RIYADH, Saudi Arabia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov 28, 2024--
International collaboration, innovation and sustainability were the key themes of the 28 th World Investment Conference (WIC28), hosted by Invest Saudi and The World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (WAIPA) that concluded in Riyadh this week.
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Commenting on the success of the event, H.E. Khalid A. Al-Falih, Saudi Minister of Investment said, "This event was held under the auspicious patronage of His Royal Highness Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud to whom we extend our deepest gratitude for his visionary leadership and unwavering support.
“Over the past three days, we discussed the critical challenges facing global investment and reviewed the boundless opportunities that investment offers. From the robust discussions on harnessing digital transformation and sustainable growth to the landmark agreements announced under Saudi Arabia’s Global Supply Chain Resilience Initiative, WIC28 has reaffirmed our collective commitment to shaping a future defined by collaboration, innovation, and resilience.
"Guided by the principles of Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia has emerged as a global economic growth leader, fostering partnerships that transcend borders and sectors. Together, we have showcased the power of strategic alliances, localized value chains, and cutting-edge technologies to drive meaningful economic impact.
“I extend my thanks to the World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies for partnering with us in hosting this event and I am confident that the insights, connections, and agreements forged here will resonate far beyond this event, inspiring transformative investments and sustainable growth across the globe."
Across three days, WIC28, under the theme of “Harnessing Digital Transformation and Sustainable Growth”, addressed challenges and opportunities that included digital transformation, sustainability, and localized value chains. The conference highlighted Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 as a transformative framework for aligning global partnerships, technological innovation, and sustainable development.
H.E. Bandar Ibrahim Alkhorayef, Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, speaking on the ‘Strategic Alliances: Leveraging Partnerships for Investment Success’ panel on Day 3 underscored the Kingdom’s commitment to fostering global partnerships, stating: “It has been part of how we design most of the activities that we plan and are executing today.”
He told his panel: “The question about international collaboration is not whether to do it but how to do it, and where to find the right attractive concepts that make it interesting for different parties to collaborate and connect.”
Saudi Arabia’s incentives, he noted, include its advanced infrastructure – both digital and physical – focused on manufacturing, supply chain, and logistics, which enable investors to reduce costs significantly. “And we have approved three economic zones, offering additional benefits for those targeting not only the local market but also the global market,” he added.
Other sessions at the event included the ‘Bridging Borders’ discussion, which focused on transparent collaboration and regulatory cohesion, while ‘To Finish First, First You Have to Finish’ examined operational excellence in Investment Promotion Agencies (IPAs), emphasizing governance, efficiency, and leveraging technology to enhance investor experiences. Meanwhile, ‘Ready, Set, Go’ delved into Saudi Arabia’s efforts to attract investments in specialized industries, particularly advanced manufacturing and renewable energy, by showcasing the Kingdom’s competitive advantages.
The event was held 25-27 November in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It is yet to be decided where the next edition will be held.
About WIC:https://waipa.org/wic-info
*Source:AETOSWire
HE Bandar AlKhorayef, Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources of Saudi Arabia visits the exhibition at the World Investment Conference, with Dr. Abdullah Aldubaikhi and Ibrahim Al-Mubarak, both Assistant Ministers of Investment, Saudi Arabia (Photo: AETOSWire)
H.E. Khalid A. AlFalih, Minister of Investment, Saudi Arabia, closes the World Investment Conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (Photo: AETOSWire)
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Hitam, a lively black-and-white stray cat has been spayed and returned to the loving arms of Alvin, a parking attendant in a bustling street in Indonesia's capital.
“I feed her rice and fish every day,” Alvin said.
The nimble feline is part of an estimated whopping 700,000 stray cats that roam Jakarta. Trap-neuter-return programs, or TNR, have been spearheaded by community-based groups including Let’s Adopt Indonesia that advocate humane methods to control the cat population.
Every weekend, volunteers like 28-year-old Vanya Afreenzha work tirelessly to trap as many stray cats as possible. Armed with cat food, long pole nets and plastic carriers, they roam parks, train stations and public areas where cats can be easily spotted. They then drop them off at a clinic in southern Jakarta to be neutered by qualified veterinarians.
