Since his appointment as Crown Prince in 2017, Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud (MBS) has embarked on an ambitious reform agenda encapsulated in Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, aiming to transform the kingdom's social, economic, and cultural landscape.

Vision 2030 is a comprehensive blueprint designed to reduce Saudi Arabia's dependence on oil, diversify its economy, and modernize its society through radical changes in governance, economic structures, and cultural norms.

One of the most notable aspects of Vision 2030 is its focus on empowering women, a significant departure from the kingdom's historically restrictive policies regarding gender roles.

Saudi women have seen a dramatic rise in leadership positions across various sectors, reflecting the nation's commitment to fostering gender equality under Vision 2030.

The initiative aims to boost female participation in the workforce to 30 percent by 2030, a target that underscores the importance of women's economic contributions to the kingdom's future.

As of the first quarter of 2022, Saudi women constituted more than a third of the workforce, marking a 17.4 percent increase over the past five years.

The female unemployment rate in Saudi Arabia fell to its lowest level in 20 years in early 2022, signaling the success of policies aimed at integrating women into the labor market.

The percentage of women in middle management and senior positions rose from 28.6 percent in 2017 to 39 percent by 2022, showcasing the growing influence of women in decision-making roles.

Saudi Arabia has been recognized by the World Bank as one of the top countries for implementing reforms related to women's rights in its Women, Business and Law reports for 2020 and 2021.

Under MBS's leadership, women have gained the right to drive, travel independently, and run their own businesses, contributing to increased female employment and economic participation.

Princess Reema bint Bandar, Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the United States, has emphasized the importance of women in leadership roles to create a more inclusive and prosperous society.

Saudi Arabia sent its first female astronaut, Rayyanah Barnawi, to the International Space Station in 2023, symbolizing the kingdom's commitment to breaking barriers for women in science and technology.

Saudi women are increasingly occupying top positions globally in fields such as astrophysics, politics, and technology, reflecting the kingdom's evolving stance on gender equality.

Economic diversification is another cornerstone of Vision 2030, as Saudi Arabia seeks to reduce its reliance on oil and develop a robust, multifaceted economy.

The plan includes investments in movies, sports, video games, tourism, and other cultural endeavors, redirecting oil wealth to foster new industries and social changes.

Saudi Arabia's fashion industry has emerged as a key component of economic diversification, with initiatives like the Saudi 100 Brands program supporting local designers and nurturing a homegrown fashion sector.

Retail sales in the Saudi fashion industry are projected to surge by 48 percent to $32 billion between 2021 and 2025, highlighting the sector's growth potential.

Vision 2030 emphasizes the development of trade, technology, tourism, investments, entertainment, and intellectual research to create a vibrant society and thriving economy.

The plan involves privatizing major state-owned companies to create new industries and provide job opportunities for young people, thereby reducing unemployment.

Saudi Arabia aims to establish a strong investment fund comparable to the world's largest funds, ensuring sustainable economic growth and global competitiveness.

Cultural and social reforms under Vision 2030 are reshaping Saudi society, bringing new opportunities and fostering a more inclusive environment.

The kingdom has expanded its entertainment market to SR30 billion, offering cultural experiences domestically that citizens previously sought abroad.

Saudi Arabia has witnessed a significant transformation in its cultural, artistic, and social landscape, with increased events such as sports, movie screenings, art exhibitions, and music concerts.

The traditional perception of Saudi Arabia as a center of obscurantist Islamic ideology has shifted under MBS's leadership, aligning the kingdom with modern times.

Religious conservatism has been significantly reduced, with religious leaders stripped of power to allow MBS to implement his reform agenda with fewer obstacles.

The pact between the Saudi Royal Family and the clergy, which historically promoted Wahhabi ideology, has been redefined to support a more moderate form of Islam.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Karim Al-Issa, Secretary General of the Muslim World League, has advocated for reforming Islamic ideology to promote tolerance and reduce sectarianism.

Saudi Arabia's global image is undergoing a transformation, with initiatives like its presence at Paris Fashion Week signaling a desire to redefine itself on the international stage.

The kingdom continues to support the voices of the Muslim community globally and speak against Islamophobia to promote peaceful coexistence.

Since his appointment as Crown Prince in 2017, Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud (MBS) has embarked on an ambitious reform agenda encapsulated in Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, aiming to transform the kingdom's social, economic, and cultural landscape.

Title:

Content: Moderate ideology: The silent Saudi revolution

Sports events, movie screenings, art exhibitions and music concerts are becoming increasingly common in the kingdom, and Saudi citizens are lapping them all up.

Published: 25th July 2023 12:34 AM  |   Last Updated: 25th July 2023 12:45 AM   |  A+A-

It has been ‘work in progress’ for some time now. Saudi Arabia is changing the tone and texture of its ideology from what has always been considered obscurantist to something that keeps with the times. Sports events, movie screenings, art exhibitions and music concerts are becoming increasingly common in the kingdom, and Saudi citizens are lapping them all up.

The kingdom has rapidly secured its position as a centre for cultural events, art exhibitions and film screenings. The nation’s Vision 2030 envisages and fully supports the expansion of the entertainment market to SR30 billion. Almost every domain of entertainment for which Saudi citizens earlier travelled far and wide is now available at home. This is thanks to a break from the past that the de facto ruler, Mohammad bin Salman (MbS), the Crown Prince, has initiated. It makes eminent sense in a nation seeking to develop itself beyond the energy sector with three visionary themes: a vibrant society, a thriving economy and continuity in terms of ambition in comprehensive development.

All this translates into a modern civilisational outlook with technology, intellectualism, private investment, trade, tourism, academics and more, all becoming the prime domains of functioning. The traditional worldwide perception of Saudi Arabia as the centre of the obscurantist ideology of Islam and a nation with an anti-reformist outlook has persisted, and not without reason. A brief understanding of this is important to appreciate the degree of change that Prince MbS has been able to generate.

As the custodian of the Holy Shrines of Mecca and Medina and the land where Islam’s first message was delivered, the Saudi rulers and clergy have always been all-powerful, even more so after adopting the core ideology expounded by Saudi thinker Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab. There is a long history behind this.

A virtual pact between the powerful clergy and the Royal Family has existed to promote the Wahhabi ideology in return for the powers that the Royals enjoyed. The pact saw enhanced clergy power after 1979 when the Shia Revolution occurred in Iran, the Saudi Ikhwan attempted a takeover of the Holy Shrine at Mecca, and the Soviets invaded Afghanistan. Wahhabi ideology was about going back to the basics and making the faith much less tolerant by supporting ‘Takfir’, or the power of declaration of a believer as an apostate if Wahhabi tenets are not adhered to. The militant part of the ideology started to come to the fore after 1979. From segments of the Arab world to Afghanistan, Pakistan, parts of India, Indonesia, Philippines and other Southeast Asian nations, militancy promoting the Saudi brand flourished, giving rise to the notion of a clash of civilisations.

Saudi Arabia’s energy resources always dictated US policy. A grey zone existed here with simultaneous US support to Israel and Saudi Arabia, stacked primarily against Iran and the collective Arab will against Israel. A couple of factors brought the trigger for change. Among them were the discovery of shale gas in the US and the progressive decline in US dependency on Saudi energy resources. Second was the dwindling Saudi economy and the realisation that in an energy-based economy, without expansion into other domains of economic development, such as trade, technology, tourism, investments, entertainment and intellectual research, Saudi Arabia would waste its opportunities and resources. The tremendous advantage of being the centre of the Islamic world could give it enduring leadership status if it could neutralise the rising militancy within Islam. Nations all around, such as the UAE, had fully utilised their possessions and drawn major economic attraction due to pragmatism followed in all domains, including faith issues. The position of women in Saudi society, in particular, had a damning effect on the nation.

Nothing changes without a leader and a vision. Saudi Arabia was fortunate to get MbS, although his personal equation with the US has remained strained for various reasons, not the least being the Khashoggi factor. However, none of that has affected his intent of modernising the nation and for that, a more moderate form of Islam within the kingdom is necessary. To his credit, he has convinced the clergy of the need to follow his vision, which will also project Islam differently to many others who follow the Saudi guidelines on faith.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Karim Al-Issa, from Saudi Arabia, who recently visited New Delhi for six days, is the Secretary General of the Muslim World League. The organisation was once at the forefront of promoting obscurantist ideology but is now transformed, as is evident from Sheikh al Issa’s message in New Delhi. The Sheikh’s belief which he transparently shared is that a whole generation of Muslims has grown up with an ideology that has given them a negative view of other faiths and an intolerantly sectarian understanding of their own.

