0
0
The 8th annual Future Investment Initiative (FII) Forum, one of the most influential economic events in the world, was held in Riyadh from October 29th to 31st.
AFALULA Chairman, Jean-Yves Le Drian, spoke at a round table. It was a perfect opportunity for discussions with Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al-Khalifa, Minister of Finance of Bahrain, Piyush Goyal, Indian Minister of Commerce and Industry, as well as Steven Mnuchin, former US Secretary of the Treasury, on the role of economic diplomacy in international cooperation.
Last November, 1,750 tonnes of dates were sold at the AlUla Date Festival, a 30% increase over the previous year. Attendance also saw a significant jump with 843 farmers taking part in the festival's closing auction, an increase of 45%. Organized by the Royal Commission for AlUla to support farmers across the region, the festival once again highlighted the local dates of AlUla. The RCU and AFALULA welcome the growing success of this event, which is aiming to increase the visibility of this strategic value-chain and to promote the further development of sustainable practices.
From October 15 to 20, the unique vitality of AlUla's artist residency program was on display in Paris. Organized as part of the Parisian version of Art Basel, the Orbis Tertius exhibition showed 40 inspiring works, presenting the many visions of AlUla caught between knowledge and dreams. Combining sculpture, photography and immersive installations, this event brought together 20 contemporary artists who visited AlUla as part of the artist residency programme launched jointly by the RCU and AFALULA in 2021.
The Saudi-French interministerial committee for AlUla was held in Paris on November 15th. The event was co-chaired by Jean-Noël Barrot, French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs and His Highness Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Farhan Al Saud, Minister of Culture of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Rachida Dati, Minister of Culture was present, together with His Highness Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Minister of Foreign Affairs for Saudi Arabia, Khalid Al-Falih, Minister of Investment, as well as Jean-Yves Le Drian, Chairman of the French Agency for AlUla Development and Abeer AlAkel, Acting CEO of the Royal Commission for AlUla. It was an excellent opportunity for both countries to toast the success of the Saudi-French partnership for AlUla.
Entre novembre 2023 et janvier 2024, cinq artistes ont été accueillis en résidence à AlUla. Conçu par la Commission Royale pour AlUla (RCU) et AFALULA, ce programme offre une opportunité unique aux artistes régionaux et internationaux : créer dans un lieu unique et s’en inspirer.
On December 4, Emmanuel Macron visited AlUla as part of a state visit to the Kingdom. The French President was welcomed by His Highness Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan Al Saud, Saudi Minister of Culture and Governor of the Royal Commission for AlUla.
The visit formalized the establishment of Villa Hegra, and with an exhibition organized at the Maraya, presented the major achievements of the Saudi-French project since 2018 to the delegation. This presidential visit marks a key step in strengthening bonds of friendship and cooperation between France and Saudi Arabia.
The French Agency for AlUla Development and the Royal Commission for AlUla had the pleasure of participating in the 3rd annual Saudi-French Summit for Innovation in Riyadh on December 4th.
This event, organized by Business France in partnership with the Saudi Ministry of Investment and the National Industrial Development and Logistics Program (NIDLP), brought together a delegation of 20 of the most innovative French companies across the fields of Industry 4.0 and emerging technologies. It was also an opportunity to highlight the strategic importance of AlUla within the framework of Vision 2030. Ahmed Daoud, Executive Director of Innovation at RCU, shared the leadership innovation challenges faced when servicing the local community, the environment and heritage, during the roundtable 'The role of technology in Saudi Arabia's visionary megaprojects'.
The forum thus highlighted the commitment of both nations in adopting ambitious solutions for the roll out of clean energy. It was also marked by high-level exchanges between French and Saudi industrial leaders, aimed at strengthening strategic partnerships to promote sustainable industrial growth across the region.
Director of Botanical Products at AFALULA, Elisabeth Dodinet participated in a round table dedicated to sustainable value-chains as part of the 16th annual Conference of the Parties in the Fight against Desertification (COP 16) on December 5th in Riyadh. Alongside Dr Abdullah Alhameid, Director of the Centre for Agriculture at the RCU, Elisabeth discussed the Moringa peregrina value-chain currently being developed in AlUla and explained how it combines ecologically responsible practices with the economic development of local communities.
The first module of the 'Women's Football Coaches' training course led by UFR STAPS Lyon 1 at the initiative of the RCU, the AlUla Club and AFALULA, took place successfully from 19th to 22nd November in AlUla. Twenty-one participants from the region were able to benefit from tailor-made training combining theory and practical sessions. The initiative aims to strengthen the skills of local communities and develop the practice of women's football in AlUla.
From December 12 to 14, the Institut du monde arabe (IMA) held an archaeological conference organized by Sterenn Le Maguer-Gillon and Josselin Pinot entitled "On the roads of Arabia". A strategic crossroads on this route, AlUla played a key role from the Bronze Age to the Islamic period. The missions carried out across the region were widely represented during three days of conferences and scientific exchanges by the archaeologists working in the field on the sites of Hegra, the Oasis, Dadan and the Old Town.
The Junior Ballet of the Opéra national de Paris performed on December 13th and 14th amidst the exceptional scenery of AlUla's canyons and rock formations. 18 dancers aged 18 to 22 performed Crossings, with choreography by Noé Soulier, director of the National Center for Contemporary Dance in Angers.
This performance is part of the artistic partnership concluded between the Villa Hegra and the Opéra national de Paris, aimed in particular at offering innovative forms of creation, training and transmission.
BACK TO HOMEPAGE
TOP
NEXT
- Share -
VISIT AFALULA.COM
READ THE PREVIOUS ISSUES
Subscribe to the newsletter
