Ninety years ago, in 1932, the Treaty of Friendship between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Italy was signed. The diplomatic step gave institutional substance to a bond grown over time. Since then, the two countries have been tied by strong relations which are not limited to political and diplomatic contacts, but include education and training, contracting, trade and investments. This year, celebrations of the 90th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral relations between Saudi Arabia and Italy represent not only a symbolic occasion to look back and commemorate such an enduring bond of friendship, but also an opportunity to revive a common path and forge new synergies in response to global challenges. In this framework, last June the 12th session of the Saudi-Italian Joint Commission and the Saudi-Italian Investment Forum took place in Riyadh to explore new areas for cooperation and partnership. Another Business Forum organized by the Saudi Ministry of Investment will take place soon in Italy, to further strengthen bilateral business relationships and support foreign investment attraction. Furthermore, the MoU to establish the Saudi-Italian Business Council was signed this year in June, to unlock further cooperation and a more structured approach for partnerships between companies of the two countries. There are already about 160 Italian companies registered in Saudi Arabia in diverse sectors such as management and consultancy services, engineering and construction projects, telecommunications, healthcare, artificial intelligence, innovative technologies, the cultural and arts sector, renewable energy and many more. Lots of these companies are participating in the giga-projects and in other major programs that Saudi Arabia is carrying out in the framework of Saudi Vision 2030. In addition to the participation of Italian companies in major Saudi projects, there is a considerable volume of small and micro deals directly made by small entrepreneurs in both countries. As a matter of fact, Italy is the Kingdom’s first partner in the SME segment. Italy is also Saudi Arabia’s seventh-largest supplier of goods and second supplier within the EU, while the Kingdom ranks 21 in goods supplied to Italy and provides about 9 percent of Italy’s oil imports (2021). Last year, the value of trade between the two countries reached more than €8 billion ($8.43 billion), surpassing pre-pandemic results. The scenarios for expanding cooperation are still many and promising. The renewal of the bond of friendship between the two countries takes on even more significance in light of the new challenges in the geopolitical and economic scenario. Faisal bin Sattam bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud Saudi Vision 2030 offers unique investment opportunities in various sectors, ranging from mining to technology, culture to space and, of course, the energy sector. In the energy transition, the Saudi government started rapidly increasing renewable energy production and created a value chain around this sector. Saudi Arabia is the largest investor in hydrogen today, whether blue or green hydrogen. In terms of land and resources, Saudi Arabia can produce the whole world’s demand. Italy has alone been a global leader in energy, so there is a clear opportunity for Italian investors to be part of our energy transition. The celebrations will also be an opportunity to strengthen dialogue on challenges to international peace, stability and security, in respect of which Italy and Saudi Arabia have given concrete support in multiple areas with a common vision. In the fight against Daesh, for instance, the two countries have been co-chairing, along with the US, the Counter ISIS Finance Group since 2015. As members of the G20 Troika, Saudi Arabia and Italy have also recently worked together to provide a global response to the pandemic, and to implement a common agenda to promote the protection of the planet, equal opportunities and global sustainable growth. The 90th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral relations between Italy and Saudi Arabia falls at a difficult and delicate historical moment. The renewal of the bond of friendship between the two countries takes on even more significance in light of the new challenges in the geopolitical and economic scenario. In 1932 the Saudi and Italian governments formalized their friendship in the midst of the global economic crisis that erupted a few years earlier, and today the two friendly governments are renewing the solid bond in the face of new global crises and challenges, which call for unified responses and greater cooperation between countries. The younger generation is demanding ever greater commitment from governments worldwide to ensure a sustainable future through comprehensive responses. Saudi Arabia, of which 70 percent of the population is under the age of 35, is determined to pursue an agenda aimed at stability and sustainable economic development through fruitful cooperation with friendly and esteemed countries, such as Italy. I would like to recall here the sense of appreciation that King Abdulaziz, the founder of Saudi Arabia, expressed to the then Italian Consulate in Jeddah a few months after signing the Treaty of Friendship with Italy. “I wish to maintain the friendship of Italy at all costs, because this friendship is very precious, thanks to the authoritative position it has been able to create for itself in the world through the very valid and disinterested work that its representatives explain in the interest of peace and humanity,” he said at the time. After 90 years, I am glad and proud to renew, as Saudi ambassador in Rome, the founder’s sense of esteem and friendship for Italy and I look forward to working with the new Italian government to further reinforce such enduring bonds. • Faisal bin Sattam bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud has been the Saudi ambassador to Italy since 2017.