In his several meetings with intellectuals, leaders and clergy from diverse faiths in India, he emphasised the role of the clergy in any faith. He admitted that Islam had earned a bad name for itself due to the acts of a few and the refusal of the followers to condemn those acts. He spoke of the role of family and education and decried religious teachers’ unsupervised education of young Muslim children. He mentioned that when intolerance and militancy were rising, people feared confronting them. His most poignant argument was that such obscurantism and militancy cannot be eliminated in the typical military way; they have to be removed from the roots by narratives stronger than the ones expounded.

Sheikh Al-Issa’s visit to India was symbolic of what appears to be the fading of the intolerant and militant element of Islam, but we cannot read too much into this. That change is taking place at the ideological centre is positive, but there is no guarantee of permanency. It is also not necessary that the message from Saudi Arabia is gelling with the vast Muslim populations worldwide. These populations are enmeshed with their local cultures and unlikely to follow examples. What is true is that a message supporting reformation has emanated from the nation considered the custodian of the shrines and, by many, of the faith. Nurturing this and taking it beyond is now the challenge.

Lt Gen Syed Ata Hasnain (Retd)

Former Commander, Srinagar-based 15 Corps. Now Chancellor, Central University of Kashmir

(atahasnain@gmail.com)

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What are some of the key goals of Vision 2030 for society and economy?

allow recreational activities; Saudi women benefit from relaxed restrictions

What are the main goals of the 2016- launched Vision 2030?

To lessen reliance on oil.
To diversify Saudi Arabia's economy

What has MBS done since becoming Crown Prince in Saudi Arabia?

Vision 2030 is a comprehensive blueprint designed to reduce Saudi Arabia's dependence on oil, diversify its economy, and modernize its society through radical changes in governance, economic structures, and cultural norms.

Title:

Content: Riyadh Season 2022: Why did the new marketing announcement infuriate Saudi Tweeters?
A large number of social media pioneers have interacted with the announcement of the new Riyadh season published by the Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority Turki Al-Sheikh for this year.
The announcement shows sports and artistic symbols, including Real Madrid player Karim Benzema and Liverpool player Mohamed Salah, in addition to a number of Arab artists.
Tweeters criticized the absence of any Saudi artist in the ad, as well as resentment of the "huge amounts of advertising costs."
On the other hand, other Tweeters praised the announcement, noting their approval of the social, cultural and artistic changes witnessed by Saudi Arabia in the recent period.
Announcement Launch
The Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority, Turki Al-Sheikh, launched on Sunday through his Twitter account the official marketing announcement for the Riyadh 2022 season, which garnered more than 22 million views and interaction with thousands of Tweeters.
The Riyadh Season announcement video featured dazzling fireworks scenes and included a group of famous art and sports from around the world.
Among those who participated in the announcement are Egyptian football star and English club Liverpool Mohamed Salah, and Real Madrid star and recent Golden Ball winner Karim Benzema.
The announcement also featured Lebanese star Nancy Ajram and famous singer Majid al-Muhandis and artist Nadine Noujaim.
The video included scenes from the entertainment events of the third edition of the Riyadh season.
These events include games, restaurants, cafes, in addition to concerts, plays, and a number of international exhibitions in various entertainment fields.
Angry Tweeters
A number of Saudi Tweeters have expressed anger at the marketing announcement, criticizing several points in the ad.
Some saw it as "pointless and pointless extravagance".
Others questioned the “costs of such a huge announcement. ”
Others highlighted the lack of "Saudi art icons and celebrities" in the marketing advertisement for the Riyadh season.
Proponents of the Declaration
On the other hand, some tweets talked about "the great success achieved by the Riyadh season in its first and second editions technically and publicly, in addition to the great economic return."
This team predicted "the success of the new season like the last two seasons."
Others noted their fascination with the announcement, given the participation of Salah and Benzema in it.
Social and cultural transformation
In recent years, Saudi Arabia has witnessed a significant transformation in the cultural, artistic and social landscape.
This has sparked controversy among old-school conservatives and neo-reformists, who want a more open and modern Saudi Arabia than before.
There is a fierce debate within Saudi Arabia about whether Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the owner of Saudi Vision 2030, will be able to achieve his goals.
Vision 2030
• Among the goals of the plans revealed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is to "modernize the economy and transform the country into a tourist and modern interface, in addition to transforming the economy away from oil, and open new tributaries of national income, depending on clean energy, tourism and entertainment."
• He also hopes to end the country ’ s dependence on oil by 2030, which will require radical changes to a bureaucracy that has thwarted previous reforms and a willingness to challenge the powerful religious conservatism.
• These plans also entail strengthening the role of the private sector, which currently depends on government spending.
• The vision is to try to develop and promote the country through a large plan that will work on comprehensive economic and social reform and work to develop it.
• It also includes the emergence of new industries by privatizing the Kingdom ’ s largest companies, providing job opportunities for young people to reduce unemployment, and establishing a strong investment fund comparable to the world ’ s largest.

What are some of the key goals of Vision 2030 for society and economy?

What are the main goals of the 2016- launched Vision 2030?

To lessen reliance on oil.
To diversify Saudi Arabia's economy

What has MBS done since becoming Crown Prince in Saudi Arabia?

One of the most notable aspects of Vision 2030 is its focus on empowering women, a significant departure from the kingdom's historically restrictive policies regarding gender roles.

Title:

Content: Saudi National Day: Kingdom's women and young people shaping the future

UN official Jood Alharthi tells The National that young people in the kingdom are becoming 'change-makers'

Powered by automated translation

Saudi women are taking charge of representing the kingdom across different sectors and positions regionally and globally, some of its most well-known women told The National.

Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, champions women empowerment, which is a key component of reforms in the kingdom.

Jood Al Harthi, the first woman to be appointed as political affairs officer at the Executive Office of the Secretary General of the UN in New York, spoke to The National ahead of Saudi National Day on Saturday.

She said “today more than ever”, the kingdom is making an impact in the space of international co-operation, development, multilateralism and diplomacy.

She said the King Salman Relief Centre had “unarguably expanded” its global reach and scale, with its top projects the previous year focusing on emergency relief co-ordination, food security and early recovery.

“It’s worthy to note that more and more young Saudis have rushed to become volunteers and change-makers for such causes,” she said.

The empowerment of women and youth engagement are top priorities within the kingdom's Vision 2030 initiative.

It is through such initiatives that the kingdom can create a platform for the next generation of Saudi women to “thrive”, said Princess Reema bint Bandar, the kingdom's ambassador to the US.

“We can contribute to break down the barriers in the biases that hold women back and we can foster a world where the next generation of women can thrive,” she said.

“And when we do that, we’ll not only create a more equal and inclusive society but also a more prosperous one. We need more women in leadership roles paving the way.”

Princess Reema, who was appointed ambassador to the US by the Saudi Crown Prince in 2019, said the kingdom needs more female business leaders to reach its potential.

“We need more women in middle management positions continuing the work,” she said.

“We need more women business owners, more mentorship programmes focused on female success, and more people investing in women-led start-ups.”

In 2023, Saudi Arabia sent its first Saudi female astronaut, Rayyanah Barnawi, to the International Space Station.

And Saudi women are rising to top positions across the world, from astrophysics, politics, technology and other industries.

The kingdom has hosted high-level summits over the past year, including the Arab League Summit.

It has allowed the kingdom to further empower its women to take leading roles in its international vision, Ms Alharthi said.

“We’ve seen an increase of women ambassadors, youth representatives and recruitment,” she said.

“As the kingdom marks its National Day, we must recall the huge contributions that make headlines, but most importantly, let us also celebrate the unheard successes and the many transformative plans and dreams in progress.”

She said Saudi Arabia continues to support the voices of the Muslim community globally, and speak against cases of Islamophobia and hate speech to boost peaceful coexistence.

Updated: September 23, 2023, 3:00 AM

How has Vision 2030 affected women's rights and workforce participation?

gender equality
Strengthened women's rights

What are some of the key goals of Vision 2030 for society and economy?

allow recreational activities; Saudi women benefit from relaxed restrictions

What has MBS done since becoming Crown Prince in Saudi Arabia?

What leadership roles have Saudi women achieved under Vision 2030?

Women have been appointed to municipal councils

Saudi women have seen a dramatic rise in leadership positions across various sectors, reflecting the nation's commitment to fostering gender equality under Vision 2030.

Title:

Content: Saudi National Day: kingdom's women celebrate drive towards equal opportunity

Female executives cite "progressive leadership" for their achievements

Beta V.1.0 - Powered by automated translation

As they prepare for the 92nd Saudi National Day on Friday, Saudi women are celebrating the nation's progress and their rise to leadership positions across different sectors.

Saudi women have always coveted more visible and pertinent roles in society, and the kingdom's Vision 2030 is the catalyst that has made them possible.

Saudi Arabia had developed a diversified economy thanks to its “progressive leadership”, Dr Manar Al Moneef, Chief Investment Officer at the kingdom's $500 billion city of the future Neom, told The National.

“We are proud of the incredible accomplishments that have ignited the pride of our people all over the kingdom and we continue to strive for greatness,” she says.

