Saudi Arabia’s crown prince launches Events Investment Fund set to be worth billions

Update Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman announces the launch of the multibillion dollar Events Investment Fund (EIF)
The EIF aims to create strategic partnerships to boost the local industry and increase foreign investment. (SPA)
Short Url
Updated 17 January 2023

Saudi Arabia’s crown prince launches Events Investment Fund set to be worth billions

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman announces the launch of the multibillion dollar Events Investment Fund (EIF)

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has announced the launch of the Events Investment Fund (EIF), a fund that aims to develop a sustainable infrastructure for the culture, tourism, entertainment, and sports sectors across the Kingdom, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The EIF aims to create strategic partnerships to boost the local industry and increase foreign investment. It will conceptualize, finance, and oversee the development of more than 35 venues by 2030, the state news agency reported.
The fund will focus on developing and increasing direct foreign investment opportunities for a contribution of SR28 billion ($7.45 billion) to the Kingdom’s gross domestic product by 2045. 

Highlights

It will focus on developing and increasing direct foreign investment opportunities for a contribution of SR28 billion ($7.45 billion) to the Kingdom’s gross domestic product by 2045. 

The fund will focus on strengthening partnerships between the public and private sectors and ensure an environment conducive to investment and help increase job opportunities for citizens.

The creation of EIF aims at positioning the Kingdom as the global hub of cultural, tourism, entertainment, and sports activities. It seeks to develop a world-class sustainable infrastructure including indoor arenas, art galleries, theaters, conference centers, horse-racing tracks, auto racing tracks, and other facilities across the Kingdom. The SPA reported that the fund aims to deliver its first asset by 2023. 

The fund is committed to upholding the highest environmental, social, and governance standards. It aims to increase the tourism sector’s annual contribution to the GDP to more than 10 percent by 2030. The fund will also support the Kingdom in achieving its goal of becoming a global tourist destination, attracting more than 100 million visitors by 2030 and making it one of the world’s most visited countries. 
 


Saudi Arabia, China contemplate energy security through petrochemical JVs

Saudi Arabia, China contemplate energy security through petrochemical JVs
Updated 12 sec ago

Saudi Arabia, China contemplate energy security through petrochemical JVs

Saudi Arabia, China contemplate energy security through petrochemical JVs

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia and China are collaborating to ensure safe energy supplies in their markets by planning to establish petrochemical joint ventures.

Saudi Minister of Energy Abdulaziz Al-Saud held a meeting with the chairman of the National Energy Authority of the Republic of China, Zhang Jianhua, in Riyadh to discuss JVs that will transform crude oil into petrochemicals and develop innovative uses of hydrocarbons, nuclear energy and fuel. 

Both nations are working to increase collaboration in the energy sector’s supply chains. 

Al-Saud and Zhang also discussed ways to boost ties between the countries in numerous energy fields, which will help achieve the goals outlined in Saudi Vision 2030 and China’s Belt and Road Initiative. 

Further collaborations between both countries are anticipated as the Kingdom is set to host the 10th session of the Arab-Chinese Business Conference and the eighth Investment Symposium. 

Set to take place between June 11 and 12 in Riyadh, the conference is expected to be the largest Arab-Chinese gathering for business and investment. 

It will host over 2,000 participants, including high-level government representatives, senior officials, CEOs, investors and entrepreneurs.

“Collaborating for Prosperity” aims to boost cooperation in the economy, trade and investment to achieve solutions of mutual interest to Arab nations and China through strategic collaboration. 

It is organized by the Kingdom’s investment and foreign affairs ministries in partnership with the Chinese Council for the Promotion of International Trade and several government agencies. 

Saudi Investment Minister Khalid Al-Falih said that trade and cultural ties between Arab countries and China extended over 2,000 years and that the conference reflected that historical relationship. 

He added that Saudi-Chinese relations had developed, especially following King Salman’s visit to China in 2017 and the two historic visits by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to Beijing in 2016 and 2019. 

Trade in 2022 between the Arab countries and China reached SR1.6 trillion ($430 billion), a 31 percent increase from the previous year. 

Saudi Arabia led the way with trade between the countries reaching around SR400 billion ($106 billion), a 30 percent increase over 2021.  


PIF-owned Riyadh Air receives designator code from IATA

PIF-owned Riyadh Air receives designator code from IATA
Updated 5 min 48 sec ago

PIF-owned Riyadh Air receives designator code from IATA

PIF-owned Riyadh Air receives designator code from IATA
  • Riyadh Air unveils first of two liveries

RIYADH: Marking a significant milestone for Saudi Arabia’s new world-class carrier as it prepares to start operations, Riyadh Air secured the “RX” designator code from the International Air Transport Association.  

