Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to the United States, Princess Reema bint Bandar Al-Saud, gave the keynote address this morning at the virtual U.S.-Saudi Business forum and discussed the path forward for U.S.-Saudi business and diplomatic relations, women empowerment, and rebounding from the effects of the pandemic on the global and local economy.
The comments, delivered virtually at the event hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, directly addressed the concept of a “reset” in U.S.-Saudi relations, noting that the two allies will remain as such and that the path forward is not as much of a reset but a “restart.”
“Our mutual efforts have now put us on a path to recovery,” Princess Reema said in her remarks, after thanking the event hosts and congratulating the U.S. Chamber on its appointment of its first female President and CEO.
Princess Reema said of the U.S.-Saudi relationship, “there’s talk about a reset” between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia, “but I’m not sure it is much of a reset, but a restart.”
The Ambassador noted that next month will mark five years since then-Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman unveiled the Kingdom’s ambitious Vision 2030 reform plans.
“Little did we know then, but Vision 2030 would be instrumental in enabling Saudi Arabia to withstand this crisis. It would become the platform toward our quick and healthy recovery. And in many ways Vision 2030 prepared Saudi Arabia for this past year. It enabled us to become resilient and resistant…because Vision 2030 was our reset, and it enabled us to not shut down over past year.”
“Now, while we look to restart, building on Vision 2030’s plans for economic diversification and development, you know, Vision 2030 was mostly unaffected by Covid’s long reach. But not completely…nothing and no one will ever escape Covid un-impacted. There’s going to be a form of PTSD that lingers. Yes, we’ll escape the pandemic, yes, we’ll build and recover, but we need to learn from this experience, and we need to better prepare.”
Princess Reema stressed the importance of ensuring the pandemic did not expand gender inequalities.
“To emerge stronger, we need to acknowledge that COVID’s impact has not been gender-neutral,” Ambassador Reema said. “The Kingdom’s ready to make sure our recovery is shared by everyone.”
Vision 2030 is a program, among other benefits, to empower Saudi women, Princess Reema said, highlighting the meaningful changes happening to women and families every day in the Kingdom.
The Ambassador also discussed the issue of climate change.
“Climate change is real,” she said, “and we need to take it seriously. Sustainability is not just something that is fashionable, it’s essential and it needs to inform our economic and business decisions.”
“And if we embrace this new paradigm, it comes with opportunities.”