“Neom will continue to be a powerful enabler” of the Saudi Vision 2030, she said.

Dr Manar believes Saudi Arabia is committed to women’s empowerment and has enabled women to obtain the “highest levels” of education and encouraged them to participate in various aspects of “economic, political, and social life”.

“As part of Vision 2030, I am grateful for the major reforms and the continuation of the leadership’s efforts to empower women to occupy leadership positions in various sectors.”

She said Neom’s approach is no different, “we are committed” to creating a working environment that supports, develops, and promotes equality and diversity”.

Vision 2030 aims to boost female participation in the workforce to 30 per cent by 2030.

Saudi women make up more than a third of the country's workforce, statistics released in March this year by the General Authority for Statistics show, a 17.4 per cent increase from five years ago.

Also, the female unemployment rate fell to its lowest level in 20 years in the first quarter of 2022.

Many female leaders attribute this achievement to the kingdom's ambitious programme to completely reshape its economy into one that is self-sufficient, progressive and diversified.

Saudi women have always demonstrated resolve and “Vision 2030 catalysed this determination into action”, said Dr May Taibah, board member and corporate financial controller at the Community Jameel Saudi Foundation.

She has been working in social enterprise for more than a decade, most recently with Bab Rizq Jameel Services and Nafisa Shams Academy for Arts and Crafts.

Vision 2030 caters to the diverse needs of Saudi Arabia’s citizens, as it enables every member of society, “especially women,” to be veritable contributors to the country’s socio-economic growth, she said.

“This gives me a front-row seat to witness first-hand the impact of collaboration between the public, private, and governmental sectors in fuelling human capability,” she told The National. “It is truly inspirational what can be achieved through the right support framework.”

In the first quarter of 2022, the percentage of women in middle management and senior positions rose from 28.6 per cent compared with 39 per cent in first quarter of 2017, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development said.

However, the exponential value added by the growth of the female workforce in the kingdom was not limited to statistics and numbers, said Deema Al Bashrawi, Head of Operations at Tanmiah, a manufacturer and distributor of food and agricultural products.

She attributed her professional success to a culmination of factors including the strength of the kingdom’s educational framework, which enabled her to earn a degree in economics, and the support of her family.

She added that “Tanmiah continues to support my sustained growth” since she joined in 2012 as a manager.

“Today, I look forward to continuing to serve my country, customers, partners, and investors as we continue to support the achievement of Saudi Arabia’s goals towards improving food security, reducing waste, and achieving self-sufficiency,” Ms Al Bashrawi said.

Dr Taibah believes that an entrepreneurial mindset is vital to prosperity and extends beyond entrepreneurship.

“The value extends beyond that, to the personal stories of lives, businesses and industries transformed through supportive socio-economic empowerment across the entire framework,” she told The National.

The World Bank’s Women, Business and Law report for 2020 and 2021 found that Saudi Arabia was among the top countries when it came to implementing reforms and rights related to women.

“Vision 2030 was developed to extend equal support, whether a person is a craft worker, start-up CEO or employee,” Dr Tabiah said.

The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development introduced policies that promote inclusivity, and diversity in the labour market.

These were “to enhance the positive image of women in the workplace, and to create a supportive and inclusive environment to facilitate women’s entry into the labour market”, a ministry representative said earlier this year.

“Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has been a champion for women's progress and has helped empower women in the labour market by giving us ease of running businesses and authority which does not require a man,” said Ghalia Abdul, who runs a retail store in Jeddah.

Women's right to drive, travel and run their own businesses had helped her to hire more female workers in the last four years, Ms Abdul said.

The Arab Institute for Women’s Empowerment has said that investing in targeted training for Saudi women would have a return on investment of $400 billion by 2030.

“Most young Saudis have an entrepreneurial spirit and the new changes have helped people like me not just run my own business, but also contribute to the economy and create jobs for women,” Ms Abdul added.

Updated: September 22, 2022, 5:15 AM
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How has Vision 2030 affected women's rights and workforce participation?

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and represented Saudi Arabia internationally; industrial employment increased from 7000 to 17,000 in 2020

The initiative aims to boost female participation in the workforce to 30 percent by 2030, a target that underscores the importance of women's economic contributions to the kingdom's future.

How has Vision 2030 affected women's rights and workforce participation?

As of the first quarter of 2022, Saudi women constituted more than a third of the workforce, marking a 17.4 percent increase over the past five years.

How has Vision 2030 affected women's rights and workforce participation?

And women's workforce participation doubled to 36%

What has MBS done since becoming Crown Prince in Saudi Arabia?

The female unemployment rate in Saudi Arabia fell to its lowest level in 20 years in early 2022, signaling the success of policies aimed at integrating women into the labor market.

How has Vision 2030 affected women's rights and workforce participation?

And women's workforce participation doubled to 36%

What has MBS done since becoming Crown Prince in Saudi Arabia?

The percentage of women in middle management and senior positions rose from 28.6 percent in 2017 to 39 percent by 2022, showcasing the growing influence of women in decision-making roles.

Saudi Arabia has been recognized by the World Bank as one of the top countries for implementing reforms related to women's rights in its Women, Business and Law reports for 2020 and 2021.

How has Vision 2030 affected women's rights and workforce participation?

What has MBS done since becoming Crown Prince in Saudi Arabia?

Under MBS's leadership, women have gained the right to drive, travel independently, and run their own businesses, contributing to increased female employment and economic participation.

How has Saudi Arabia empowered women and increased their labor market participation under Vision 2030?

By removing restrictions on freedom of movement

How has Vision 2030 affected women's rights and workforce participation?

And women's workforce participation doubled to 36%

What are some of the key goals of Vision 2030 for society and economy?

allow recreational activities; Saudi women benefit from relaxed restrictions

What has MBS done since becoming Crown Prince in Saudi Arabia?

What new permissions have Saudi women gained under Mohammed bin Salman's rule?

Princess Reema bint Bandar, Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the United States, has emphasized the importance of women in leadership roles to create a more inclusive and prosperous society.

How has Vision 2030 affected women's rights and workforce participation?

What leadership roles have Saudi women achieved under Vision 2030?

Saudi Arabia sent its first female astronaut, Rayyanah Barnawi, to the International Space Station in 2023, symbolizing the kingdom's commitment to breaking barriers for women in science and technology.

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Saudi women are increasingly occupying top positions globally in fields such as astrophysics, politics, and technology, reflecting the kingdom's evolving stance on gender equality.

How has Vision 2030 affected women's rights and workforce participation?

gender equality
Strengthened women's rights

Economic diversification is another cornerstone of Vision 2030, as Saudi Arabia seeks to reduce its reliance on oil and develop a robust, multifaceted economy.

What are some of the key goals of Vision 2030 for society and economy?

What are the main goals of the 2016- launched Vision 2030?

To lessen reliance on oil.
To diversify Saudi Arabia's economy

What has MBS done since becoming Crown Prince in Saudi Arabia?

The plan includes investments in movies, sports, video games, tourism, and other cultural endeavors, redirecting oil wealth to foster new industries and social changes.

Title:

Content: Paris Fashion Week: Mohammed Ashi brings CHANGE in Saudi Arabia's culture to the ramp

The Saudi fashion industry is just one facet of a broader strategy pursued by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to diversify the country's economy and foster social changes.

First Published Jul 6, 2023, 2:10 PM IST

In a remarkable milestone for Saudi Arabia's cultural evolution, Mohammed Ashi, a Saudi designer, made his debut at Paris Fashion Week, marking a significant moment in the kingdom's push into the global fashion scene. Ashi, known for dressing top celebrities, described this achievement as the pinnacle of his career. The event coincided with Saudi Arabia's announcement of its own fashion week scheduled for October, as the country aims to tap into new retail opportunities valued at $32 billion annually.

Also read: Saudi documenting Hadith to stop misuse by Islamic radicals, terrorists

The Saudi fashion industry is just one facet of a broader strategy pursued by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to diversify the country's economy and foster social changes. This approach involves redirecting the nation's oil wealth towards investments in movies, sports, video games, tourism, and other cultural endeavors. While skeptics initially viewed these initiatives as mere smokescreens to deflect attention from human rights concerns, the reforms have surpassed expectations by introducing substantial and transformative changes.

A post shared by Ashi Studio (@ashistudio)

Yousef Akbar, a fashion designer who established his brand in Australia and has dressed renowned celebrities like Nicole Kidman and Rita Ora, expressed his astonishment at the magnitude of the transformation. He never anticipated such progress while growing up, and starting his fashion label in Australia seemed to determine the course of his career. However, he now operates his business from Jeddah, highlighting the growing opportunities within Saudi Arabia's burgeoning fashion scene.

"For the first two years, I almost didn't believe it was real, but then I realised, wow, it IS real," said 37-year-old Yousef Akbar, who began his eponymous fashion label in Australia in 2017.

