SUSRIS Daily News – Excerpts from International Media Reports
[Links to full articles were active on the date posted here]
Unprecedented Response to Chicago Forum [Apr 30]
“Business leaders and government officials have described the ongoing Saudi-American Business Opportunity Forum as an “unprecedented” success. Nearly 1,100 people are believed to have attended the event in Chicago. The forum has attracted many of each country’s highly influential policymakers and businessmen, who have the means to transform the enormous hopes and intentions that have come out of the conference. ‘My impression is that this event has been very successful. We have been welcomed with great friendliness from all of the business delegations,’ said chairman of the Al-Jeraisy Group Abdul Rahman Al-Jeraisy. ‘We want to collaborate with the United States as true partners. The Saudi Arabian economy is booming. We need what the United States has to offer — products, technology, and so forth — and we can promise that our economic vitality isn’t a temporary condition. The opportunities will be long-term.’..” [Complete Report]
Saudi Arabia to Cut Heavy Crude Price as Fuel Oil Profit Falls [Apr 30]
“Saudi Arabian Oil Co., the world’s biggest crude exporter, may lower the official selling price of its June-loading Arab Heavy grade as processing profits for refiners producing fuel oil have declined. Arab Heavy, the densest grade, may be cut by 20 cents a barrel from the May price, according to the median estimate of a survey of nine refiners from South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, India, Singapore and China. The company, known as Saudi Aramco, is expected to issue prices next week. Arab Light, Aramco’s largest export type, may increase by 10 cents a barrel, the survey found. Refiners are facing an oversupply of fuel oil in Asia after 4 million metric tons of imports from Europe swamped the region in April. Another 3 million tons are expected in May. Refiners with a limited ability to upgrade the product into higher-value fuels may suffer losses buying heavier crudes..” [Complete Report]
MOCI to Launch $16bn Industrial Strategy [Apr 30]
“Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Commerce & Industry (MOCI) and the General Electric Company (GE), on Wednesday announced a strategic partnership aimed at building a sustainable economy through a focus on industrialization, research and education, and creating new jobs for Saudi nationals. This partnership marks GE’s ‘company to country’ approach in Saudi Arabia to become a trusted partner in the Kingdom’s developmental goals. Further strengthening its 70-year relationship with the Kingdom, GE signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the MOCI at the Saudi-American Business Opportunity Forum, held in Chicago to highlight the economic collaboration between Saudi Arabia and the United States.. ..The MOCI is responsible for driving economic diversification through industrialization, and will launch the $16 billion national industrial strategy in May 2010 to strengthen the Kingdom’s manufacturing sector and double the industrial output of the GDP..” [Complete Report]
Haia’s Makkah Chief Denies Arrest Rumors [Apr 30]
” The Makkah head of the Commission for Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice (Haia) has denied online reports that he was arrested after an angry mob assembled in front of his house and quarreled with him on Friday. ‘I am currently outside of the Kingdom and learned about the attack on my house and a subsequent arrest in Al-Awali district in Makkah. But I don’t have more details about the incident,’ Ahmad Al-Qasim Al-Ghamdi told Arab News via telephone on Thursday. According to the reports, a group of youths gathered in front of Al-Ghamdi’s house in protest of his recent views on gender mixing and prayers. Al-Ghamdi said he would answer Arab News’ questions on other reports that the Haia had fired him when he returned to Kingdom today (Friday). He also said a statement had been released by the commission on the matter. He did add that the Haia director-general had called him and told him to remain at his post. He said he was waiting for written confirmation of the conversation..” [Complete Report]
Jordanian Conjoined Twins Successfully Separated [Apr 30]
“A team of Saudi doctors led by Health Minister Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeah Thursday successfully separated two baby boys from Jordan conjoined at the stomach in a seven-hour operation. King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, congratulated the multi-disciplinary medical team on the successful separation of the twins. Ten-week-old Amjed and Mohammed Taim, born sharing a liver and other tissues, were separated in an operation at King Abdulaziz Medical Center in Riyadh that was televised live back to Jordan. ‘Five, four, three, two, one,’ Dr Rabeah counted down after using a laser knife to divide the boy’s liver and then finally separate the remaining tissue between them. ‘The operation is complete, both twins are now in separate beds, both are stable,’ he announced..” [Complete Report]
Singapore and Saudi Arabia to Sign Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement [Apr 30]
“Singapore and Saudi Arabia will sign the Agreement for the Avoidance of Double Taxation, during the visit of Singapore Foreign Affairs Minister George Yeo to the Kingdom. A statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs says this will enhance bilateral trade links between the two countries. Minister George Yeo will visit Saudi Arabia from tomorrow till the 5th of this month. He will call on the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and Commander of the Saudi Arabian National Guard, King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud. He will also call on the Crown Prince and Minister of Defence and Aviation, and Inspector-General, Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud and several other Ministers..” [Complete Report]
