Latest news with #Mada
CairoScene
20 hours ago
- Entertainment
- CairoScene
Darb 1718 Launches Mentorship Program for Emerging Artists This August
'Mada', the mentorship program, provides new artists with ample room for hand-on experimentation with guidance from respected artists. Jul 29, 2025 To help freshly graduated art students navigate the world of work after university, Darb 1718 is hosting a mentorship program, in various fields and mediums, in August. 'Mada', the mentorship program, provides new artists with ample room for hand-on experimentation with guidance from respected artists, including photographer Ali Zaraay, visual artist Rania Atef and photographer/visual artist Nadia Mounier. The program is designed by artistic director and author of 'The Collapse of the Contemporary Art Factory' Ahmed Shawky Hassan to be a space where new artists can ask questions and explore mediums freely. The announcement for registration for the program will be announced soon on Darb 1718's social media.
Argaam
2 days ago
- Business
- Argaam
SAMA expects new payment interface to support entry of e-stores
The Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) expects the newly launched payment interface to facilitate the entry of new e-commerce stores, particularly local businesses that have previously faced technical and regulatory challenges. The initiative is part of efforts to unify integration standards with the Mada system, with the goal of enhancing the competitiveness of the Saudi market and expanding the base of payment service providers. According to Al Eqtisadiah newspaper, SAMA stated that the interface targets five key beneficiary groups: payment gateways, technical payment service providers, hosting banks and financial institutions, relevant government and private entities within the e-commerce ecosystem, and individual consumers—who will benefit from a more seamless and secure payment experience. The central bank explained that the interface will allow banks and financial institutions, in their role as hosting entities, to establish direct financing relationships with e-commerce merchants. This will enable financing based on actual sales generated through e-payments, allowing financial institutions to provide funding solutions backed by merchants' transaction data. According to data available with Argaam, SAMA launched the new e-payment interface earlier this month as part of a strategic initiative to improve payment system efficiency and accelerate the Kingdom's digital transformation in line with the rapid growth of the e-commerce sector.
The Star
3 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Padi planting project starts ahead of schedule
ALOR SETAR: The main infrastructure development project under the five-season padi planting programme over two years in the Muda area has commenced ahead of its scheduled starting date of Aug 1. Muda Agricultural Development Authority (Mada) chairman Datuk Dr Ismail Salleh said the project's progress is ahead of schedule, reflecting a strong commitment and seriousness in assisting farmers in the Muda area. The development project comprises two main components – the construction and maintenance of 15 Tertiary Irrigation System Blocks (Project 1), and the Pedu Dam Phase 1 Comprehensive Rehabilitation Project (Project 2), with a total allocation of RM1bil, Bernama reported. 'These 15 blocks will supply water to 560ha of padi fields. According to the original timeline, the project was scheduled to begin on Aug 1, but the contractor began work earlier,' he said. On Friday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim visited the major infrastructure development project under the five-season padi cultivation programme in the Muda area, located at Batu 7, Kampung Kemboja, Ayer Hitam, near Jitra. He said the padi cultivation programme would bring comprehensive reforms to the country's padi and rice industry ecosystem, helping to reduce reliance on imports and enhance national rice self-sufficiency. Ismail added that the Prime Minister's visit marked his second to the project site, aimed at reviewing the progress of agricultural infrastructure development in line with the government's efforts to strengthen the national food supply and boost local rice production.
New Straits Times
4 days ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Five-season padi planting in two years reforms country's padi ecosystem
JERLUN: The Five-Season Padi Cultivation Programme in the Muda Area in Kedah will bring about comprehensive reforms to the country's padi and rice industry ecosystem, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Anwar said this would at once reduce dependence on imports and strengthen the country's rice self-sufficiency rate. "This initiative is very close to my heart. Therefore, rapid implementation and effective coordination are very important to increase the capacity of local rice farmers and ensure more sustainable harvests," he said in a statement to the media here yesterday. In this regard, Anwar called on the state government and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (KPKM) to continue to act promptly and in an integrated manner to make this important agenda a success. He said the Madani government listens to the voices of rice farmers, understands their needs and is determined to continue to empower this sector through various ongoing initiatives. This, he said, also proves the concern and determination of the Madani government in defending the fate of farmers, the backbone of the country's agro-food sector. Earlier, the Prime Minister also conducted a working visit to one of the main infrastructure development projects under the Five-Season Padi Cultivation Programme in Two Years in the Muda Area in Batu 7, Kampung Kemboja, Ayer Hitam near here. Also present in the visit were Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor and Muda Agricultural Development Board (Mada) chairman Datuk Dr Ismail Salleh. Meanwhile, according to a statement issued by Mada, the Prime Minister's visit was his second visit to the project site to review the progress of agricultural infrastructure development. This was in preparation for the implementation of smart agriculture, in line with the government's efforts to strengthen the country's food supply and increase local rice production. "This project currently being implemented focuses on upgrading the irrigation and drainage system and strengthening the use of modern technology in the padi cultivation sector. "It is being implemented through a Public Private Partnership approach, which not only supports the intensification of planting activities, but is also able to increase the productivity of padi farmers and increase their income," said Mada. According to Mada, the programme is also seen as a strategic effort to bring about major reforms in the country's padi and rice industry, in line with the goals of the Madani government. The statement said with the implementation of five planting seasons within two years, the country is expected to be able to reduce its dependence on imported rice and increase the level of self-sufficiency (SSL) for this strategic commodity. This development project includes two main components, namely the construction and maintenance of 15 Tertiary Irrigation System Blocks (Project 1) and the Pedu Dam Phase 1 Comprehensive Rehabilitation Project (Project 2), which involves a total allocation of around RM1 billion.
New Straits Times
4 days ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
PM wants priority on '5-season in two years' padi project in Kedah
JERLUN: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has urged the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry and the Kedah government to act swiftly to ensure the success of the "Five Cultivation Seasons in Two Years Padi Planting" Initiative. Anwar said the initiative in the Muda region was close to his heart and required prompt execution and effective coordination to ensure more sustainable yields. "I call on the state government and the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry to move quickly and work in a coordinated manner to realise this vital agenda," he said in a statement after a work visit to the infrastructure development site in Batu 7, Kampung Kemboja, here today. Present was Muda Agriculture Development Authority (Mada) chairman Datuk Dr Ismail Salleh, Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor and Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail. Anwar expressed confidence that the government's efforts would catalyse a holistic reform of the country's padi and rice industry ecosystem, reduce dependence on imports and strengthen the national rice self-sufficiency level. "The Madani government listens to the voices of our farmers, understands their needs, and is committed to continuously empowering the sector through sustained support and various initiatives," he said. Anwar added this initiative reflects the government's compassion and determination to uplift farmers, who are the backbone of Malaysia's agri-food sector. In February, Anwar told Dewan Rakyat the government had approved RM1 billion for Mada to boost padi production in Kedah. According to Mada, the large-scale agricultural effort, implemented through a public-private partnership, integrates smart farming technologies to support higher productivity and long-term sustainability in the rice industry. "This initiative is a catalyst for reforming the national paddy and rice sector. By enabling five planting cycles within two years, we aim to boost self-sufficiency levels while enhancing the income of local farmers," it said in a statement. The development consisted of two main components. The first involves the construction and maintenance of 15 tertiary irrigation blocks. The second focuses on the rehabilitation of Pedu Dam under Phase One. The overall allocation for both components is estimated at RM1 billion.