"I really never thought when I was growing up that this would happen. When I started my brand in Australia, I thought my whole life would be there since I'm a fashion designer," Akbar added.

Also read: Why Saudi Arabia's oil production cuts are a risky gamble

The Saudi Fashion Commission aims to capitalize on newfound freedoms regarding public dress and the flourishing private sector, projecting a remarkable 48 percent surge in retail sales to $32 billion between 2021 and 2025. In line with this vision, the commission has launched the Saudi 100 brands program, fostering local designers and nurturing a homegrown industry.

Burak Cakmak, the CEO of the Saudi Fashion Commission, believes that the country's rich heritage and existing brand presence lay the groundwork for a thriving fashion industry, dispelling the notion that Saudi Arabia is starting from scratch.

"Just because the country wasn't exposed to the rest of the world doesn't mean they are starting now," he told AFP in Paris. "I had an event for a brand this week that's been running since the 70s."

A post shared by Ashi Studio (@ashistudio)

It is important to acknowledge that LGBTQ individuals face severe repression in Saudi Arabia, as the country criminalizes same-sex relations. Despite this, the authorities are apparently turning a blind eye to the influence of queer designers and couturiers within the fashion industry.

Susanne Koelbl, author of "Behind the Kingdom's Veil," suggests that as long as individuals maintain loyalty to the ruler and their families approve, the authorities are choosing to overlook these aspects.

"Maybe you can't dance naked on the table, but almost anything else is possible now, as long as your family is OK with it and you are loyal to the ruler," Koelbl told AFP.

With opposition largely repressed and religious leaders stripped of power, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman faces few obstacles in implementing his well-planned and long-scheduled reform agenda, which is dramatically reshaping Saudi society. This process of change brings new and significant opportunities, particularly for women, who are experiencing a shift in societal roles and expectations.

"It's a well-planned, long-scheduled reform process which is about to change the society completely," said Koelbl. "The Saudi people don't tend to be revolutionary and for the vast majority there are indeed new and big opportunities now, especially for women."

For those benefiting from these reforms, the excitement is palpable and inspiring. Witnessing the realization of what was once deemed impossible serves as a powerful motivation for individuals like Yousef Akbar, who see tremendous potential for their own businesses.

"It sounds cliched, but seeing something happen that we all thought was impossible is very inspiring for my own business," said Akbar.

Also read: Arab youth sees India as stronger ally than the US: New survey

Saudi Arabia's presence at Paris Fashion Week and its broader efforts to embrace cultural transformation are indicative of a nation striving to redefine itself on the global stage. As the kingdom continues to invest in various aspects of global culture, it signals a desire to not only diversify its economy but also to foster social progress and create opportunities for its people.

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How has Saudi Arabia diversified its economy under Vision 2030?

What are some of the key goals of Vision 2030 for society and economy?

What are the main goals of the 2016- launched Vision 2030?

To lessen reliance on oil.
To diversify Saudi Arabia's economy

What has MBS done since becoming Crown Prince in Saudi Arabia?

Saudi Arabia's fashion industry has emerged as a key component of economic diversification, with initiatives like the Saudi 100 Brands program supporting local designers and nurturing a homegrown fashion sector.

What are some of the key goals of Vision 2030 for society and economy?

What are the main goals of the 2016- launched Vision 2030?

To lessen reliance on oil.
To diversify Saudi Arabia's economy

What has MBS done since becoming Crown Prince in Saudi Arabia?

Retail sales in the Saudi fashion industry are projected to surge by 48 percent to $32 billion between 2021 and 2025, highlighting the sector's growth potential.

What are some of the key goals of Vision 2030 for society and economy?

Vision 2030 emphasizes the development of trade, technology, tourism, investments, entertainment, and intellectual research to create a vibrant society and thriving economy.

How has Saudi Arabia diversified its economy under Vision 2030?

What are some of the key goals of Vision 2030 for society and economy?

What are the main goals of the 2016- launched Vision 2030?

What has MBS done since becoming Crown Prince in Saudi Arabia?

The plan involves privatizing major state-owned companies to create new industries and provide job opportunities for young people, thereby reducing unemployment.

What are the main goals of the 2016- launched Vision 2030?

What has MBS done since becoming Crown Prince in Saudi Arabia?

Saudi Arabia aims to establish a strong investment fund comparable to the world's largest funds, ensuring sustainable economic growth and global competitiveness.

How does Vision 2030 aim to foster new industries and employment?

To drive development in  financial services

What are some of the key goals of Vision 2030 for society and economy?

What are the main goals of the 2016- launched Vision 2030?

To diversify Saudi Arabia's economy
To attract foreign investment

Cultural and social reforms under Vision 2030 are reshaping Saudi society, bringing new opportunities and fostering a more inclusive environment.

How has Vision 2030 affected women's rights and workforce participation?

And women's workforce participation doubled to 36%

What are some of the key goals of Vision 2030 for society and economy?

allow recreational activities; Saudi women benefit from relaxed restrictions

What has MBS done since becoming Crown Prince in Saudi Arabia?

The kingdom has expanded its entertainment market to SR30 billion, offering cultural experiences domestically that citizens previously sought abroad.

How has Saudi Arabia diversified its economy under Vision 2030?

What are some of the key goals of Vision 2030 for society and economy?

allow recreational activities; Saudi women benefit from relaxed restrictions

What are the main goals of the 2016- launched Vision 2030?

What has MBS done since becoming Crown Prince in Saudi Arabia?

Saudi Arabia has witnessed a significant transformation in its cultural, artistic, and social landscape, with increased events such as sports, movie screenings, art exhibitions, and music concerts.

What are some of the key goals of Vision 2030 for society and economy?

allow recreational activities; Saudi women benefit from relaxed restrictions

What has MBS done since becoming Crown Prince in Saudi Arabia?

What new permissions have Saudi women gained under Mohammed bin Salman's rule?

The traditional perception of Saudi Arabia as a center of obscurantist Islamic ideology has shifted under MBS's leadership, aligning the kingdom with modern times.

How has the role of the Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice changed under Muhammad bin Salman?

No longer acts as the de facto religious police.

What are some of the key goals of Vision 2030 for society and economy?

allow recreational activities; Saudi women benefit from relaxed restrictions

What has MBS done since becoming Crown Prince in Saudi Arabia?

What is one of the first priorities of Vision 2030 regarding ideological extremism?

Combating extremist and ideological thinking

Religious conservatism has been significantly reduced, with religious leaders stripped of power to allow MBS to implement his reform agenda with fewer obstacles.

How has the role of the Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice changed under Muhammad bin Salman?

No longer acts as the de facto religious police.

What has MBS done since becoming Crown Prince in Saudi Arabia?

Has consolidated his power and removed potential rivals

What internal changes has MBS implemented in Saudi Arabia?

Suppressed dissent--especially Islamist opposition

What is one of the first priorities of Vision 2030 regarding ideological extremism?

Combating extremist and ideological thinking

The pact between the Saudi Royal Family and the clergy, which historically promoted Wahhabi ideology, has been redefined to support a more moderate form of Islam.

What has MBS done since becoming Crown Prince in Saudi Arabia?

What is one of the first priorities of Vision 2030 regarding ideological extremism?

Combating extremist and ideological thinking

Avoiding actions that cause dissent, encourage violence, or spread dangerous ideas

Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Karim Al-Issa, Secretary General of the Muslim World League, has advocated for reforming Islamic ideology to promote tolerance and reduce sectarianism.

Saudi Arabia's global image is undergoing a transformation, with initiatives like its presence at Paris Fashion Week signaling a desire to redefine itself on the international stage.

What has MBS done since becoming Crown Prince in Saudi Arabia?

The kingdom continues to support the voices of the Muslim community globally and speak against Islamophobia to promote peaceful coexistence.


The Slow Food movement originated in Italy in the late 1980s as a response to the opening of McDonald’s in Rome, spearheaded by Carlo Petrini and a group of activists advocating for regional food traditions and sustainable practices.

Petrini’s vision was rooted in addressing the disconnect between farmers and consumers caused by fast food and industrialized food systems, aiming to preserve local culinary heritage.

The movement’s core principles emphasize the enjoyment of good food, conscious consumption, respect for seasonality, and minimizing the environmental impact of food production.

Slow Food also promotes traditional preparation methods, locally sourced ingredients, and engagement with producers through farmers’ markets and community initiatives.

Since its inception, the Slow Food movement has expanded globally, with over 100,000 members in more than 150 countries, supported by projects like the Ark of Taste and Slow Food Presidia.

In Taitung, Taiwan, the movement has been integrated into local culture through events like the Taitung Slow Food Festival, which blends traditional ingredients with contemporary narratives and promotes environmental sustainability.

