Ashraf AboArafe
Under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister – may God protect him -, the special meeting of the World Economic Forum in Riyadh concluded yesterday, in the presence and participation of a number of heads of state, and more than 1,000 senior officials, international experts and leaders. Opinion and thinkers, from governmental and private sectors, international organizations and academic institutions from 92 countries, making the meeting the largest attendance the forum has ever witnessed outside of Davos.
The two-day forum, with the participation of speakers from the Kingdom and various countries of the world, discussed many diverse dialogues that addressed three main topics under the slogan “International Cooperation, Growth, and Energy for Development.”
The forum witnessed the announcement of many Saudi initiatives in cooperation with the World Economic Forum, as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia signed three agreements with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, with the participation of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center and the Ministry of Health, to enhance health care and prevent polio in many countries. From countries, in addition to an agreement with the Mohammed bin Salman “Misk” Foundation to support youth participation in the non-profit sector and launch joint global programs, in addition to establishing a regional headquarters for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in “Misk City” in Riyadh.
In the opening session of the forum, His Excellency the Minister of Economy and Planning, Mr. Faisal bin Fadel Al-Ibrahim, stressed the importance of addressing the main geopolitical and growth challenges, and the necessity of building a global economy that provides opportunities for all societies to grow and prosper, regardless of their wealth or status.
On the first day of the special meeting, His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Minister of Energy, spoke about the importance of a fair energy transition, saying: “The permanent supply of energy is necessary for various countries to climb the economic ladder.”
The Kingdom revealed its plans to expand its partnership with the UpLink WEF innovation platform, by launching 3 new challenges to advance climate action and support the energy transition, and launched “Sustainability Pioneers” to enhance unique cooperation between leading Saudi companies, across key sectors, with the aim of developing comprehensive and sustainable economic growth paths.
In a session entitled “Enhancing innovations in carbon capture, storage and uses in global partnerships,” His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Minister of Energy, spoke about the importance of openness to equitable energy transition solutions, stressing the need for advanced systems to determine the future of energy and keep pace with future demand.
His Highness Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, Minister of Foreign Affairs, participated in a dialogue session entitled “Pressures in the Middle East Region,” during which he stressed the importance of strengthening international cooperation to find solutions to today’s most pressing challenges, including conflicts in the Middle East, Africa, and Eastern Europe.
In turn, His Excellency the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Member of the Council of Ministers and Envoy for Climate Affairs, Mr. Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir, stressed the importance of finding a clear and irreversible path towards regional stability to achieve sustainable development and comprehensive growth.
While the President of the World Economic Forum, Borg Brende, stressed the importance of the special meeting of the World Economic Forum in Riyadh, describing it as an important conference that attracted the presence of prominent global leaders, including the President of the State of Palestine, Mahmoud Abbas, His Excellency the US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, and His Excellency the Secretary of State. British, David Cameron.
For his part, His Excellency the Minister of Finance, Mr. Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Jadaan, reviewed in a dialogue session within the activities of the special meeting of the World Economic Forum with Kristalina Georgieva, Director General of the International Monetary Fund, the importance of re-boosting growth while ensuring equality to achieve prosperity for all.
Meanwhile, His Excellency the Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Engineer Abdullah bin Amer Al-Sawaha, participated in a dialogue session entitled “Artificial Intelligence, Productivity and Work… Can they be combined?”, speaking about the available opportunities and risks associated with artificial intelligence.
The special meeting on the last day also paved the way for the launch of several initiatives in the fields of healthcare, artificial intelligence, space and sustainability, as Moderna CEO, Stephane Bancel, announced that the American pharmaceutical company is working to manufacture its first cancer treatment product in the healthcare market early. From the year 2025.
During the closing session of the special meeting, His Excellency the Minister of Economy and Planning, Mr. Faisal bin Fadel Al-Ibrahim, announced the Kingdom’s accession to the Global Alliance for Artificial Intelligence launched by the World Economic Forum.
