RIYADH — The Cabinet, chaired by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman on Tuesday afternoon at Irqah Palace here, approved the transformation of the Saudi Grains Organization (SAGO) into an authority named General Food Security Authority (GFSA), and also approved the draft organizational arrangements for it.

At the outset of the session, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques briefed the Cabinet on the content of the letter he received from Kuwait’s Crown Prince regarding the solid ties between the two countries and peoples and means to develop them in all fields.

The Cabinet then reviewed the recent talks and meetings that took place between Saudi officials and their counterparts in several countries to boost Saudi relations with their respective nations.

In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) following the session, Acting Minister of Media Dr. Majed Al-Qasabi said that the Cabinet welcomed the outcomes of the meeting of the Follow-up and Political Consultation Committee at the ministerial level between Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

This reflected keenness to enhance the prospects for bilateral cooperation in all fields and the similar visions on several regional and international issues, and stressed the continuation of coordination between the two countries to face the challenges in the region amid their pivotal position and their responsibilities towards the region’s security and stability.

The Cabinet hailed the outcomes of the Future Minerals Forum, recently held in Riyadh, including signing 60 agreements and memorandums of understanding and holding discussions on the future of the mining sector, means to enhance sustainability systems, increasing the region’s contribution to the value and supply chains of strategic minerals.

It also lauded the call to develop it into an integrated hub for producing green minerals, where all these come in light of Saudi Arabia’s continued efforts to achieve global leadership in all forms of green energy, including the hydrocarbon industry and the production of renewable energy and clean hydrogen, which is an integral part of its potential in the fields of oil and gas.

The Cabinet applauded the announcement of Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed Bin Salman on the launch of the Events Investment Fund (EIF), chaired by the Crown Prince, to develop a sustainable infrastructure for the culture, tourism, entertainment, and sports sectors and create strategic partnerships to boost local industry, increase foreign investment and contribute to Vision 2030’s aim of a thriving economy and vibrant society.

The Cabinet stated that extending the additional assistance granted to beneficiaries of the Citizen Account Program for extra three months until the payment is due in March, 2023, is an extension of the state’s keenness and concern for its male and female citizens and to protect beneficiary families from the effects of global price hikes.

The Cabinet approved a memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the cultural field between the Ministry of Culture of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Culture and Sports of the Hellenic Republic.

It approved Saudi Arabia’s accession to the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions 2005. It also approved two memorandums of understanding for cooperation in the field of veterinary development, livestock, and agricultural fields between Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan.

The Cabinet authorized the minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture to discuss and sign with the Serbian side a draft memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management of Serbia in the agricultural field.

It authorized the minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture to discuss and sign with the Djibouti side a draft memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the field of livestock between the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Agriculture, Water, Livestock and Fisheries of Djibouti.

The Cabinet authorized the Minister of Transport and Logistics Services to discuss and sign with the Korean side regarding two draft memorandums of understanding for cooperation in the field of the future of transport and innovation in the transportation and logistics services sector, and in the field of roads between Saudi Arabia and Korea.

It authorized the Minister of Tourism to discuss and sign with the Bahraini side a draft memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the field of tourism between the Ministry of Tourism of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Tourism of Bahrain.

The Cabinet authorized the Governor of the Royal Commission for AlUla to discuss and sign with the French side a draft agreement between the Royal Commission for AlUla of Saudi Arabia and the Georges Pompidou National Centre for Art and Culture of the French Republic to cooperate in contemporary art exhibition projects in AlUla Governorate.

It approved a draft memorandum of understanding regarding tax management between the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA) of Saudi Arabia and the National Tax and Customs Administration of Hungary (NTCA).

It approved that the minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture to be chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Water Partnership Company for another term, starting from 10/1/2023. It also approved the final account of the Saudi Export Development Authority for a previous fiscal year. — SPA