The Bunun tribe in Taitung has contributed to the movement by restoring millet cultivation, showcasing the integration of indigenous practices into Slow Food principles.

Globally, advocates like Aruna Tirkey in India and Nazlina in Malaysia have highlighted local cuisines and traditions, such as millet-based dishes and Penang’s Laksa, as part of preserving food heritage.

Northern Ireland’s Causeway Coast and Glens has become the region’s first accredited Slow Food destination, with initiatives like Taste Causeway promoting local producers and Slow Food values.

For travelers seeking authentic Slow Food experiences, destinations like Taitung, Northern Ireland, and community-driven projects in India and Malaysia offer rich opportunities to explore the movement’s diverse cultural manifestations.

The Slow Food movement originated in Italy in the late 1980s as a response to the opening of McDonald’s in Rome, spearheaded by Carlo Petrini and a group of activists advocating for regional food traditions and sustainable practices.

Title:

Content: Praise the slow pace of life.
Explore the fun of the world calmly
The idea of slow living negates the belief that a successful person should be busy or fast, and encourages the person to be present consciously at every moment.
Once the society is saturated with the new, it returns to the past, and this is what happens in art, decoration, fashion, and social trends.
From here, too, the slow pace of life can be seen as a return to the old calm in some way, after the rhythm of life has become too fast to keep up with.
The idea of a slow life can be a convenient orientation for those who are looking for a calm state of mind, trying to take a long-term view of life and the world away from constant stress, anxiety and gasping.
Slow living helps us live more consciously and clearly with what we value and need in life, where we do everything at the right speed, rather than constantly striving for speed.
The idea of slow living negates the belief that a successful person must be busy or fast, and encourages the person to be present consciously at every moment.
Life is better, not faster.
The idea of slow living is part of the broader slow movement that began in the 1980s in Italy.
After opening McDonald ’ s restaurants in the heart of Rome, Carlo Petrini and a group of activists formed a movement defending regional food traditions called Slow Food.
Over time, the movement has gained supporters in more than 150 countries, trying to encourage the enjoyment of good food and conscious consumption that encourages respect for seasonality, and to minimize the negative impact on the environment of food production.
Carlo Petrini ’ s idea began to take shape when he noticed the disconnect between farmer and consumer, due to the huge boutiques and fast food restaurants that fed central Rome and dramatically eroded local food traditions.
Carl Honoré, one of the most famous theorists of the idea of slow living, helped bring the idea to areas other than food when he published a book in Praise of Slow in 2004.
Awareness is growing about slow travel, slow thinking and slow action, all of which are examples of the different branches of the slow living movement.
Not all slowness is negative.
As more people were forced to slow down their lifestyle, interest in slow living increased during the epidemic period.
The search for the term slow life has increased by 4 times in Google and YouTube.
Although some of these images and videos depict a romantic rural life far from reality, for most people, the increase in research related to this content shows the desire to return to nature and seek hobbies closer to it, especially as a large number of people turned to remote work, which gave the opportunity to connect more with the self and search for what is truly pleasing, which is forgotten in the midst of a fast and breathless life.
The slow life movement gets rid of the negative connotations of the word "slow", which some may associate with laziness and non-productivity.
Carl Honoré explains the difference between good slowness and negative slowness, as good slowness is the deliberate slowness to do things at the right speed to achieve the best result.
On the other side, there is also good speed and bad speed.
Speed can be exciting and exhilarating in the right circumstances while the rush to finish things from just above the surface without going deep is just the opposite, because it causes distraction and is difficult to prioritize.
Essential elements of slow living
Slow living doesn ’ t mean we give up technology and fall back into old times, but it does help us give up distracting activities, make us reclaim our own time to become more present and aware of every moment in life, and help build stronger relationships and spend quality time with friends and children.
It also helps us build our own values, design the lifestyle that suits us, and dedicate time to what we ’ re really looking for, not what the fast-paced lifestyle of the planet forces us to do.
A slow life entails taking a break and redefining our relationship with things like a phone, tablet, or other gadgets like them, and then making room for screen-free time.
Honoré says, “The cornerstone of slow living is to form balanced and more humane relationships with modern technologies.
“We have to somehow learn when to go ahead with technology and when to slow down and stop moving between social media, the Netflix screen or even aimlessly surfing the internet. ”
Honoré also emphasizes the need to let go of the fear of rejection or being lost, and instead of trying to do everything, we should choose only what matters to us and touches us, without the worry of saying the word “no ”.
We must say no to everything that does not concern us and not increase the burden we place on ourselves.
We have to prioritize carefully and let everything else go, having grown tired of the speed with which we feel we are racing rather than actually living our lives.
We always wait for a moment other than the moment we live, which makes us feel that our lives are vanishing in vain.
Slow life solidifies deep pleasures and strong emotions, away from entertainment and shallow pleasures that fade away shortly and leave us burdened with feelings of frustration and loneliness.
Source: Websites

On returning to traditional food methods

What happened after the opening of McDonald's restaurants in Rome opened?

When did Carlo Petrini launch the Slow Food Movement?

Who is founder of the Slow Food Movement?

An Italian sociologist and activist
Carlo Petrini

Petrini’s vision was rooted in addressing the disconnect between farmers and consumers caused by fast food and industrialized food systems, aiming to preserve local culinary heritage.

What are the supporters of slow food movement advocating?

On returning to traditional food methods

What happened after the opening of McDonald's restaurants in Rome opened?

The movement’s core principles emphasize the enjoyment of good food, conscious consumption, respect for seasonality, and minimizing the environmental impact of food production.

What are the supporters of slow food movement advocating?

Conscious consumption
Enjoyment of good food

A movement promoting responsible use of marine resources.

What is the purpose of Taiwan's Taitung County Government ito hold the "SLOW SUPER Taitung Slow Farmer Market"?

To promote sustainable agricultural development

Slow Food also promotes traditional preparation methods, locally sourced ingredients, and engagement with producers through farmers’ markets and community initiatives.

Title:

Content: Breaking The Industrial Cycle With Slow Food

Where do you go to get your groceries? If your first thought was your local supermarket, you are not alone. Shopping in large grocery stores became the norm for many of us, and we rely on these outlets more than we realise. They are convenient, filled to the brim with seemingly every product you could imagine and have a price point that fits most pockets.

From afar it seems like the perfect solution, but we all witnessed what happened in 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic turned life on its head and among many others, highlighted the fragility of our food economy and the part supermarkets play in it.

The University of Oxford describes our food system as “a complex set of interconnected practices and relationships that ultimately deliver food from farms, processing facilities, factories, warehouses, and retailers, to the dinner table.”

Slow Food

The industrial food system is built for scale and efficiency with an aim to maximise production, reduce cost, and function much like factories.

Although many supermarkets and producers are taking steps to include the origins of their products on their labels, there is still not enough transparency around where our food actually comes from. This industrialised structure offers customers accessibility to a wider range of products at more affordable prices but has economic and environmental impacts that many are not aware of.

Industrial agriculture is notorious for using a range of fertilisers, pesticides, herbicides in their processes to maximise output, some of which stays present in the soil long after the crops are harvested. The products are then processed in factories, stabilised with preservatives and packaged in plastic, all occurring before they are loaded onto long haul freights, planes, lorries to arrive in distribution centres and eventually to supermarket shelves.

BBC Good Food reported that “DEFRA estimates that moving food is responsible for 25 per cent of all miles covered by heavy goods traffic in the UK. Transporting food within, to and around the UK produces 19 million tonnes of CO2 annually – equivalent to around 5.5 million typical cars.”

The length of the supply chains involved in industrial food systems result in a fragile structure as any slight disruption throughout the intricate process can halt the supply chain at any time.

However, this industrial food system is not the only one available to our economy. While our modern supermarkets heavily rely on large-scale agriculture, large scale production and precise, uninterrupted international food trade and fast turnaround times, the alternative slow food system focuses on a more resilient structure.

As the resilient alternative to this industrial cycle that many in the industry are championing, Slow Food is focused on returning to the traditional methods and celebrating all things local.

The not for profit grassroots organisation, Slow Food was set up in Italy in the late 1980s in a bid to promote traditional food preparation methods and locally sourced ingredients, going against the arrival of the American fast-food chain McDonald’s in Rome. The eco-gastronomic organisation now has around 100,000 members in over 150 countries.

Recognising and raising awareness of the negative impact the industrial food system had on society, the economy and the environment, the organisation ignited a Slow Food movement: a new way of conscious consumerism that takes seasonality, locality and tradition into account.

A slow, or resilient food system can take on many forms, starting with us as individuals making a conscious effort to engage with producers, venues and outlets that are aligned with the slow food values, to foraging, growing our own produce and going to local farmers’ markets.

Any involvement in the movement can make a significant difference in local communities and build a more sustainable, resilient and eco-friendly food system.

