SUSRIS Daily News – Excerpts from International Media Reports
[Links to full articles were active on the date posted here]
Energy Policy: Naimi for Joint Arab Stand [May 10]
“Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Ali Bin Ibrahim Al-Naimi called for joint Arab cooperation on petroleum and energy policies to face challenges as a team. Addressing the 9th Arab Energy Conference in Doha Sunday, Al-Naimi said Arab countries enjoy great international importance because of the high gas reserves, accounting in 2008 for about 58 percent of the total global oil reserves and 30 percent of natural gas reserves. ‘We have three main petroleum dimensions to which we must pay special attention at the global, regional, and domestic levels,’.. ..’At the regional level, Arab countries are confronted with a set of similar challenges and issues in the oil industry and policies, and in the field of energy in general. This reality makes it imperative for the Arab states to pursue cooperation and perhaps integration in these fields..” [Complete Report]
US Discovery Center Ties Up With Saudi Science Oasis [May 10]
” The US-based McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center has announced that it’s exploring a collaboration with the Prince Salman Science Oasis in hopes of sharing its educational approach, connecting kids to their peers around the world and perhaps attracting new corporate sponsors. The potential partnership with the Saudi science center was sparked by US Ambassador to Saudi Arabia James Smith, who lives in Salem. After he chose science and technology as the theme for an annual celebration held at the embassy, officials with the Concord discovery center were invited to put together an exhibit on space exploration and traveled to Saudi Arabia in late March to participate.. ..Officials have discussed setting up video conferencing systems so students in both countries could participate in the ‘astronomy bowl’ competitions the discovery center holds..” [Complete Report]
New Technology to Boost Saudi Recovery Rates [May 10]
“Top oil exporter Saudi Arabia aims to boost recovery rates at key producing oilfields by up to 70% through new technology, Oil Minister Ali Naimi said. The kingdom pumped around 8.25 million barrels per day in April, according to a Reuters survey. It has the world’s largest crude production capacity at 12.5 million bpd, and is home to the world’s largest oilfield, Ghawar. New developments in technology by state oil giant Saudi Aramco that allowed better simulation of oil reservoirs and better understanding of crude distribution in underground rock would help increase recovery rates, Naimi said..” [Complete Report]
Talaat Moustafa Wins Permit for Saudi Project [May 10]
“Egypt’s largest listed developer Talaat Moustafa Group said on Monday it had won approval to sell homes off-plan, or before construction, in its Nasamat Al Riyadh project in Saudi Arabia. Talaat Moustafa has said it would like to expand into the Saudi real estate market to sell homes to the country’s many young, wealthy consumers. The Riyadh project is a 50-50 joint venture between Talaat Moustafa and the Saudi-owned Al Oula Real Estate Development Company..” [Complete Report]
Merkel to Visit Kingdom on May 25 [May 10]
“German Chancellor Angela Merkel will be arriving in Riyadh on May 25 on a two-day official visit, according to the Consulate General of Germany in Jeddah. This will be her second visit to the Kingdom. Merkel visited the Kingdom in February 2007. Saudi Arabia and Germany enjoy friendly relations, which have been strengthened by the exchange of high-level visits. King Abdullah Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, visited Germany in November, 2007. In February the same year, Merkel visited the Kingdom.. ..The exchange of visits boosted German exports to Saudi Arabia, which went up 15% to EUR 5.33 billion..” [Complete Report]
Minister Yaacob Ibrahim to visit Saudi Arabia for Haj Ministerial Meeting [May 10]
” Environment and Water Resources Minister and Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs, Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, will visit Saudi Arabia from Tuesday till Thursday. According to the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS), he will attend the Annual Haj Ministerial Meeting with the Kingdom’s Minister of Haj, Dr Fouad Abdulsalam Al-Farsy. The two ministers will discuss arrangements for Singaporean pilgrims performing the Haj in November this year. Dr Yaacob will be accompanied by MUIS President, Mohammad Alami Musa. The Haj pilgrimage, which Muslims are required to make once in their lifetime, involves some two million pilgrims from across the world..” [Complete Report]
Saudi Fund to Finance University Hospitals [May 10]
“The Saudi Fund for Development will finance the construction of university hospitals in Indonesia. According to the State Minister for National Development Planning, Armida Alisjahbana, the funds will be disbursed in stages for four years. “For hospitals in four universities,” said Armida at the Finance Department Office last week. The universities include: Universitas Indonesia, Depok, West Java; Universitas Negeri Sebelas Maret, Surakarta, Central Java; and Universitas Andalas, Padang, West Sumatra. The reason to choose the Saudi Fund for these funds, Armida explained, is that there is a government effort to diversify funding sources. The government also sees that the requirements proposed are relatively light..” [Complete Report]
