Makkah Emir Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, who is also the chairman of the Supreme Supervisory Committee of Souk Okaz, and Prince Saud Bin Abdullah Bin Thenayan, Chairman of the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu and Chairman of SABIC, during the opening of the festival. — Courtesy photo Saudi Gazette report
TAIF —As part of its social responsibility strategy, the Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) participated in the seventh annual Souk Okaz on Tuesday. The festival was organized under the auspices of Makkah Emir Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, who is also chairman of the event's supreme supervisory committee. The opening ceremony was attended by chairman of the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu Prince Saud Bin Abdullah Bin Thenayan, also chairman of SABIC; and Mohamed Al-Mady, SABIC vice chairman and chief executive officer. Prince Saud said: “SABIC's participation in Souk Okaz comes from it being a unique historical and artistic poetic forum and its inherent content promotes ethical, cultural and historical values among the Arabs.” He went on to highlight SABIC's commitment to create value and have a positive impact on Saudi society by adopting an ambitious vision and comprehensive strategy in sustainability and social responsibility. Prince Saud said: “It is the valuable and sincere efforts made by Prince Khaled Al-Faisal to revive the Souk Okaz heritage that helped it return to its natural position in the Arab culture, revealing but a small part of the rich cultural heritage of Saudi Arabia.” The festival has received the global and regional attention of cultural and media organizations and attracted large numbers of visitors interested in culture, poetry, literature and heritage from Gulf states and other neighboring countries. Prince Saud said: “Culture is an important element in our lives and its impact reflects on our future. “Whoever does not have a past will not have a future. “The Islamic and Arabic culture has received much attention from the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques (King Abdullah), who has made available all capabilities that enhance its presence and highlight its rich knowledge that influenced the world." Al-Mady said: “The Souk Okaz has become one of the most prominent Saudi cultural events and a literary heritage and its effects have been felt both regionally and globally.” He said Souk Okaz clearly reflects the development of the Kingdom's economic, commercial, industrial and cultural areas. "We in SABIC have been able to implement our strategy of social responsibility, making SABIC an active and supportive partner in various social, economic and cultural initiatives and events. “Therefore, we always strive to seize the opportunities that allow us to strengthen relationships with our partners through the sharing of our knowledge, expertise and experiences in all areas of sustainability and social responsibility. “To this end, we have strengthened our outreach and support for all social and economic activities in our society, including Souk Okaz, to continue to endeavor to achieve sustainability in our community." Prince Khaled honored SABIC for participating and supporting the Souk Okaz festival, which he said has become one of the major cultural events that reflect the civilized aspect of Saudi Arabia and a legacy of the Kingdom's ancient history. The festival is organized annually through collaboration between the Makkah provincial governorate and the ministries of education, higher education and culture and information, as well as the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities. The seventh Souk Okaz will have many activities and events, namely, the launch of the center and chair of poetry, as well as symposiums involving writers from Arab countries, exhibitions of fine arts, photography, traditional shows, a march of the cavalry and camel riders, craftsmen and artisans shows and the traditional market.
