Asia, known for their vital contribution
in the service of local and international economies.." [more]
Gulf
Muslims Step Up Danish Boycott Over Cartoons [Feb 7]
"People in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries intensified
their boycott of Danish goods as the uproar over caricatures of
the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) raged unabated yesterday.
Scholars and regional trade groups also urged Muslims to use this
economic weapon to punish other European nations whose dailies
printed the inflammatory caricatures.." [more]
Strong
Oil Prices Lift Credit Outlook for Gulf Region [Feb 7]
"Credit quality in the Gulf region looks set to continue to
improve thanks largely to windfall revenues arising from the surge
in oil prices in 2005, according to a report published yesterday
by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services.. ..The region is
investing heavily in new infrastructure and also in
diversification of existing industries. To this end, project
financings in the Middle East totaled $44.3 billion in
2005.." [more]
Hike
in Capital of Banks Helps Boost Saudi Stocks [Feb 7]
"Saudi stocks edged slightly higher yesterday. The Tadawul
All-Share Index (TASI) rose 12.23 points to 19,396.96 with only
Banking and Cement Indexes showing an increase. The stock market
turnover was over SR38.40 billion yesterday. The Banking Index
gained 378.71 points at 46,972.06.." [more]
Denmark
Plans Official Delegation to Kingdom [Feb 7]
"Denmark is considering sending an official delegation to
Saudi Arabia to discuss the boycott of Danish products. Reports
from Copenhagen said the delegation will hold dialogue with Saudi
officials and religious leaders on how the consumer boycott could
be called off. The Danish embassy in Riyadh has not denied or
confirmed the news.." [more]
Saudi
Council Denies Move to Set Up Women's Committee [Feb 7]
" source at the Saudi Shura Council has denied recent press
reports about the move to set up a national women's committee
under the Shura to discuss issues concerning women in the
kingdom.. ..According to Abdul Rahman Al Sughair, the role of such
a committee, if formed, will be that of a consultative one on all
issues concerning women and that their proposals will be treated
as those serving the public interest of the country as a whole,
especially women.." [more]
White
House Asks Saudi Arabia for Calm [Feb 6]
"..At the State Department, spokesman Sean McCormack said
'certainly the leaders of the Saudi government' could take
leadership roles in calling for calm, adding, 'There are others in
the region who also might fulfill that role as well.' In response,
the Saudi Ambassador to the United States, Prince Turki bin
al-Faisal, said in a statement, 'The kingdom is working very hard
to reach an equitable and nonviolent resolution to the issue of
the publishing of offensive cartoons.." [more]
SAGIA
Showcases Investment Opportunities at Davos [Feb 6]
"The attendance of the governor of the Saudi Arabian General
Investment Authority (SAGIA), Amr Al-Dabbagh, at this year’s
World Economic Forum, which ended last week, focused on promoting
investment in the Kingdom’s key economic sectors. The SAGIA
governor met with CEOs and the heads of the world’s leading
corporations to encourage their involvement in the Kingdom’s
four strategic sectors: Energy, transportation, ICT and
knowledge-based industries.." [more]
New
Private Airline Set for Takeoff [Feb 6]
"The new Saudi private airline — with the brand name, Sama
(‘to rise high’) — will be up and flying by the summer. It
will cover all the routes in the Kingdom as well as those in the
Gulf and North Africa.. ..Sama will operate Boeing 737-300
aircraft with an economy class configuration in line with the
prevailing trend seen in low-budget airlines.." [more]
Saudi
Arabia to Increase Oil&Gas Supply to China [Feb 6]
"Saudi Arabia committed itself to increase its oil and
natural gas supply to China by 39 per cent, according to
agreements of cooperation on oil, gas and minerals signed during a
recent visit of Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz to China.
Moreover, the two governments will jointly establish a large oil
storage base in China's southernmost island province of Hainan.