During a recent excursion, volunteers trapped 80 cats, including Hitam, and got them spayed or neutered. Among them was a notoriously aggressive female cat that Afreenzha nicknamed Aing Maung, which means “I am a tiger” in Sundanese.
Carolina Fajar, the head of operations at Let’s Adopt Indonesia, says neutering and spaying cats reduces aggression and disruptive behavior and even prevents property damage as the felines scavenge for food and look to mate.
“So how can we handle this without having to get rid of them? Through neutering which lowers their hormonal levels, allowing them to coexist peacefully,” she said.
Despite the occasional scratch and resistance from some locals who doubt the effectiveness of TNR, volunteers like Afreenzha remain committed to the cause. She finds solace in helping cats live healthier lives and aiding those abandoned by their owners.
She says spaying and neutering helps the cats live better so “they don’t have to keep giving birth on the streets.”
Afreenza believes that harmony between humans and animals is possible, allowing them to coexist peacefully.
A neutered stray cat rests at Istiqlal Mosque compound in Jakarta, Indonesia, on Nov. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)
Alvin, a parking attendant, holds Hitam, a stray cat he's been looking after, after it was returned by volunteers during a "Trap, Neuter and Return" project aimed at reducing stray cat population, in Jakarta, Indonesia, on Nov. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)
A Let's Adopt Indonesia volunteer releases a stray cat that has been neutered during a "Trap, Neuter and Return" project aimed at reducing stray cat population, in Jakarta, Indonesia, on Nov. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)
Let's Adopt Indonesia volunteer Regina Sari releases a stray cat that has been spayed during a "Trap, Neuter and Return" project aimed at reducing stray cat population, in Jakarta, Indonesia, on Nov. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)
A stray cat sits as people walk past by at the Istiqlal Mosque compound in Jakarta, Indonesia, on Nov. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)
A stray cat climbs a table at the food court outside Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia, on Nov. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)
A stray that has been neutered, sits near visitors at the front yard of Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia, on Nov. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)
Veterinarians examine a newly-arrived stray cat during a "Trap, Neuter and Return" project aimed at reducing stray cat population, in Jakarta, Indonesia, on Nov. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)
Spayed and neutered stray cats are laid on the floor while waiting for the anesthetic to wear off during a "Trap, Neuter and Return" project aimed at reducing stray cat population, in Jakarta, Indonesia, on Nov. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)
Veterinarians spay stray cats during a "Trap, Neuter and Return" project aimed at reducing stray cat population, in Jakarta, Indonesia, on Nov. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)
Veterinarians spay a stray cat during a "Trap, Neuter and Return" project aimed at reducing stray cat population, in Jakarta, Indonesia, on Nov. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)
Let's Adopt Indonesia volunteers Ian Gunawan, left, and Vanya Afreenzha put baskets containing stray cats into a van during a "Trap, Neuter and Return" project aimed at reducing stray cat population, in Jakarta, Indonesia, on Nov. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)
Volunteers prepare plastic containers to be used to transport cats during a "Trap, Neuter and Return" project aimed at reducing stray cat population, in Jakarta, Indonesia, on Nov. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)
Let's Adopt Indonesia volunteers Vanya Afreenzha, right, and Marta try to catch a stray cat during a "Trap, Neuter and Return" project aimed at reducing stray cat population, in Jakarta, Indonesia, on Nov. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)
Volunteer Vanya Afreenzha, center, holds a stray cat as Carolina Fajar, the head of operations at Let's Adopt Indonesia, left, and Adib Azhar, another volunteer, right, look on, during a "Trap, Neuter and Return" project aimed at reducing stray cat population, in Jakarta, Indonesia, on Nov. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)
Let's Adopt Indonesia volunteer Vanya Afreenzha uses a net to catch a stray cat during a "Trap, Neuter and Return" project aimed at reducing stray cat population, in Jakarta, Indonesia, on Nov. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)
Let's Adopt Indonesia volunteer Serefanus Melvin, center, put a stray cat into a container during a "Trap, Neuter and Return" project aimed at reducing stray cat population, in Jakarta, Indonesia, on Nov. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)