Riyadh Air CEO Tony Douglas made this announcement at the IATA’s 79th annual general meeting being held in Istanbul, Turkiye.  

“We are delighted to announce that we have obtained ‘RX’ as our IATA code, which will be on every touch point that our guests see as they take flight with us. The code reflects our ambition to be a digitally led airline, having the connection of innovation and state-of-the-art technology,” Douglas said.  

The new airline also unveiled the first of two liveries it will deploy as preparations continue for its launch of flights in 2025.

It released a video on social media on Sunday illustrating its livery. Owned entirely by the Public Investment Fund, Riyadh Air was inaugurated in March, with a vision to transform the Kingdom’s capital into a global hub for travel and trade.  

The airline, gearing up to start operations by early 2025, confirmed an order of 72 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners the same month, and is anticipated to order another 150 Boeing 737 Max soon.  

“Riyadh Air has made another strategic milestone toward its operations in 2025, and we are so excited for our guests to be able to travel to over 100 destinations with our code on their bag tags, booking documents and digital services,” Douglas added.   

The airline aims to leverage Saudi Arabia’s strategic positioning, linking the three continents of Asia, Africa and Europe. This initiative will stimulate economic growth and diversification in the Kingdom, creating over 200,000 job opportunities, both directly and indirectly.

Riyadh Air was founded to bolster the Kingdom’s national aviation strategy as well as the broader national transport and logistics strategy, aligning with the ambition to achieve Vision 2030 objectives.  

“It has been an absolute pleasure to be on the ground at the IATA AGM. The Riyadh Air team is able to meet with industry stakeholders and experts to discuss safe, efficient and technologically advanced topics in the global air travel industry,” Douglas stated.  

Related


Saudi Arabia to sign deals to promote Egyptian investment in industrial, mining sectors

Saudi Arabia to sign deals to promote Egyptian investment in industrial, mining sectors
Updated 04 June 2023

Saudi Arabia to sign deals to promote Egyptian investment in industrial, mining sectors

Saudi Arabia to sign deals to promote Egyptian investment in industrial, mining sectors

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia plans to sign two agreements with Egypt to boost the North African country’s participation in the Kingdom’s industrial and mining sectors in line with Vision 2030.
During his visit to Egypt, Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef expressed the Kingdom’s keenness to facilitate Egyptian investors.
It is part of the Kingdom’s efforts to bolster the role of the mining and industrial sectors in the national economy and increase their contribution by attracting foreign investment.
According to Alkhorayef, the first agreement seeks to “preserve commercial activity between the two countries and reduce obstacles, as well as finance exports through the Saudi Export Bank.” 
He said the other agreement would form a partnership with some Egyptian companies specialized in targeted activities in the Kingdom. 
On Saturday, the minister began his official tour to Egypt to discuss bilateral relations and explore opportunities to enhance cooperation in the industry and mining sectors, the Saudi Press Agency reported.  
Alkhorayef is accompanied by Deputy Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Osama Al-Zamil.   
He met with various government officials and investors in the industrial and mining sectors from both countries and visited several factories.  
“There are many opportunities that we see when it comes to the collaboration between us and our brothers in Egypt that will help accelerate the projects that are being built in those sectors,” noted the minister.  
Last year, the volume of Saudi Arabia’s non-oil exports to Egypt exceeded SR11 billion ($2.9 billion), while imports totaled SR10 billion.   
The Kingdom’s primary exports to Egypt included petrochemicals, building materials, and medicines, while key imports comprised food products, heavy machinery and electronics.   
On Sunday, Egyptian Minister of Trade and Industry Ahmed Samir said that trade exchange between countries surged 23.9 percent in 2022 to reach $5.6 billion.  
He said the year ended with $6 billion worth of Saudi investments in Egypt and $1.6 billion of Egyptian investments in the Kingdom.  
Alkhorayef said: “The trade between both countries is witnessing growth, but the aspirations of the leadership are much bigger.”


Closing bell: Saudi bourses begin week on a positive note

Closing bell: Saudi bourses begin week on a positive note
Updated 04 June 2023

Closing bell: Saudi bourses begin week on a positive note

Closing bell: Saudi bourses begin week on a positive note

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All Share Index began the week positively, gaining 207.01 points, or 1.88 percent, to close at 11,221.96. 

While parallel market Nomu edged up 25.16 points to 21,513.36, the MSCI Tadawul Index increased 2.16 percent to close at 1,490.24. 

