Latest news with #SocialDevelopmentBank
Arab News
3 days ago
- Business
- Arab News
Saudi institutes hold training workshops on financial literacy, entrepreneurship
RIYADH: The Imam Turki bin Abdullah Royal Reserve Development Authority, in collaboration with the Social Development Bank, launched a series of specialized training workshops for members of the local community, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday. The initiative is part of the authority's community empowerment programs aimed at enhancing economic skills, promoting entrepreneurship, and supporting individuals' aspirations for financial independence and professional sustainability. A series of workshops — titled 'Financial Freedom,' 'Your First Steps Toward Entrepreneurship,' 'Freelancing: Your Future Project,' and 'Franchising: Promising Opportunities to Enter the Market' — will be held from Aug.10-13. All workshops will be held remotely via the Zoom platform, with registration available through the following links: 'Financial Freedom' ( 'Your First Steps Toward Entrepreneurship' ( 'Freelancing: Your Future Project' ( and 'Franchising: Promising Opportunities to Enter the Market' ( These workshops are part of the authority's efforts to maximize the social and economic impact of the reserve through effective partnerships with developmental entities, foremost among them the Social Development Bank. The goal is to empower local community members with the knowledge and tools necessary to engage in freelancing and entrepreneurial fields.
Argaam
5 days ago
- Business
- Argaam
Itmam awarded project with Social Development Bank
Itmam Consultancy Co. won a contract for the Social Development Bank's (SDB) Dulani Business Center Operation 2025 project. In a statement to Tadawul today, Aug. 5, the company said the contract is valued at more than 23% of its 2024 revenues. The scope of the work includes the provision of non-financial services for projects, freelancers, and micro-enterprises, extending all the technical support and equipment as necessary. The project award letter was received at today's trading close, it added, noting that there are no related parties to the transaction.
Arab News
5 days ago
- Business
- Arab News
SDB partners with Italian institute to train Asir craftsmen
The Social Development Bank hosted an event to train and empower local craftsmen and jewelry designers in the Asir region, in association with the Italian Institute of Contemporary Art, one of the world's leading institutes specializing in contemporary craft design and artistic jewelry making. The event, 'Asir: Craftsmanship Celebration,' offered specialized training in creating handicrafts using copper and gold leaf, reflecting the artists' national identity while aligning with contemporary artistic trends. It drew inspiration from local cultural heritage, particularly Asir's Al-Qatt art form, to reimagine traditional techniques in a modern context, capturing the spirit and cultural uniqueness of the region. This agreement is part of the bank's efforts to expand its international partnerships and transfer global expertise to the local market by offering specialized training programs. This initiative enhanced participants' technical and production skills in metal forming and professional techniques, ensuring they can produce high-quality pieces that meet market demands. Additionally, the aim is to transform these skills into sustainable economic opportunities by enabling participants to design and implement marketable models for the hospitality, hotel, and luxury gift sectors. The event witnessed the signing of a strategic cooperation agreement between the SDB and the IICA. This agreement is part of the bank's efforts to expand its international partnerships and transfer global expertise to the local market by offering specialized training programs in several regions of the Kingdom, supporting the empowerment of productive groups, and enhancing their competitiveness. The event also hosted a session titled 'Asir's Most Splendid Diwaniya,' which featured a group of entrepreneurs, investors, and local experts. It addressed strategic themes related to the integration of the crafts and tourism sectors, the role of freelance work in enhancing project readiness and reducing costs for seasonal establishments, and ways to invest in local resources and develop culturally relevant products. Participants spotlighted the significance of raising the economic value of national crafts and linking them to tourism and hospitality. The 'Asir: Craftsmanship Celebration' event reflects the SDB's commitment to empowering craft and creative project owners by transforming skills into economic opportunities. Since launching its specialized training program in 2023, the bank has trained more than 300 beneficiaries, created 250 quality products, and qualified 30 percent of participants for financing, enabling more than 150 productive families to expand their businesses. Over the last two years, the initiative has conducted more than 15 training programs, with 40 percent of participants receiving funding, resulting in a 40 percent increase in sales for existing projects. The program also organized seven dialogue forums to foster collaboration with supporting entities. The event serves as a key interactive track within this training program, linking productive families and self-employed individuals with investors, and enhancing the integration of crafts and tourism in the Asir region. It highlights the crucial role of handicrafts in the tourism experience and the importance of self-employment in the local hospitality sector.
