WEF panelists call for systemic policy shifts to help developing countries out of global debt crisis

WEF panelists call for systemic policy shifts to help developing countries out of global debt crisis
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About 3.3 billion people live in countries that spend more servicing debt than they do on education or health, according to a report published by the UN in July 2023. (SCREENSHOT)
WEF panelists call for systemic policy shifts to help developing countries out of global debt crisis
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Andre Esteves, chairperson and senior partner of Brazilian financial company Banco BTG Pactual, warned that a trade war between US and China during Donald Trump’s second term as president might affect other countries. (SCREENSHOT)
WEF panelists call for systemic policy shifts to help developing countries out of global debt crisis
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Rania Al-Mashat, Egypt’s minister of planning, economic development and international cooperation, said macroeconomic stability needs to be coupled with structural reforms that improve the business environment to attract investment, reduce burdens and support the green transition. (SCREENSHOT)
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Updated 22 January 2025
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WEF panelists call for systemic policy shifts to help developing countries out of global debt crisis

WEF panelists call for systemic policy shifts to help developing countries out of global debt crisis
  • At World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, they urge governments and lenders to take shared actions to build strong, resilient economies and relieve debt burdens
  • Developing countries have accrued twice as much debt since 2010 compared with those in the developed world

DUBAI: The international community must devise ways to help nations in the developing world out of the global debt crisis and safeguard societies from the long-term effects of economic stagnation.

This was the message from a panel of experts during a discussion at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos on Tuesday. Amid global transformations and ongoing uncertainty, they called for shifts in domestic and global monetary policies to provide relief for countries with debt burdens, and for governments and lenders to take shared actions to help build strong and resilient economies.

An International Monetary Fund report published in October stated that global pubic debt was expected to exceed $100 trillion during 2024, representing about 93 percent of global gross domestic product. Developing countries have accrued twice as much debt since 2010 compared with those in the developed world, according to UN figures..

The COVID-19 pandemic, climate change and unprecedented hikes in interest rates have compounded this debt crisis in some countries, potentially jeopardizing the futures of generations to come and slowing global progress.

Rebeca Grynspan, the secretary-general of UN Trade and Development, called for change at a systemic level to help countries take proactive steps to avoid debt problems in an ever-changing world.

“The developing world has half the debt that developed world has, the problem is paying for it,” she said.

“Firstly, we should avoid a liquidity problem becoming a debt problem. We have instruments that we don’t use in the international system, like special drawing rights.

“Secondly, the developing countries need long-term loans. If you go for infrastructure, you really want to grow, you need long-term money.”

For a monumental shift to take place, multilateral development banks need to scale up, take risks and crowd in private investment, Grynspan added.

About 3.3 billion people live in countries that spend more servicing debt than they do on education or health, according to a report published by the UN in July 2023.

“Markets are not in crisis but people are,” said Grynspan. “We don’t have a debt fault, but we have a development fault and that in turn will come to hunt us because if you cannot have growth in these countries, then we will not be able to get onto a sustainable path.”

Andre Esteves, chairperson and senior partner of Brazilian financial company Banco BTG Pactual, warned that a trade war between US and China during Donald Trump’s second term as president might affect other countries. However, he also highlighted positive indicators among the policies of the new administration in Washington.

“The whole idea of more fiscal discipline, ranging from deregulation and private-sector growth,” he said by way of examples. “But there needs to be the core of regulatory framework, otherwise it would be a bad move.”

As the debt crisis fuels power imbalances, dominance is expected to skew toward China, said Simon Freakley, the chairperson and CEO at global consulting firm AlixPartners.

“In today’s world, where developing countries are struggling to pay back their debt, they need to borrow more,” he noted, adding that China is able to exert significant influence as its capital markets are wide open to commodity-rich countries unwilling to borrow more money or service a debt.

Rania Al-Mashat, Egypt’s minister of planning, economic development and international cooperation, said macroeconomic stability needs to be coupled with structural reforms that improve the business environment to attract investment, reduce burdens and support the green transition.