The total trading turnover of the benchmark index on Sunday was SR4.37 billion ($1.17 billion) as 179 stocks advanced, while 34 retreated.

The best performer of the day was National Gas and Industrialization Co., whose share price surged 10 percent to SR68.20. 

Etihad Atheeb Telecommunication Co. and Saudi Arabian Mining Co. were other top gainers, whose share prices increased by 9.86 percent and 5.23 percent, respectively. 

Meanwhile, the telecom firm, which announced its fiscal year result ending on March 31, 2023, reported a net profit of SR42.47 million, compared to a net loss of SR37.40 million in the same period of the previous year. 

The worst performer of the day was Saudi Enaya Cooperative Insurance Co., whose share price dipped by 5.15 percent. 

In another development, shareholders of Fesh Fash Snack Food Production Co. approved the board of directors’ recommendation to pay a cash dividend of 15 percent, or SR1.5 a share, for 2022. 

Earlier in March, the company had reported a net profit of SR1.5 million for 2022, up 10 percent compared to 2021. Its share price remained unchanged at SR160. 

Meanwhile, Al-Babtain Power and Telecommunication Co. shareholders approved the board’s recommendation to pay a 5 percent cash dividend, or SR0.50 a share, for 2022.


Saudi Green Initiative steps up its drive against plastic pollution

Saudi Green Initiative steps up its drive against plastic pollution
Updated 04 June 2023

Saudi Green Initiative steps up its drive against plastic pollution

Saudi Green Initiative steps up its drive against plastic pollution

RIYADH: As the world is getting choked by plastic pollution, the planet is set to ring in another Environment Day on June 5, focused on ending the nondegradable waste’s disastrous effects. 

According to the UN Environment Programme, the world produces around 400 million tons of plastic annually, and just 9 percent of it gets recycled. What is worse? Almost 130,000 tons of plastic waste end up in the ocean every year. 

Within three years of its launch, the Saudi Green Initiative is playing a crucial role regionally in protecting the environment and reducing the use of plastic. 

Throughout these three years, the initiatives of the SGI have supported international efforts to remove plastic from oceans, develop innovative waste management systems at a national level and divert waste from landfill sites.

Catalyzing the SGI’s ambition to ensure a sustainable future, Saudi Basic Industries Corp. is participating in the Alliance to End Plastic Waste Program to clean plastic from the oceans.

The initiative, expected to be completed in 2025, supports accelerated improvements to current waste management systems in developed regions.

Earlier in January, SABIC reaffirmed its commitment to accelerating the circular carbon economy by announcing plans to process 1 million metric tons of plastics through its Trucircle solutions initiative.

Trucircle is a portfolio of products SABIC offers, which include circular and bio-based products based on second- and third-generation renewable feedstock, mechanically recycled polymers, ocean and ocean-bound recycled solutions, and closed-loop services and designs for recyclability.

Meanwhile, Saudi Investment Recycling Co. and National Center for Waste Management are leading an initiative to transform waste management in Riyadh. This program aims to divert 94 percent of waste generated in Riyadh away from landfills and compost more than 1.3 million tons of biodegradable waste.

This program aims to create a proven waste management model that will be implemented across the Kingdom by 2035, which is expected to reduce 4.1 metric tons per annum of carbon dioxide emissions. 

Moreover, a separate SGI initiative with the NCWM is developing a comprehensive national waste management master plan for the Kingdom, pioneering circular economy practices. This project is expected to be completed by 2025. 

The SGI, inspired by Saudi Arabia’s commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2060, has also launched several initiatives, including investing in new energy sources, improving energy efficiency and developing a carbon capture and storage program. 

Furthermore, the SGI has also committed to planting 10 billion trees across Saudi Arabia and rehabilitating 40 million hectares of land to restore the Kingdom’s natural beauty. 

Earlier in April, the annual report issued by the National Transformation Program suggested that Saudi Arabia planted over 12 million trees in the past five years through the National Center for Vegetation Development.

Since the launch of the SGI, Saudi Arabia has planted 18 million trees within the Kingdom, of which 13 million are mangroves. Regionally, the SGI plans to plant 50 billion trees across the Middle East and restore an area equivalent to 200 million hectares of degraded land which will, in turn, reduce global carbon levels by 2.5 percent.

As part of the SGI’s initiatives, Saudi Arabia has also committed to protecting 30 percent of its terrestrial and marine area and is working in partnership with leading international organizations, including the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, to safeguard the pristine landscapes of the Kingdom.