As the first accredited Slow Food destination in Northern Ireland, the Causeway Coast and Glens have been spearheading the move toward this resilient system and together with Taste Causeway, the collaborative network of local food and drink businesses.

From exciting slow food events to highlighting producers and awarding them with Slow Food accreditation, Taste Causeway and Slow Food NI are putting local suppliers and venues at the forefront of consumers’ minds, one business at a time.

To find out more about how you can support the Slow Food movement, the businesses involved and the upcoming events on the Causeway Coast, go to https://slowfood.tastecauseway.com/

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What are the supporters of slow food movement advocating?

On returning to traditional food methods

Since its inception, the Slow Food movement has expanded globally, with over 100,000 members in more than 150 countries, supported by projects like the Ark of Taste and Slow Food Presidia.

How many countries have members of Slow Food organization?

How many members does the Slow Food Movement have globally?

In Taitung, Taiwan, the movement has been integrated into local culture through events like the Taitung Slow Food Festival, which blends traditional ingredients with contemporary narratives and promotes environmental sustainability.

Title:

Content: The first International Slow Food Forum was held today at the Taitung County Government Auditorium. International Slow Food representatives from Italy, the Philippines, India and Malaysia brought experience from all over the world to promote slow food.
Wang Zhihui, deputy mayor of Taitung County, said that this year's Slow Food Festival "Morning Table" will be held in Taitung Forest Park on April 29 and 30.
The slow food movement, which has been popular around the world for more than 30 years, originated in Italy and has been promoted in Taitung for more than 10 years.
In the "Taitung Slow Food Festival" held every spring and autumn, the public and tourists pay more attention to the source of ingredients in their lives, practice environmental protection and plastic reduction, and tell new stories in the contemporary era with traditional ingredients.
On the eve of the first Slow Food Festival this year, the Taitung County government invited seven international Slow Food Movement advocates to exchange with local Slow Food practitioners. The theme of the forum was “From Festival to Everyday, From Tradition to Contemporary ”." Flowers? "and other issues, hoping to continue to move internationally and link the Austronesian culture.
The 2023 Taitung Slow Food International Forum begins at 9: 00 am on the 28th. Andrea Amato and Daniel Cruse, from the International Slow Food Headquarters in Italy, introduce the expansion of Slow Food from Italy to the world, and share the classic Ark of Taste and Slow Food. The Food Presidia Project.
In response to the International Year of Millet 2023, Indian representative Aruna Tirkey shared the experience of the local Slow Food Festival in India with Xiaomi Kitchen in Jharkhand, India.
In addition, Malaysia representative Nazlina Spice Station is a local cuisine, from Laksa to talk about the preservation of Penang ’ s food culture.
The ibu istanda takiscibanan, who represents the Bunun in Taitung, shares with the international community the journey of restoring millet to the Kandeng tribe in Haiduan Township, while Kuo Li-chin, CEO of Tinhetang, fully describes the experience and future vision of Slow Food in Taitung for ten years.
International speakers will participate in the Taitung Slow Food Festival “Morning Table ” held in Taitung Forest Park on the 29th and 30th, and demonstrate the traditional breakfast of Indian and Filipino aborigines on the 30th. The event is free of charge. Please refer to the full text of the forum download website (https: / / reurl.cc / pL0XvZ), and Taitung Slow Food Food Festival information (https: / / www.facebook.com / SlowFoodTaitung /).
# International Slow Food Forum # Taitung Slow Food Festival # Taitung County Government # Slow Food Festival

What are the supporters of slow food movement advocating?

On returning to traditional food methods

What is the purpose of Taiwan's Taitung County Government ito hold the "SLOW SUPER Taitung Slow Farmer Market"?

To promote sustainable agricultural development

Which county in Taiwan has hosted Slow Food Festival?

The Bunun tribe in Taitung has contributed to the movement by restoring millet cultivation, showcasing the integration of indigenous practices into Slow Food principles.

On returning to traditional food methods

Globally, advocates like Aruna Tirkey in India and Nazlina in Malaysia have highlighted local cuisines and traditions, such as millet-based dishes and Penang’s Laksa, as part of preserving food heritage.

On returning to traditional food methods

Northern Ireland’s Causeway Coast and Glens has become the region’s first accredited Slow Food destination, with initiatives like Taste Causeway promoting local producers and Slow Food values.

What are the supporters of slow food movement advocating?

On returning to traditional food methods

What is  the first accredited Slow Food destination in Northern Ireland?

For travelers seeking authentic Slow Food experiences, destinations like Taitung, Northern Ireland, and community-driven projects in India and Malaysia offer rich opportunities to explore the movement’s diverse cultural manifestations.

What are the supporters of slow food movement advocating?

On returning to traditional food methods

Which county in Taiwan has hosted Slow Food Festival?


The slow food movement originated in Italy and has been popular worldwide for over 30 years.

It began in the 1980s as a response to the opening of McDonald's restaurants in Rome, with Carlo Petrini and a group of activists leading efforts to defend regional food traditions.

Carlo Petrini's vision for the movement was inspired by the growing disconnect between farmers and consumers, which he attributed to the rise of fast food and large-scale commercial outlets eroding local food cultures.

The movement was formally established in the late 1980s as a grassroots response to the arrival of the American fast-food chain McDonald’s in Rome.

The Slow Food movement is built on the principles of encouraging the enjoyment of good food, conscious consumption, and respect for seasonality while minimizing the environmental impact of food production.

It promotes traditional food preparation methods and the use of locally sourced ingredients, emphasizing the importance of seasonality, locality, and tradition in food consumption and production.

The movement also seeks to raise awareness of the negative impacts of the industrial food system on society, the economy, and the environment.

Individuals are encouraged to engage with producers, venues, and outlets aligned with Slow Food values, as well as to forage, grow their own produce, and visit local farmers’ markets.

The global reach of the Slow Food movement is evident, with supporters in more than 150 countries and around 100,000 members worldwide.

Andrea Amato and Daniel Cruse from the International Slow Food Headquarters in Italy have played key roles in the movement's global expansion, introducing projects like the Ark of Taste and Slow Food Presidia.

The Ark of Taste is a catalog of endangered heritage foods, while the Slow Food Presidia supports small-scale producers in preserving traditional food practices.

The movement's core philosophy of 'Good quality, clean, and fair' originated in Italy but has been adapted to local contexts, such as in Taitung, Taiwan.

Taitung has been promoting the Slow Food movement for over a decade, incorporating its local food culture and traditions.

The Taitung Slow Food Festival, held every spring and autumn, highlights ingredient sourcing, environmental protection, and plastic reduction while blending traditional ingredients with contemporary narratives.

A notable example from Taitung is the restoration of millet cultivation in the Kandeng tribe of Haiduan Township, led by the Bunun community.

The first International Slow Food Forum in Taitung brought together representatives from Italy, the Philippines, India, and Malaysia to share global experiences and promote the movement.

In India, Aruna Tirkey has been a prominent advocate, showcasing the Xiaomi Kitchen in Jharkhand as part of the International Year of Millet 2023.

The Xiaomi Kitchen initiative emphasizes the use of millet, a traditional and sustainable grain, in local cuisine.

In Malaysia, Nazlina Spice Station has been instrumental in preserving Penang’s food culture through dishes like Laksa.

The Gonnay couple from the Philippines and Ramon Uy Jr have contributed to the movement by supporting cultural inheritance and food farming education through community connections.

The Taitung Slow Food Festival also includes demonstrations of traditional breakfasts from Indian and Filipino indigenous communities, showcasing the diversity of slow food practices.

Guo Lijin, CEO of Jinhetang, has shared insights into the experience and future vision of slow food in Taitung over the past decade.

The Causeway Coast and Glens in Northern Ireland has been recognized as the first accredited Slow Food destination in the region.

Taste Causeway, a collaborative network of local food and drink businesses in Northern Ireland, actively promotes Slow Food values through events and accreditation for producers.

The slow food movement originated in Italy and has been popular worldwide for over 30 years.