Zawya
7 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
Social Development Bank launches "Asir: Craftsmanship Celebration" to empower productive families
Abha – The Social Development Bank launched the "Asir: Craftsmanship Celebration" event as part of the "Asir is More Beautiful" Diwaniya, in strategic partnership with the Italian Institute of Contemporary Art, an expert in artistic jewelry design and production that focuses on empowering craftsmen and freelancers in the Asir region. The event offers specialized training in creating handicrafts using copper and gold leaf, reflecting national identity while aligning with contemporary artistic trends. It draws inspiration from local cultural heritage, particularly the Asir al-Qatt art, to reimagine traditional techniques in a modern context, capturing the spirit and cultural uniqueness of the region. This initiative aims to enhance participants' technical and production skills in metal forming and professional techniques, ensuring they can produce high-quality pieces that meet market demands. Additionally, it seeks to transform these skills into sustainable economic opportunities by enabling participants to design and implement marketable models for the hospitality, hotel, and luxury gift sectors. The event witnessed the signing of a strategic cooperation agreement between the Social Development Bank and the Italian Institute of Contemporary Art (IICA), one of the world's leading institutes specializing in contemporary craft design and artistic jewelry making. This agreement is part of the bank's efforts to expand its international partnerships and aims to transfer global expertise to the local market by offering specialized training programs in several regions of the Kingdom, supporting the empowerment of productive groups, and enhancing their competitiveness. The event also hosted a session titled "Asir's Most Splendid Diwaniya," which featured a group of entrepreneurs, investors, and local experts. It addressed strategic themes related to the integration of the crafts and tourism sectors, the role of freelance work in enhancing project readiness and reducing costs for seasonal establishments, and ways to invest in local resources and develop culturally relevant products. This will contribute to raising the economic value of national crafts and linking them to tourism and hospitality. The "Asir: Craftsmanship Celebration" event reflects the Social Development Bank's commitment to empowering craft and creative project owners by transforming skills into economic opportunities. Since launching its specialized training program in 2023, the bank has trained over 300 beneficiaries, created 250 quality products, and qualified 30% of participants for financing, enabling more than 150 productive families to expand their businesses. Over the last two years, this program has implemented more than 15 training programs, with 40% of participants receiving funding, resulting in a 40% increase in sales for existing projects. The program also organized seven dialogue forums to foster collaboration with supporting entities. The event serves as a key interactive track within this training program, linking productive families and self-employed individuals with investors, and enhancing the integration of crafts and tourism in the Aseer region. This highlights the crucial role of handicrafts in the tourism experience and the importance of self-employment in the local hospitality sector.
Arab News
01-08-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Crafts training program launched in Asir
ABHA: The Saudi Social Development Bank has launched a crafts training program in Asir, in partnership with Italy's Alchimia Contemporary Jewellery School. The initiative, which is part of the bank's specialized training program, offers artisans and freelance professionals training in crafting pieces with copper and gold leaf. The program draws inspiration from local heritage, particularly UNESCO-recognized Al-Qatt Al-Asiri art, to create high-quality products that meet market demands and foster sustainable economic opportunities. The launching ceremony featured the signing of a strategic cooperation agreement between the bank and the Alchimia school. The partnership aims to transfer global expertise to the local market through specialized training programs nationwide, empowering artisans and enhancing competitiveness. The initiative is part of the bank's efforts to support craft and creative enterprises. Since its launch in 2023, the bank's specialized training program has benefited more than 300 participants through 15 programs, resulting in 250 unique products. It has also helped 30 percent of participants secure financing, and enabled over 150 families working in the cottage industry to expand their operations.
