The head of a major Israeli bank, which has no diplomatic relations, attended an economic forum held in Saudi Arabia in the Middle East, and is attracting attention as a move that symbolizes the improvement of relations between the two countries.
The economic forum "Future Investment Initiative", which is being promoted by Crown Prince Mohammed, was held in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, until the 27th.
Samer Hajiyahia, chairman of Leumi Bank, a major Israeli financial institution that does not have diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia, participated in a session to discuss the use of fintech that fuses finance and IT.
Chairman Hajiyahia expressed his appreciation of the Saudi Arabian economy, saying, "GDP = Gross Domestic Product has grown significantly even from a global perspective, and the population is increasing, so there is a considerable possibility of that happening."
Israel and Saudi Arabia have been at odds over the Palestinian issue for many years.
In recent years, however, there have been signs of an improvement in relations.
For Saudi Arabia, it is believed that they want to incorporate the technological capabilities of Israeli companies, such as the environment and IT, which are indispensable for industrial diversification, and for Israel, there is a desire to strengthen relations with Saudi Arabia because of the threat posed by Iran. seen as a thing.
The attendance of top bank leaders at the forum is seen as a symbol of improving relations between the two countries.