Sunni Saudi Arabia considers Shiite Iran an archenemy. The two now settle their decades-old political and economic rivalry primarily through proxy wars in Yemen, Syria and other states….reports Asian Lite News
Iran’s Foreign Ministry said on Thursday that it welcomed signs of reconciliation coming from Saudi Arabia and hoped to put a quick end to their political differences.
Iran and Saudi Arabia are both important states in the Islamic world whose cooperation can lead to peace and stability in the region, the spokesman said, according to the ISNA news agency, DPA reported.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman struck conciliatory tones this week regarding Iran. “In the end, Iran is a neighbouring country. All we hope for is to have a good and special relationship with Iran,” he said on state television.
“We want it to prosper and grow as we have Saudi interests in Iran, and they have Iranian interests in Saudi Arabia.”
Sunni Saudi Arabia considers Shiite Iran an archenemy. The two now settle their decades-old political and economic rivalry primarily through proxy wars in Yemen, Syria and other states.
Recently, however, there have been signs of detente.
The crown prince’s softer tone comes after reports earlier this month that Saudi and Iranian officials held talks in Baghdad.
The urgent supply shipment is being undertaken in coordination with India’s Adani group and Linde company….reports Asian Lite News
Saudi Arabia shipped 80 metric tons of liquid oxygen to India as the country is perilously running low on supplies due to a recent surge in coronavirus cases.
The urgent supply shipment is being undertaken in coordination with India’s Adani group and Linde company.
India’s number of coronavirus cases surged by 349,691 in the past 24 hours, the fourth straight day of record peaks, and hospitals in Delhi and across the country are turning away patients after running out of medical oxygen and beds.
“Embassy of India is proud to partner with Adani group and M/s Linde in shipping much needed 80MT liquid oxygen to India. Our heartfelt thanks to the Ministry of Health Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for all their help, support and cooperation,” India’s embassy based in Riyad said in a tweet.
In addition to ISO cryogenic tanks, we are also securing from Linde Saudi Arabia another 5,000 medical-grade oxygen cylinders. These too will be quickly sent to India. I am thankful to our Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Dr. Ausaf Sayeed for assisting us in this regard. (3/3) pic.twitter.com/p2hRCLqRon
India also began airlifting tanks containing oxygen from Singapore to meet the growing demand for life-saving gas.
It also diverted oxygen supplies from industrial uses to hospitals, but this move did not meet the increase in demand, Middle East daily Asharq Al-Awsat reported on Sunday.
India logged a record of 3,49,691 new coronavirus infections in a day on Sunday, taking its total tally of COVID-19 cases to 1,69,60,172. The death toll increased to 1,92,311 with a record 2,767 daily new fatalities, according to the Union Health Ministry data.
“Thank you @IndianEmbRiyadh Indeed, actions speak louder than words. We are on an urgent mission to secure oxygen supplies from across the world. This first shipment of 4 ISO cryogenic tanks with 80 tons of liquid oxygen is now on its way from Dammam to Mundra, Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani said in a tweet.
India is struggling with a second wave of the pandemic with more than 3,00,000 daily new coronavirus cases being reported in the past few days, and hospitals in several states are reeling under a shortage of medical oxygen and beds.
To combat the growing demand for oxygen in the country, India has reached out to various countries to procure containers and oxygen cylinders under operation ‘Oxygen Maitri’.
The Indian Air Force on Saturday brought four cryogenic tanks, to be used for transporting oxygen, from Singapore. The containers were airlifted from Singapore by C17 heavy-lift aircraft of the IAF.
The aircraft “with 4 cryogenic containers for storage of liquid O2 from Singapore landed at Panagarh airbase” in West Bengal on Saturday, a home ministry spokesperson tweeted.
Companies who want to be part of the program can apply online to check eligibility, reports Asian Lite News.
More than 850 companies have applied to join the ‘“Made in Saudi” program. Faisal Al-Bedah, the secretary-general of the Saudi Export Development Authority, said the program’s objectives of increasing domestic consumption and market share of domestic goods and services. The program will also look to increase Saudi non-oil exports in priority export markets, and enhance attractiveness of the Saudi industrial sector for domestic and foreign investment.
He said the “Made in Saudi” program promoted national identity, boosted the contribution of the private sector to the economy, launched the capabilities of promising non-oil sectors by developing their exports, and enabled the creation of teams through small and medium-sized enterprises and micro-enterprises.
Companies who want to be part of the program can apply online, with an initial verification done through a dedicated website to check companies’ eligibility.
Products should be grown, extracted or produced in Saudi Arabia and fall under one of the listed industries: Construction, textiles, pharmaceuticals and medical, processed foods, or fresh produce.
“Made in Saudi” will play a role in achieving the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 reform plan by supporting Saudi products and directing purchasing power toward local products and services, leading to the private sector’s contribution to the gross domestic product (GDP) to 65 percent and raising the proportion of non-oil exports in the total non-oil GDP to about 50 percent by 2030.
Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar bin Ibrahim Al-Khorayef, who is also the authority’s chairman, launched the initiative under the patronage of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
“The program aims to help local businesses grow by encouraging local consumers to buy more locally made products and helping businesses to increase their exports to priority markets,” said Al-Khorayef. “Under one unified brand, the ‘Made in Saudi’ program will bring significant opportunities for businesses to expand their reach and promote their products domestically and globally.”
Move to create 1.3 million mining, industrial jobs
Earlier, Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef said the initiative will create 1.3 million jobs in the mining and industrials sectors for the citizens.
“We currently have 10,000 factories in the Kingdom, with investments of 1.1 trillion ($293 billion), and the Kingdom’s products reach more than 178 countries around the world,” Alkhorayef said.
A strategic plan to develop the consumer products industry through localization is in place, he said.
Earlier, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman launched Shareek, an SR12 trillion program to boost the role of the private sector in diversifying the economy.
Under the program, private sector businesses will be helped to invest SR5 trillion between now and 2030, along with SR3 trillion from the country’s sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund (PIF), and SR4 trillion as part of a new national investment strategy.
Permits for Umrah and to visit the Grand Mosque will be granted to those who have received two Covid-19 vaccine shots…reports Asian Lite News
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbLDg83tJc8
Only pilgrims and worshippers who have been vaccinated against the novel coronsvirus or have recovered will be allowed into the Grand Mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabias Ministry of Hajj and Umrah announced.
Permits for Umrah (Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca) and to visit the Grand Mosque will be granted to those who have received two Covid-19 vaccine jabs; those who have received a first dose at least 14 days before their visit to Medina and Mecca; and those who have had the virus and recovered, Arab News quoted the Ministry as saying on Monday.
Before embarking on a trip, a visitor’s vaccination status will have to be registered on Saudi Arabia’s Covid-19 app, ‘Tawakkalna’, which was launched last year to track the Covid-19 situation in the Kingdom.
According to the Ministry, the people who wish to visit the two mosques or perform Umrah will have to register via the Tawakkalna app and the Umrah app, ‘Eatmarna’.
It added that the two apps are the only platforms that issue genuine permits.
Nearly 10,000 Grand Mosque workers have already been inoculated as part of the Ramadan operational plan, Arab News reported.
Five areas will be available for prayers at the Grand Mosque.
More than 13 million worshippers wearing masks and observing physical distancing rules have visited the mosques since the seven-month prayer and Umrah suspension was lifted last October.