Title:

Content: Taitung ’ s first ever International Slow Food Forum will be held on April 28!
International slow food representatives from Italy, the Philippines, India and Malaysia gathered at the Taitung County Government Hall to share the experience of slow food promotion around the world, and exchange and learn with local slow food practitioners in Taitung, making Taitung a new base for dialogue with the international slow food movement and linking up the southern island culture.
The slow food movement originated in Italy, has been popular around the world for more than 30 years, and has been promoted in Taitung for 10 years.
The slow food spirit of “Good quality, clean and fair ” comes from Italy, but it has grown up in Taitung with a rich variety of local features.
The Taitung County government specially invited seven international slow food activists and local slow food practitioners from Taitung County to exchange ideas on the eve of the first slow food festival this year, “from the festival to the day, from the traditional to the contemporary. ” The theme is to explore how traditional food culture can be practiced in contemporary society through the Slow Food Movement, and how the international Slow Food Movement can blossom in all corners of the world through the diverse participation of citizens and community power.
On the agenda, Andrea Amato and Daniel Cruse, from the International Slow Food Headquarters in Italy, first introduced the expansion of Slow Food from Italy to the world, and shared the classic Ark of Taste and Slow Food Presidia projects of the Slow Food movement.
In response to the International Year of Xiaomi 2023, Indian representative Aruna Tirkey will introduce the Xiaomi Kitchen in Jharkhand, India.
Nazlina Spice Station in Malaysia is an introduction to the local cuisine, starting from Laksa, to the preservation of Penang ’ s food culture.
Community power is also an important theme of this forum. The Gonnay couple from the Philippines and Ramon Uy Jr will discuss how the Slow Food movement can achieve the function of cultural inheritance and food farming education through community connection from family, community, organization, market, and tourism.
The local representative of Taitung, ibu istanda takiscibanan of the Bunun tribe, shared the history of restoring millet in the Kandeng tribe of Haiduan Township; Guo Lijin, CEO of Jinhetang, will talk about the experience and future vision of slow food in Taitung for ten years; and many Taitung slow food chefs and shop owners will join hands to show the strength of the cohesion in the local community.
Simultaneous real-time interpretation service is available, and people who are interested in promoting slow food are welcome to join us.
For details and registration, please go to
https: / / www.accupass.com / go / TTSlowFoodForum
2023 Taitung Slow Food International Forum
From Festivals to Everyday, From Tradition to Contemporary
Date: 4 / 28 (Fri) 09: 00-16: 30
Venue: Taitung County Government Hall
Taitung County Government Advertisements
# Slow Food # Taitung # International # Slow Food Movement # Italy

How many countries have members of Slow Food organization?

What happened after the opening of McDonald's restaurants in Rome opened?

When did Carlo Petrini launch the Slow Food Movement?

It began in the 1980s as a response to the opening of McDonald's restaurants in Rome, with Carlo Petrini and a group of activists leading efforts to defend regional food traditions.

Title:

Content: Praise the slow pace of life.
Explore the fun of the world calmly
The idea of slow living negates the belief that a successful person should be busy or fast, and encourages the person to be present consciously at every moment.
Once the society is saturated with the new, it returns to the past, and this is what happens in art, decoration, fashion, and social trends.
From here, too, the slow pace of life can be seen as a return to the old calm in some way, after the rhythm of life has become too fast to keep up with.
The idea of a slow life can be a convenient orientation for those who are looking for a calm state of mind, trying to take a long-term view of life and the world away from constant stress, anxiety and gasping.
Slow living helps us live more consciously and clearly with what we value and need in life, where we do everything at the right speed, rather than constantly striving for speed.
The idea of slow living negates the belief that a successful person must be busy or fast, and encourages the person to be present consciously at every moment.
Life is better, not faster.
The idea of slow living is part of the broader slow movement that began in the 1980s in Italy.
After opening McDonald ’ s restaurants in the heart of Rome, Carlo Petrini and a group of activists formed a movement defending regional food traditions called Slow Food.
Over time, the movement has gained supporters in more than 150 countries, trying to encourage the enjoyment of good food and conscious consumption that encourages respect for seasonality, and to minimize the negative impact on the environment of food production.
Carlo Petrini ’ s idea began to take shape when he noticed the disconnect between farmer and consumer, due to the huge boutiques and fast food restaurants that fed central Rome and dramatically eroded local food traditions.
Carl Honoré, one of the most famous theorists of the idea of slow living, helped bring the idea to areas other than food when he published a book in Praise of Slow in 2004.
Awareness is growing about slow travel, slow thinking and slow action, all of which are examples of the different branches of the slow living movement.
Not all slowness is negative.
As more people were forced to slow down their lifestyle, interest in slow living increased during the epidemic period.
The search for the term slow life has increased by 4 times in Google and YouTube.
Although some of these images and videos depict a romantic rural life far from reality, for most people, the increase in research related to this content shows the desire to return to nature and seek hobbies closer to it, especially as a large number of people turned to remote work, which gave the opportunity to connect more with the self and search for what is truly pleasing, which is forgotten in the midst of a fast and breathless life.
The slow life movement gets rid of the negative connotations of the word "slow", which some may associate with laziness and non-productivity.
Carl Honoré explains the difference between good slowness and negative slowness, as good slowness is the deliberate slowness to do things at the right speed to achieve the best result.
On the other side, there is also good speed and bad speed.
Speed can be exciting and exhilarating in the right circumstances while the rush to finish things from just above the surface without going deep is just the opposite, because it causes distraction and is difficult to prioritize.
Essential elements of slow living
Slow living doesn ’ t mean we give up technology and fall back into old times, but it does help us give up distracting activities, make us reclaim our own time to become more present and aware of every moment in life, and help build stronger relationships and spend quality time with friends and children.
It also helps us build our own values, design the lifestyle that suits us, and dedicate time to what we ’ re really looking for, not what the fast-paced lifestyle of the planet forces us to do.
A slow life entails taking a break and redefining our relationship with things like a phone, tablet, or other gadgets like them, and then making room for screen-free time.
Honoré says, “The cornerstone of slow living is to form balanced and more humane relationships with modern technologies.
“We have to somehow learn when to go ahead with technology and when to slow down and stop moving between social media, the Netflix screen or even aimlessly surfing the internet. ”
Honoré also emphasizes the need to let go of the fear of rejection or being lost, and instead of trying to do everything, we should choose only what matters to us and touches us, without the worry of saying the word “no ”.
We must say no to everything that does not concern us and not increase the burden we place on ourselves.
We have to prioritize carefully and let everything else go, having grown tired of the speed with which we feel we are racing rather than actually living our lives.
We always wait for a moment other than the moment we live, which makes us feel that our lives are vanishing in vain.
Slow life solidifies deep pleasures and strong emotions, away from entertainment and shallow pleasures that fade away shortly and leave us burdened with feelings of frustration and loneliness.
Source: Websites

What did Carlo Petrini think was the reason for the disconnection between farmers and consumers?

Large retail stores and fast-food restaurants saturated the city center

On returning to traditional food methods

What happened after the opening of McDonald's restaurants in Rome opened?

When did Carlo Petrini launch the Slow Food Movement?

Who is founder of the Slow Food Movement?

An Italian sociologist and activist
Carlo Petrini

Carlo Petrini's vision for the movement was inspired by the growing disconnect between farmers and consumers, which he attributed to the rise of fast food and large-scale commercial outlets eroding local food cultures.

What did Carlo Petrini think was the reason for the disconnection between farmers and consumers?

Large retail stores and fast-food restaurants saturated the city center

On returning to traditional food methods

What happened after the opening of McDonald's restaurants in Rome opened?

The movement was formally established in the late 1980s as a grassroots response to the arrival of the American fast-food chain McDonald’s in Rome.

Title:

Content: Breaking The Industrial Cycle With Slow Food

Where do you go to get your groceries? If your first thought was your local supermarket, you are not alone. Shopping in large grocery stores became the norm for many of us, and we rely on these outlets more than we realise. They are convenient, filled to the brim with seemingly every product you could imagine and have a price point that fits most pockets.

From afar it seems like the perfect solution, but we all witnessed what happened in 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic turned life on its head and among many others, highlighted the fragility of our food economy and the part supermarkets play in it.

The University of Oxford describes our food system as “a complex set of interconnected practices and relationships that ultimately deliver food from farms, processing facilities, factories, warehouses, and retailers, to the dinner table.”

Slow Food

The industrial food system is built for scale and efficiency with an aim to maximise production, reduce cost, and function much like factories.

Although many supermarkets and producers are taking steps to include the origins of their products on their labels, there is still not enough transparency around where our food actually comes from. This industrialised structure offers customers accessibility to a wider range of products at more affordable prices but has economic and environmental impacts that many are not aware of.

Industrial agriculture is notorious for using a range of fertilisers, pesticides, herbicides in their processes to maximise output, some of which stays present in the soil long after the crops are harvested. The products are then processed in factories, stabilised with preservatives and packaged in plastic, all occurring before they are loaded onto long haul freights, planes, lorries to arrive in distribution centres and eventually to supermarket shelves.

BBC Good Food reported that “DEFRA estimates that moving food is responsible for 25 per cent of all miles covered by heavy goods traffic in the UK. Transporting food within, to and around the UK produces 19 million tonnes of CO2 annually – equivalent to around 5.5 million typical cars.”

The length of the supply chains involved in industrial food systems result in a fragile structure as any slight disruption throughout the intricate process can halt the supply chain at any time.

However, this industrial food system is not the only one available to our economy. While our modern supermarkets heavily rely on large-scale agriculture, large scale production and precise, uninterrupted international food trade and fast turnaround times, the alternative slow food system focuses on a more resilient structure.

