Category: General

Madrid – Spain’s participation as guest of honor at the 16th edition of Morocco International Agriculture Trade Show (SIAM) reflects the excellent level of friendship and cooperation relations between Rabat and Madrid, said Spanish minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Luis Planas.

In an interview with MAP on the eve of his visit to Morocco to take part in SIAM, Planas pointed out that Spain’s participation in this year’s event is of paramount importance, as it confirms the distinguished level of cooperation between the two neighboring countries in various fields.

This fact, he noted, was reaffirmed by the Spanish prime minister, Pedro Sanchez, last week before Parliament, stressing that cooperation relations with Morocco are undoubtedly at their best in recent decades.

“The meetings I will be holding on this occasion with my Moroccan counterpart, Mohammed Sadiki, are part of the dynamic cooperation relations between the two countries, and reflect the shared desire of Morocco and Spain to develop th
em further, particularly in the agri-food sector,” added the minister.

In this respect, Planas noted that SIAM will also bring together ministers of agriculture from countries on both sides of the Mediterranean to discuss topics of great importance such as research and development, climate change, innovation and the use of new technologies in the agricultural sector, as well as the resilience and sustainability of agricultural systems.

SIAM also provides an opportunity for the countries of the Mediterranean basin to reflect on the common problems and challenges they face, including climate change and the fight against both animal and plant new diseases, he explained.

He stressed that cooperation between Rabat and Madrid is constantly developing, as evidenced by the very significant increase in trade, which has risen by 40% over the last five years, making Spain Morocco’s leading trading partner.

The Spanish minister also referred to the remarkable development of agri-food trade, with exports from Spain to
Morocco having reached 1.155 billion euros, a figure that has more than doubled over the last four years, clearly reflecting the level of progress in this field, he underlined.

Source: Agence Marocaine De Presse

Riyadh: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia participated in the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Scientific Groups under the London Convention and London Protocol in London. The delegation was led by the Transport General Authority and supported by the Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture.

The Scientific Groups for the London Convention and Protocol is a subsidiary body that convenes annually to offer guidance to the Contracting Parties on specific technical matters. It achieves this by proposing regulatory frameworks, guidelines, and tools aimed at promoting and facilitating the effective implementation of these international treaties. The outcomes of these meetings typically involve updating the definitions of the four marine geoengineering techniques prioritized for in-depth analysis, potentially for inclusion in Annex 4 of the London Protocol. Additionally, discussions may include consideration of possible awareness-raising activities regarding marine geoengineerin
g under the LC/LP framework. Furthermore, topics such as guidance on end-of-life management of FRP vessels and updates to the questionnaire on experiences with the application of CO2 Streams Assessment Guidelines may also be addressed.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Buraidah, Governor of Qassim Region Prince Dr. Faisal bin Mishal bin Saud bin Abdulaziz received in his office here today Ambassador of Rwanda to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Eugene Segore Kayihura.

Prince Faisal welcomed the ambassador and emphasized the depth of relations between the two countries.

The two officials discussed issues of common interest.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Riyadh: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is solidifying its leadership in environmental protection and sustainable development through its participation in the first-ever regional Protected Areas Forum, Hima, held in Riyadh from April 21 to 24.

The forum, hosted by the National Center for Wildlife, serves as a platform for local and international experts to discuss strategies for conserving biodiversity, promoting environmental balance, and expanding protected areas – all in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 goals.

Among the prominent participants in the forum and the accompanying exhibition are the Kingdom’s royal reserves, each showcasing contributions to environmental stewardship.

At the forum, King Abdulaziz Royal Reserve Development Authority highlighted its vital role in environmental preservation and community engagement. Its initiatives align with the Saudi Green Initiative’s target of protecting 30% of the Kingdom’s land and marine areas by 2030.

King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Royal Reserve Development A
uthority participated in a dialogue session focusing on promoting justice in protected areas and showcased its expertise in biodiversity protection, revegetation efforts, and fostering ecotourism opportunities in the reserve.

Imam Abdulaziz Bin Mohammed Royal Reserve Development Authority engaged visitors through an interactive pavilion at the exhibition, where it highlighted its utilization of modern technologies for field operations and its commitment to exchanging knowledge with other entities.

The royal reserves participation in the forum is the result of their commitment to the comprehensive strategic goals of royal reserves for 2030 and the Saudi Green Initiative’s vision. Their projects are carried out according to the best international practices in environmental protection and community outreach, contributing to a more sustainable future for the Kingdom.

The Hima forum marks a significant milestone for the region, being the first platform dedicated to discussions concerning protected areas.

This
timely event is in line with the outcome of the 2022 UN Biodiversity Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, held in Montreal, which led to the international agreement to protect 30% of land and oceans by 2030 (30×30).

Saudi Arabia had already pledged its commitment to this goal in 2021, further solidifying its leading role in environmental conservation.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Doha: HE Minister of Municipality Abdullah bin Hamad bin Abdullah Al Attiyah chaired the First Extraordinary General Assembly for the Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS), held through teleconferencing, to appoint a new Director General of the organization, following the nomination submitted by the Republic of Kazakhstan to appoint Ambassador Berik Aryn instead of the former Director General.

During the meeting, HE the Minister emphasized the State of Qatar’s continued support for the IOFS and for all efforts made to improve the reality of food security in Islamic countries.

The meeting was attended by Their Excellencies Ministers of Agriculture from 27 member states, along with representatives of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

Source: Qatar News Agency

Doha: Weather inshore until 6:00 pm on Monday will se moderate temperature to relatively hot daytime with blowing dust at places and scattered clouds to partly cloudy with chance of scattered rain maybe thundery at times, the Department of Meteorology said in its daily weather report, warning of expected thundery rain with strong wind at times.

Offshore, the weather will be partly cloudy with chance of scattered rain maybe thundery at times, the report added, warning of thundery rain expected associated with strong wind and high sea.

Wind inshore will be mainly southeasterly at a speed of 08 to 20 knot, gusting to 30 knot with thundery rain.

Offshore, it will be southeasterly at a speed of 10 to 20 knot, gusting to 30 knot with thunder rain.

Visibility inshore will be 04 to 09 km/ 3 km, or less during thundery rain. Offshore, it will be 04 to 08 km/ 3 km, or less with thunder rain.

Sea state inshore will be 01 to 03 feet rises to 05 feet with thunder rain. Offshore, it will be 03 to 05 feet at places wit
h thunder rain.

Area High Tide Low Tide Max Messaid 04:31 – 18:13 11:59 – 23:34 31 Wakrah 03:27 – 17:42 11:01 – 22:53 31 Doha 03:18 – 16:39 10:55 – 22:54 33 Al Khor 02:47 – 15:35 10:20 – 21:17 31 Ruwais 04:28 – 16:58 10:55 – 23:27 32 Dukhan 09:29 – 21:46 03:25 – 15:29 36 Abu Samra 08:52 – 21:00 02:34 – 15:22 40 Sunrise: 05:04 LT Sunset: 18:00 LT

Source: Qatar News Agency