Riyadh: The Executive Committee of the Middle East Green Initiative convened its 20th meeting today via videoconference, with participation from officials representing the initiative's member states. The meeting aimed to follow up on the implementation of resolutions from the second ministerial council meeting, which was hosted by Saudi Arabia in Jeddah on January 29, 2026. Key achievements and future plans of the General Secretariat were also reviewed during the session.
According to Saudi Press Agency, the Secretary-General of the Middle East Green Initiative, Eng. Ibrahim Alturki, presented a comprehensive report on the General Secretariat's achievements during the first half of 2026. These achievements included the implementation of capacity-building and knowledge-transfer programs, the strengthening of strategic partnerships with regional and international organizations, and development financing institutions. Additionally, the General Secretariat has completed its operational preparations.
The report emphasized the development of a communication strategy with member states and partners, which involved launching the initiative's website and social media platforms. Furthermore, the General Secretariat outlined its work plan for the second half of the year.
During the meeting, committee members discussed nominations for the initiative's Scientific Advisory Committee. This committee, composed of international experts, is tasked with providing scientific and technical advice and examining issues related to enhancing vegetation cover in the region. It plays a crucial role in supporting efforts to achieve the initiative's regional targets.
The meeting also focused on reviewing five internal policies that govern the operations of the General Secretariat. These policies include the Communication and Transparency Policy, the Stakeholder Engagement Policy, and the Administrative Affairs Policy, alongside several organizational policies aimed at boosting institutional efficiency.
The General Secretariat also unveiled its strategy development program for the next five years, along with an accompanying roadmap, in anticipation of the initiative's next ministerial council meeting. Additionally, the meeting assessed the latest data from member states regarding their national targets for enhancing vegetation cover, which contribute to the initiative's regional objectives. The ambitious overall targets include planting 35.4 billion trees and rehabilitating 99.4 million hectares of degraded land.
The Executive Committee is tasked with making operational decisions for the Middle East Green Initiative and consists of delegations from deputy ministers and undersecretaries of the relevant ministries from the member states.