Saudi crown prince meets with PM Boris Johnson in Riyadh
Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a strategic partnership council
March 17, 2022, 7:38 am

Saudi crown prince meets with PM Boris Johnson in Riyadh

Boris Johnson-UK Prime Minister/Official Facebook page

The Arab News reported, according to Saudi Press Agency, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met British Prime Minister Boris Johnson in Riyadh on Wednesday.

The report said, Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a strategic partnership council.

It mentioned that the two leaders discussed bilateral cooperation in various fields and opportunities to develop it.

They also discussed regional and international issues of common interest including the latest developments in Ukraine.

Earlier, Johnson met the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nayhan, in Abu Dhabi.

The leaders discussed opportunities to increase collaboration between the UK and UAE on energy security, green technology, and trade.

Prime Minister @BorisJohnson met with the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman.

They agreed to collaborate to maintain stability in the energy market and continue the transition to clean technology. They also committed to boost cooperation in defence and trade. pic.twitter.com/QevY5aA4Ys
— UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) March 16, 2022

Johnson is on a visit to the Gulf as part of efforts to secure more oil supplies and increase pressure on President Vladimir Putin over Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

He is seeking greater investments in the UK’s renewable energy transition and ways to secure more oil to lessen British dependence on Russian energy supplies.

Boris Johnson arrives in UAE, Saudi Arabia to press for more oil

Johnson told reporters in Abu Dhabi ahead of his meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed that Russian President Vladmir Putin’s decision to invade Ukraine is “causing global uncertainty and a spike in the price of oil.”

He added: “Everybody can see the effect of the increase in gas prices that’s coming through."

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Because of Europe’s reliance on Russian oil and gas, Putin has been “been able to blackmail the West to hold Western economies to ransom,” he said.
Johnson added: “We need independence."

Source: arabnews

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has announced its sponsorship of the “Innovation and Sustainable Technology Solutions Competition (GU - IST Solutions), hosted by Gulf University at its main campus.
This strategic sponsorship reflects BENEFIT’s active role in advancing technological innovation and fostering sustainable solutions to future challenges. It also seeks to empower Bahraini youth by enhancing their skills, capabilities, and competitiveness in innovation and solution development—contributing meaningfully to the broader goals of sustainable development across all sectors.
As part of BENEFIT’s active involvement in the competition, the company has announced that Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager of Public Relations and Communication, will serve on the competition’s supervisory committee. Her upcoming participation reflects BENEFIT’s forward-looking commitment to championing academic and professional excellence.
Commenting on the occasion, Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager of Public Relations and Communication at BENEFIT, said, “We are privileged to support this pioneering initiative, which aligns seamlessly with BENEFIT’s enduring commitment to fostering innovation and nurturing the potential of Bahrain’s youth. Our participation is rooted in a deep sense of social responsibility and a firm belief in the pivotal role of innovation in shaping a sustainable future. Through such platforms, we seek to empower the next generation with the knowledge, skills, and foresight required to develop impactful solutions that address future challenges, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2030.”
Dr. Aseel Al Ayash Dean of the College of Engineering in Gulf University commented, “We extend our sincere gratitude to BENEFIT for their generous sponsorship and support of the Innovation and Sustainable Technology Solutions Competition. This contribution plays an instrumental role in helping us achieve the strategic goals of this initiative, namely, cultivating a culture of innovation and sustainability, encouraging efforts that address the imperatives of sustainable development, and enhancing the practical and professional capabilities of our students and participants.”
The event will bring together a diverse spectrum of participants, including secondary school students, university undergraduates, engineers, industry professionals, entrepreneurs, academic researchers, and subject matter experts representing a wide range of disciplines.
The competition seeks to inspire participants to develop and present innovative, sustainable technologies aimed at addressing pressing environmental, social, and economic challenges. It encourages the formulation of business models that integrate advanced technological solutions with core principles of sustainability. Moreover, it serves as a platform for emerging leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators to contribute to the advancement of the Sustainable Development Goals, promote the ethos of responsible technology, and demonstrate its transformative potential across various sectors.
Attendees will have the opportunity to view a series of project presentations submitted by participants, covering diverse areas such as eco-friendly product design, smart and sustainable innovations, renewable energy technologies, water conservation and management, waste minimisation and recycling, green architectural solutions, and sustainable transportation systems. Outstanding projects will be formally recognised and awarded at the conclusion of the event.