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BURAIDAH: Delegates from the International Date Council recently visited the Qassim region where they surveyed the region’s best practices in production and marketing, as well as efforts to expand the industry.

They toured the food city in Unaizah and examined international export efforts, in addition to reviewing initiatives that support investment and the development of the private sector, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Thursday.

The delegates participated in events of the Unaizah International Dates Season, which is a marketing and investment platform that brings together producers and investors.

They also attended the Buraidah Dates Carnival and auction to explore how local producers are developing the industry, the SPA reported.

RIYADH: The Saudi Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development marked World Entrepreneurs’ Day, observed annually on Aug. 21, by highlighting its commitment to enhancing the work environment and empowering youth and entrepreneurs through various initiatives that support Saudi Vision 2030.

The number of small and medium-sized enterprises has more than doubled from 429,000 in 2016 to more than 1.2 million, reflecting the ministry’s success in supporting entrepreneurs and expanding self-employment opportunities.

The ministry has implemented several key programs to achieve its goals. An innovation hackathon initiative provides a platform for young men and women to develop creative solutions for labor market challenges.

Additionally, the Youth Development Strategy, launched in 2024, includes more than 20 initiatives to qualify and empower young people, leading to the establishment of the General Administration for Youth Development and a professional certificate for youth work.

The ministry’s social security empowerment program has been highly successful, achieving a 33.7 percent empowerment rate for beneficiaries by qualifying and supporting 23,394 individuals in the first quarter of 2025.