In exclusive statements to ‘Sputnik’ on the sidelines of the ‘MOMENTUM 2025’ conference held in Riyadh, Al-Akbari explained that Saudi Arabia’s ongoing support for Yemen includes the education sector among other vital sectors, aiming to address the side effects of the war and ensure the stability of the educational process.
Regarding the main financial needs of the education sector in Yemen, Al-Akbari pointed out that today’s priority is focused on rebuilding the damaged infrastructure and supporting and training teachers and educational staff. He emphasized that these needs are at the forefront of priorities to guarantee the continuity of education despite the challenges.
Concerning the challenges faced by the Yemeni educational system, the minister explained that the most prominent ones are the destruction of infrastructure due to the war and the difficulty in stabilizing the educational process in some areas. However, he affirmed that Yemen has been able to overcome many of these issues and is currently working to resolve the remaining ones in collaboration with international and regional partners.
Regarding Yemen’s benefit from the current conference, Minister Al-Akbari expressed his appreciation for the experiences and projects presented, noting that they are a significant incentive for Yemen as they address issues that are very similar to the Yemeni reality, opening the door for direct benefit from these successful experiences.
The international ‘MOMENTUM 2025’ conference is organized by the National Development Fund under the theme ‘Leading Development Transformation,’ with the participation of a select group of decision-makers, experts, and investors from around the world. The conference included more than 35 panel discussions with over 100 global speakers, in addition to an exhibition featuring more than 20 entities from both the public and private sectors.
It is noteworthy that the National Development Fund is responsible for the development finance landscape in the Kingdom. It oversees and develops the efficiency of the developmental funds and banks under its umbrella, which number 12 in total, ensuring their efforts and goals align with the ‘Kingdom’s Vision 2030’. By enhancing coordination among the developmental funds and banks in the Kingdom and boosting their activities and financial sustainability, the fund aims to direct private investments, unify governance and risk frameworks, and monitor program implementation to ensure that financing stimulates growth, is scalable, and achieves a tangible, measurable impact.
