AIRLINES-

#1- We might be seeing flights between the kingdom and Poland for the first time next year: The Saudi Air Connectivity Program (ACP) signed an agreement with LOT Polish Airlines to open direct flights for the first time, SPA reported last week, citing a statement by the ACP. Flights three times a week between Warsaw and Riyadh could begin as early as June 2024. ACP expects the route to drive tourism and trade, noting that 43% more Polish travelers have visited Saudi Arabia this year compared to last.

#2- Saudi Arabia has committed USD 1.5 mn to a new regional aviation monitoring agency known as the Regional Aviation Safety Monitoring Organization for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA RSOO), the General Civil Aviation Authority (GACA) said last week in a statement.

LOGISTICS-

Jeddah Islamic Port will serve new destinations in a partnership with Ocean Network Express (ONE), the world’s sixth-largest container line, the Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) said last week. The tie-up will link Jeddah Islamic Port to 11 regional and global ports, including Pakistan’s Port Qasim and India’s Mundra, Hazira and Nhava Sheva ports. It will also link the port to Spain’s Algeciras, as well as to ports in New York, Savannah, Norfolk, Charleston, and Jacksonville in the United states and Damietta in Egypt. Regular weekly sailing will begin in May 2024 with a fleet of nine vessels from the port, it said.

RETAIL-

A new Saudi coffee — by Vienna’s Bieder & Maier: Cenomi Retail signed an agreement with Vienna-based coffee company Bieder & Maier to bring in Vienna coffee houses to the kingdom, a Cenomi said in a statement. Bieder & Maier will create a new “Bieder & Maier Premium Saudi Blend” from Arabica beans sourced in Jazan region and market the coffee in both Austria and Saudi Arabia. The partnership is backed by both the Investment Ministry and PIF subsidiary Saudi Coffee Company (SCC).

NEOM-

Neom launches Topian, a food company with a focus on sustainability. In collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture (MEWA), Topian will focus on climate-resistant agriculture, regenerative aquaculture, and sustainable food supply, according to a statement from Neom yesterday.

FERTILIZERS-

Russia and Saudi Arabia should create a joint fertilizer company, Russian President Vladimir Putin told Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in statements picked up by Tass last week. His statements came as he introduced Prince Mohamed to Russian fertilizer tycoon Dmitry Mazepin who was among Putin’s delegation. “[He] is dealing with fertilizers,” Putin told the Crown Prince. “There is a chance to make a large joint company,” he added.

INVESTMENT-

The private sector snaps projects worth SAR 9 bn in Jazan: Private companies were awarded 53 contracts worth a combined SAR 9 bn in Jazan in a ceremony held yesterday by the Emir of Jazan region, Prince Mohamemed Bin Nasser Bin Abdulaziz, Saudi state news agency SPA reports. Some 11 of these projects are in the services sector, 24 in infrastructure, and 18 in housing. Information about the winning bids wasn’t made public.

TELECOM-

Telecom giant STC has joined regional peers in what it says is a bid to become more sustainable by setting up an innovation hub with in partnership with the GCC Telco Alliance, which counts as members e&, Zain, Beyon, Omantel, du, Ooredoo. The hub will look into how operators can better harness renewable energy, among other ideas, it said in a statement.

BNPL-

JeelPay has landed a permit from SAMA to offer buy now, pay later services. JeelPay becomes the seventh BNPL provider in the kingdom.

ENVIRONMENT-

KSRelief has committed some USD 8 mn to a UN-salvage operation that’s working to avert the remaining threat of an oil spill from rusting supertanker Safer off Yemen, the SPA reports. This contribution represents 40% of the USD 20 mn required to completely turn the page on that threat. The UN removed more than 1 mn barrels of crude oil from Safer at a cost of USD 140 mn back in August, averting the worst of the possible catastrophe.

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