The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, chaired the Cabinet's session held on Tuesday afternoon at Irqah Palace in Riyadh. At the outset of the session, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques briefed the Cabinet on the content of the letter he received from the Crown Prince of the State of Kuwait, 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 the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Arab Republic of Egypt, which 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 and developing 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. At the local level, the Cabinet applauded the announcement of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and Prime Minister on the launch of the Events Investment Fund (EIF), chaired by HRH 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 was briefed on a number of issues on its agenda and issued the following decisions: First: Approving a memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the cultural field between the Ministry of Culture of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Culture and Sports of the Hellenic Republic. Second: Approving the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's accession to the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions 2005. Third: Approving two memorandums of understanding for cooperation in the field of veterinary development, livestock, and agricultural fields between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Republic of Uzbekistan. Fourth: Authorizing the Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture - or his deputy - to discuss and sign with the Serbian side a draft memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management of the Republic of Serbia in the agricultural field. Fifth: Authorizing the Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture - or his deputy - 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 the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Agriculture, Water, Livestock and Fisheries of the Republic of Djibouti. Sixth: Authorizing the Minister of Transport and Logistics Services - or his deputy - 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 the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Republic of Korea. Seventh: Authorizing the Minister of Tourism - or his deputy - 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 the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Tourism of the Kingdom of Bahrain. Eighth: Authorizing the Governor of the Royal Commission for AlUla - or his deputy - to discuss and sign with the French side a draft agreement between the Royal Commission for AlUla of the Kingdom 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 Al-Ula Governorate. Ninth: Approving a draft memorandum of understanding regarding tax management between the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA) of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the National Tax and Customs Administration of Hungary (NTCA). Tenth: Approving that the Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture is to be Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Water Partnership Company for another term, starting from 10/1/2023. Eleventh: Transforming the Saudi Grains Organization (SAGO) into an authority named "General Food Security Authority (GFSA)", and approving the draft organizational arrangements for it. Twelfth: Approving the final account of the Saudi Export Development Authority for a previous fiscal year. Thirteenth: Approving a number of promotions to the (15th) and (14th) ranks. The Cabinet also reviewed several issues on its agenda and took necessary procedures regarding them.
