Al-Jadaan: The attacks on Saudi Arabia pose a threat to the global economy

Saudi Arabia concluded its participation in the annual meetings of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund for the year 2026, which was hosted by the Thai capital, Bangkok, during the period from October 12 to 17, headed by the Minister of Finance, Mohammed Al-Jadaan, in conjunction with the International Monetary Fund’s announcement to extend its presidency of the International Monetary and Financial Affairs Committee for an additional year, until January 2028.

During his participation in the third meeting of finance ministers and central bank governors of the G20, held under the American presidency of the group, Al-Jadaan stressed that the attacks against the Kingdom pose a threat to the global economy, stressing Saudi Arabia’s role in enhancing the global economy’s ability to withstand shocks.

He also chaired the meeting of the International Monetary and Financial Affairs Committee, which discussed developments in the global economy and ways to support growth and stability in light of geopolitical and trade tensions, supply chain disruptions, and increasing public debt burdens.

Committee members stressed the importance of economic policies and structural reforms that support growth led by the private sector, enhancing international cooperation, ensuring the security of energy flows and freedom of navigation, and addressing debt and financing challenges, especially in low-income and fragile countries. They renewed their commitment to a strong and adequately resourced International Monetary Fund, while being guided by the Diriyah Guiding Principles in future discussions on quota reform and governance, in order to enhance the Fund’s effectiveness and the representation of member states.

In the meeting of finance ministers and central bank governors in the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan region with the Director General of the International Monetary Fund, Kristalina Georgieva, Al-Jadaan stressed the importance of efficiently managing available margins to confront prolonged economic shocks, and maintaining the ability to respond to future challenges.

He pointed to the role of diversifying the economic base, enhancing energy and food security, and increasing the flexibility of supply chains in building more resilient economies.

In a session of the Joint Development Committee between the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund, Al-Jadaan called on the two institutions to lead the global economic response and ease pressures on public financing, in light of unprecedented international challenges facing peace, development and prosperity.

During the meeting of Arab governors with World Bank Group President Ajay Banga, Al-Jadaan said that crises provide opportunities to accelerate progress, and that the decisions taken today contribute to laying the foundations for a stronger and more prosperous future for future generations.

He called on the World Bank Group to take into account countries' circumstances and needs, and to help them transform their resources into opportunities that support local content and provide quality jobs, in addition to enabling the private sector to develop flexible logistical services and enhance integration into global supply chains.

He also praised the efforts of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund in supporting countries affected by conflicts in the region, including Yemen and Syria, calling for intensifying support in proportion to the scale of the challenges, and devising solutions to expand the scope of support to include Palestine and Sudan, and building on successful experiences in this field.

On the sidelines of the meetings, Al-Jadaan held meetings with officials and heads of international financial institutions and credit rating agencies, which dealt with developments in the global economy and policies supporting its stability.

In a related context, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Finance for International Relations, Khaled Bawazir, participated in a roundtable meeting regarding the World Bank Group’s support for recovery and reconstruction efforts in Syria. The meeting discussed the priorities of the Syrian government and the role of the group and donor countries, including Saudi Arabia, in supporting reforms and reconstruction.

The activities of the forty-third edition of the “Saudi Agricultural Exhibition 2026” will begin on Monday in the Saudi capital, which will continue until October 22, at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center, with the participation of more than 330 exhibitors from more than 28 countries, and 14 international pavilions, on an exhibition area exceeding 19,000 square meters.

The exhibition, which is held under the patronage of the Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture, Engineer Abdul Rahman Al-Fadhli, and organized by the Riyadh Exhibitions Company Limited, includes specialized events that include the forty-third edition of the poultry, livestock, mills, feed and animal health exhibitions, the thirty-first edition of the Agricultural Food Exhibition, the fourteenth edition of the Food Manufacturing and Packaging Exhibition, and the eighth edition of the Aquaculture Exhibition.

The exhibition includes the Saudi International Conference on the Future of Agriculture, which discusses the future of the agricultural sector in the Kingdom, the opportunities available in it, agricultural initiatives, advanced technologies and their role in enhancing food security, in addition to issues of agriculture, climate, project financing, biotechnology, soil science and water management.

The conference sessions address applications of robots, drones, artificial intelligence, and data in agriculture, precision agriculture, hydroponic and vertical agriculture, and production in closed environments, as well as water use efficiency, smart irrigation, and ways to develop production in the poultry and livestock sectors.

The exhibition brings together farm owners, local and international businessmen, professionals and decision-makers, and provides a platform for cooperation, exchange of experiences and review of the latest agricultural technologies and solutions, allowing participants to explore business development opportunities in the agricultural sector and enhance communication among those working in it.

The exhibition continues its role in serving the agricultural sector for more than four decades, keeping pace with the development of the fields of agriculture, food and related technologies, while its current edition highlights innovation, cooperation and solutions that contribute to developing agricultural production and enhancing food security, in line with the goals of “Vision 2030”.