Saudi Arabia is the largest oil supplier to China. During the
first 11 months of 2005, it provided China with 410,000 barrels of
oil per day on the average, accounting for 17 per cent of China's
total oil import.." [more]
Women’s
IDs to Be Made Mandatory [Feb 6]
"Civil identity cards will be made mandatory for Saudi women
by the end of this Hijrah year (1427), an informed source at the
Civil Service Department said.. ..The move augurs well with a
series of measures taken by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King
Abdullah for the empowerment of women.." [more]
Foreign
Investment in Saudi Arabia Post-WTO [Feb 6]
"Services sectors are likely to be the most impacted by
foreign investment due to Saudi Arabia's WTO (World Trade
Organization) membership, because of two reasons: (1) the
essential nature of services themselves, and (2) Saudi Arabia's
WTO commitments regarding foreign investment. First, an essential
nature of services is that production occurs simultaneously with
consumption (think of a repair job, health care, bus
transportation, etc). This is quite unlike goods, in which case
production and consumption can be separated by time and
place.." [more]
Saudi
Arabia: Reality Check [Feb 6]
"The recent meeting between the US vice-president, Dick
Cheney, and Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah confirmed the solid
relations between Riyadh and Washington. Most Saudis, however,
care more about the situation at home, under a new ruler who
claims to want to change society and the role of women, to combat
poverty and to promote greater freedom." [more]
New
Saudi City Evidence of Reform [Feb 5]
"On a hot day in Riyadh late last year, Amr Dabbagh, the head
of the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority, pitched an
unusual project to a gaggle of ministers sitting on the kingdom's
Supreme Economic Council. By the end of the day, a lightning pace
by the standards of the kingdom, the council had rubber-stamped a
$26.6 billion new city — the biggest privately financed project
in Saudi Arabia, complete with a 30 per cent initial public
offering to Saudi investors.." [more]
Saudi,
Malaysia Firms Sign $750m MoUs [Feb 5]
"Five memoranda of understanding worth a total of SR2.81
billion ($750 million) were signed at the second joint meeting of
the Saudi-Malaysian Business Council in Kuala Lumpur recently..
..The memoranda include establishment of a $250 million fund to be
invested in strategic projects in both Malaysia and Saudi Arabia.
The fund will be placed with investors in both the countries on an
equal basis and managed by Venture Capital Bank of Bahrain.."
[more]
Diplomat:
Saudis Surprised by Plan to Curb Mideast Oil Imports [Feb 5]
"President Bush's goal of weaning the United States off
Middle East oil came as a surprise to Saudi Arabia, which has
tried to engage the Bush administration in an energy dialogue
aimed at stabilizing global oil markets, the Saudi ambassador
said. 'We have a strategic relationship with the United States
that has withstood the test of time and travails both social and
economic,' said Prince Turki al-Faisal. 'If it means supplying
America with oil in large volumes, we will continue to do that,
along with other things'.." [more]
155,000
Saudis Actively Seeking Jobs [Feb 5]
"Pointing out that the Kingdom will have to face up to the
challenges stemming from its accession to the World Trade
Organization, Labor Minister Ghazi Al-Gosaibi said in a speech
yesterday that Saudis will have to change their working style and
be competitive in order to gain their foothold in the employment
market.." [more]
WFP
Envoy Details Kingdom’s Humanitarian Services [Feb 5]
"Special Ambassador for World Food Program (WFP) in the
Kingdom Abdul Aziz Muhammad Arrukban said yesterday that Saudi
Arabia plays a leading role in humanitarian and relief activities
across the world.. ..Saudi Arabia topped the list of WFP donors
for the relief of the Palestinian people in 2004-05, he said,
noting the Kingdom’s quick response to humanitarian
issues.." [more]
Saudi
Stocks Skyrocket to Record High [Feb 5]
"Saudi stocks surged to a record high yesterday. The Tadawul
All-Share Index (TASI) jumped 143.38 points to to close at an
all-time high of 19,191.35. The stock market turnover reached
SR36.45 billion yesterday.." [more]
[For
more on these stories and for more in the SUSRIS news archive CLICK
HERE]
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