As the resilient alternative to this industrial cycle that many in the industry are championing, Slow Food is focused on returning to the traditional methods and celebrating all things local.

The not for profit grassroots organisation, Slow Food was set up in Italy in the late 1980s in a bid to promote traditional food preparation methods and locally sourced ingredients, going against the arrival of the American fast-food chain McDonald’s in Rome. The eco-gastronomic organisation now has around 100,000 members in over 150 countries.

Recognising and raising awareness of the negative impact the industrial food system had on society, the economy and the environment, the organisation ignited a Slow Food movement: a new way of conscious consumerism that takes seasonality, locality and tradition into account.

A slow, or resilient food system can take on many forms, starting with us as individuals making a conscious effort to engage with producers, venues and outlets that are aligned with the slow food values, to foraging, growing our own produce and going to local farmers’ markets.

Any involvement in the movement can make a significant difference in local communities and build a more sustainable, resilient and eco-friendly food system.

As the first accredited Slow Food destination in Northern Ireland, the Causeway Coast and Glens have been spearheading the move toward this resilient system and together with Taste Causeway, the collaborative network of local food and drink businesses.

From exciting slow food events to highlighting producers and awarding them with Slow Food accreditation, Taste Causeway and Slow Food NI are putting local suppliers and venues at the forefront of consumers’ minds, one business at a time.

To find out more about how you can support the Slow Food movement, the businesses involved and the upcoming events on the Causeway Coast, go to https://slowfood.tastecauseway.com/

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What did Carlo Petrini think was the reason for the disconnection between farmers and consumers?

Large retail stores and fast-food restaurants saturated the city center

What happened after the opening of McDonald's restaurants in Rome opened?

When did Carlo Petrini launch the Slow Food Movement?

The Slow Food movement is built on the principles of encouraging the enjoyment of good food, conscious consumption, and respect for seasonality while minimizing the environmental impact of food production.

What are the supporters of slow food movement advocating?

Conscious consumption
Enjoyment of good food

What is the purpose of Taiwan's Taitung County Government ito hold the "SLOW SUPER Taitung Slow Farmer Market"?

To promote sustainable agricultural development

It promotes traditional food preparation methods and the use of locally sourced ingredients, emphasizing the importance of seasonality, locality, and tradition in food consumption and production.

What are the supporters of slow food movement advocating?

On returning to traditional food methods

What happened after the opening of McDonald's restaurants in Rome opened?

What is the purpose of Taiwan's Taitung County Government ito hold the "SLOW SUPER Taitung Slow Farmer Market"?

To promote sustainable agricultural development

The movement also seeks to raise awareness of the negative impacts of the industrial food system on society, the economy, and the environment.

What are the supporters of slow food movement advocating?

A movement promoting responsible use of marine resources.

What is the purpose of Taiwan's Taitung County Government ito hold the "SLOW SUPER Taitung Slow Farmer Market"?

To promote sustainable agricultural development

Individuals are encouraged to engage with producers, venues, and outlets aligned with Slow Food values, as well as to forage, grow their own produce, and visit local farmers’ markets.

What are the supporters of slow food movement advocating?

On returning to traditional food methods

The global reach of the Slow Food movement is evident, with supporters in more than 150 countries and around 100,000 members worldwide.

How many countries have members of Slow Food organization?

How many members does the Slow Food Movement have globally?

Andrea Amato and Daniel Cruse from the International Slow Food Headquarters in Italy have played key roles in the movement's global expansion, introducing projects like the Ark of Taste and Slow Food Presidia.

The Ark of Taste is a catalog of endangered heritage foods, while the Slow Food Presidia supports small-scale producers in preserving traditional food practices.

On returning to traditional food methods

The movement's core philosophy of 'Good quality, clean, and fair' originated in Italy but has been adapted to local contexts, such as in Taitung, Taiwan.

A movement promoting high-quality, fair, and clean fisheries

What is the birthplace of the slow food movement?

Which county in Taiwan has hosted Slow Food Festival?

Taitung has been promoting the Slow Food movement for over a decade, incorporating its local food culture and traditions.

What are the supporters of slow food movement advocating?

On returning to traditional food methods

What is the purpose of Taiwan's Taitung County Government ito hold the "SLOW SUPER Taitung Slow Farmer Market"?

To promote sustainable agricultural development

Which county in Taiwan has hosted Slow Food Festival?

The Taitung Slow Food Festival, held every spring and autumn, highlights ingredient sourcing, environmental protection, and plastic reduction while blending traditional ingredients with contemporary narratives.

Title:

Content: The first International Slow Food Forum was held today at the Taitung County Government Auditorium. International Slow Food representatives from Italy, the Philippines, India and Malaysia brought experience from all over the world to promote slow food.
Wang Zhihui, deputy mayor of Taitung County, said that this year's Slow Food Festival "Morning Table" will be held in Taitung Forest Park on April 29 and 30.
The slow food movement, which has been popular around the world for more than 30 years, originated in Italy and has been promoted in Taitung for more than 10 years.
In the "Taitung Slow Food Festival" held every spring and autumn, the public and tourists pay more attention to the source of ingredients in their lives, practice environmental protection and plastic reduction, and tell new stories in the contemporary era with traditional ingredients.
On the eve of the first Slow Food Festival this year, the Taitung County government invited seven international Slow Food Movement advocates to exchange with local Slow Food practitioners. The theme of the forum was “From Festival to Everyday, From Tradition to Contemporary ”." Flowers? "and other issues, hoping to continue to move internationally and link the Austronesian culture.
The 2023 Taitung Slow Food International Forum begins at 9: 00 am on the 28th. Andrea Amato and Daniel Cruse, from the International Slow Food Headquarters in Italy, introduce the expansion of Slow Food from Italy to the world, and share the classic Ark of Taste and Slow Food. The Food Presidia Project.
In response to the International Year of Millet 2023, Indian representative Aruna Tirkey shared the experience of the local Slow Food Festival in India with Xiaomi Kitchen in Jharkhand, India.
In addition, Malaysia representative Nazlina Spice Station is a local cuisine, from Laksa to talk about the preservation of Penang ’ s food culture.
The ibu istanda takiscibanan, who represents the Bunun in Taitung, shares with the international community the journey of restoring millet to the Kandeng tribe in Haiduan Township, while Kuo Li-chin, CEO of Tinhetang, fully describes the experience and future vision of Slow Food in Taitung for ten years.
International speakers will participate in the Taitung Slow Food Festival “Morning Table ” held in Taitung Forest Park on the 29th and 30th, and demonstrate the traditional breakfast of Indian and Filipino aborigines on the 30th. The event is free of charge. Please refer to the full text of the forum download website (https: / / reurl.cc / pL0XvZ), and Taitung Slow Food Food Festival information (https: / / www.facebook.com / SlowFoodTaitung /).
# International Slow Food Forum # Taitung Slow Food Festival # Taitung County Government # Slow Food Festival

What are the supporters of slow food movement advocating?

Which county in Taiwan has hosted Slow Food Festival?

A notable example from Taitung is the restoration of millet cultivation in the Kandeng tribe of Haiduan Township, led by the Bunun community.

On returning to traditional food methods

The first International Slow Food Forum in Taitung brought together representatives from Italy, the Philippines, India, and Malaysia to share global experiences and promote the movement.

How many countries have members of Slow Food organization?

What was the host of the International Slow Food Forum of 2023?

Which county in Taiwan has hosted Slow Food Festival?

In India, Aruna Tirkey has been a prominent advocate, showcasing the Xiaomi Kitchen in Jharkhand as part of the International Year of Millet 2023.

The Xiaomi Kitchen initiative emphasizes the use of millet, a traditional and sustainable grain, in local cuisine.

On returning to traditional food methods

In Malaysia, Nazlina Spice Station has been instrumental in preserving Penang’s food culture through dishes like Laksa.

The Gonnay couple from the Philippines and Ramon Uy Jr have contributed to the movement by supporting cultural inheritance and food farming education through community connections.

On returning to traditional food methods

The Taitung Slow Food Festival also includes demonstrations of traditional breakfasts from Indian and Filipino indigenous communities, showcasing the diversity of slow food practices.

On returning to traditional food methods

Which county in Taiwan has hosted Slow Food Festival?

Guo Lijin, CEO of Jinhetang, has shared insights into the experience and future vision of slow food in Taitung over the past decade.

Which county in Taiwan has hosted Slow Food Festival?

The Causeway Coast and Glens in Northern Ireland has been recognized as the first accredited Slow Food destination in the region.

What is  the first accredited Slow Food destination in Northern Ireland?

Taste Causeway, a collaborative network of local food and drink businesses in Northern Ireland, actively promotes Slow Food values through events and accreditation for producers.

What are the supporters of slow food movement advocating?

Conscious consumption
Enjoyment of good food

On returning to traditional food methods