Amid escalating conflicts in the Middle East and North Africa region, policies must be adopted to help mitigate the effects of various types of shocks, she added. For example, an IMF-supported Egyptian program was approved in December 2022 with the aim of achieving macroeconomic stability and encouraging private-sector-led growth.

“The manufacturing sector could benefit from inflows there,” Al-Mashat said. “We are also trying to put stringent ceilings on public investment so that the private sector can come in. All of these are drivers for growth financing for development.”

She called for a rethinking of global financial architecture to help more middle-income, emerging economies find alternative financing, such as debt swaps, for climate action or development.

Mohammed Aurangzeb, Pakistan’s minister of finance and revenue, warned of the long-term effects of economic stagnation. He said his country this month entered into a 10-year partnership with World Bank Group to address the issues of climate change and population.

“Population means child stunting, learning poverty and girls out of school,” he says. “There’s also climate resiliency and decarbonization. Unless we address this, the medium-to-long-term growth is not going to be sustainable.”


Closing Bell: Saudi main index slips to close at 12,409

Closing Bell: Saudi main index slips to close at 12,409
Updated 02 February 2025
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Closing Bell: Saudi main index slips to close at 12,409

Closing Bell: Saudi main index slips to close at 12,409
  • Parallel market Nomu lost 145.58 points, or 0.47%, to close at 31,105.07
  • MSCI Tadawul Index gained 1.59 points, or 0.10%, to close at 1,54561

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All Share Index slipped on Sunday, losing 5.62 points, or 0.05 percent, to close at 12,409.87.

The total trading turnover of the benchmark index was SR5.09 billion ($1.35 billion), as 108 of the stocks advanced and 118 retreated. 

The Kingdom’s parallel market, Nomu, lost 145.58 points, or 0.47 percent, to close at 31,105.07. This comes as 42 of the listed stocks advanced while 43 retreated. 

The MSCI Tadawul Index, however, gained 1.59 points, or 0.10 percent, to close at 1,54561. 

The best-performing stock of the day was Mutakamela Insurance Co., whose share price rose 9.74 percent to SR18.02. 

Other top performers included Allied Cooperative Insurance Group and Saudi Arabian Cooperative Insurance Co. whose share prices gained 8.55 percent to SR16 and 7.71 percent to SR17.88, respectively.

Thimar Development Holding Co. recorded the most significant drop, falling 7.5 percent to SR53.

Saudi Arabian Amiantit Co. also saw its stock prices fall 5.77 percent to SR29.40.

CHUBB Arabia Cooperative Insurance Co. saw its stock prices decline 4.26 percent to SR54.

Multi Business Group Co. announced its annual financial results for the period ending Dec. 31.

According to a Tadawul statement, the company reported a net profit of SR10.5 million last year, reflecting a 19.06 percent increase compared to 2023. 

The growth was driven by an 8 percent rise in total revenues, a 12 percent increase in gross profit, an 8 percent reduction in general and administrative expenses, and a 45 percent decrease in financing costs, despite a 161 percent surge in zakat expenses.

Multi Business Group Co. ended the session at SR18.80, up 10.43 percent.

Edarat Communication and Information Technology Co. announced its annual consolidated financial results for the period ending Dec. 31.

A bourse filing revealed that the firm recorded a net profit of SR24.6 million in 2024, reflecting a 41.98 percent rise compared to the previous year. 

The jump is primarily linked to a 31 percent rise in gross profit, which reached SR45.3 million in 2024, compared to SR34.6 million in 2023. Moreover, administrative expenses, as a percentage of revenue, dropped from 19.07 percent in 2023 to 16.71 percent in 2024, further leveraging the growth in net profit.

Edarat ended the session at SR671, up 1.55 percent.

The National Shipping Co. of Saudi Arabia announced its interim financial results for the period ending Dec. 31. According to a Tadawul statement, the firm recorded a net profit of SR2.16 billion in 2024, up 34.45 percent compared to 2023. 

The rise is owed to a surge in gross profit by SR627 million and an increase in the firm’s share in results of equity accounted investees by SR166 million. The increase in net profit was partially reduced by a decline in other income and a rise in general and administrative expenses compared to the same period last year.

National Shipping Co. of Saudi Arabia ended the session at SR29.95, down 0.67 percent.

Bank AlJazira has announced its annual financial results for the period ending Dec. 31. A bourse filing revealed that the firm recorded a net profit of SR1.23 billion in 2024, up 20.69 percent compared to 2023.

The bank ended the session at SR18.68, down 3.08 percent.

Saudi Awwal Bank also announced its annual financial results for the same period. According to a Tadawul statement, the firm recorded a net profit of SR8.07 billion in 2024, up 15.25 percent compared to 2023. This rise is due to a surge in total operating income, partially offset by a jump in total operating expenses and tax charges.

The bank ended the session at SR36.40, up 1.95 percent.


Saudi Electricity to settle $1.5bn in historical obligations to the state

Saudi Electricity to settle $1.5bn in historical obligations to the state
Updated 02 February 2025
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Saudi Electricity to settle $1.5bn in historical obligations to the state

Saudi Electricity to settle $1.5bn in historical obligations to the state
  • Disputed amounts are related to technical discrepancies in quantities, prices, and handling costs of fuel and electric power
  • Second resolution was issued to include the settlement liability amount in the Mudaraba instrument

RIYADH: The Saudi Electricity Co. will settle its historical obligations to the state, totaling SR5.687 billion ($1.5 billion), following an executive panel approving a final settlement of the disputed legacy amounts.

The panel, which included a ministerial committee for restructuring the electricity sector and SEC, said the disputed amounts are related to technical discrepancies in quantities, prices, and handling costs of fuel and electric power.

A working team was formed from the ministries of energy and finance and the Saudi Electricity Regulatory Authority, in coordination with relevant authorities, to study the disputed transactions totaling SR10.3 billion.

This is part of the government’s continued efforts to enhance service levels for citizens and residents, supporting the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.

Global credit ratings agency Moody’s assigned the SEC an Aa3 rating in November, which it gives to companies with high quality, low credit risk, and a strong ability to repay short-term debts. It provides an assessment of the creditworthiness of borrowers, including governments, corporations, and other entities that issue debt.

The Tadawul statement said the committee issued a second resolution to include the settlement liability amount in the Mudaraba instrument, as per the terms of the agreement between SEC and the Ministry of Finance, within 30 days of receiving the resolution letter from the Minister of Energy.

The Mudaraba instrument is a long-term, unsecured financial tool with a profit margin tied to the regulatory weighted average cost of capital. Its profit is paid only if dividends are declared on ordinary shares. It follows Islamic Shariah principles, is treated as equity in SEC’s financials, and does not change shareholder ownership or rights.

The bourse filing said the SEC expects no significant impact on its dividend distribution.

It added that following the resolution, SEC will amend the Mudaraba agreement with the Ministry of Finance to include this amount in the Mudaraba instrument, bringing the total to SR173.607 billion.

Reclassifying the settlement amount into the Mudaraba instrument strengthens the company’s capital and prepares it for large-scale investments, reinforcing its role as a reliable electricity provider in the Kingdom.

The financial impact of the resolution is projected to be reflected in the 2024 financial statements.


Saudi Arabia’s military spending surges to $75.8bn in 2024, says GAMI chief

Saudi Arabia’s military spending surges to $75.8bn in 2024, says GAMI chief
Updated 02 February 2025
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Saudi Arabia’s military spending surges to $75.8bn in 2024, says GAMI chief

Saudi Arabia’s military spending surges to $75.8bn in 2024, says GAMI chief
  • Kingdom strengthens global defense presence with $78 billion military budget for 2025

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s military spending has increased at an annual rate of 4.5 percent since 1960, reaching $75.8 billion in 2024. This accounts for 3.1 percent of global defense spending, according to a senior official.

Speaking at the fourth Global Strategies in Defense and Aerospace Industry Conference in Antalya, Turkiye, Ahmed bin Abdul Aziz Al-Ohali, governor of the General Authority for Military Industries, noted that global military expenditure now totals $2.44 trillion.

Al-Ohali emphasized that Saudi Arabia has earmarked around $78 billion for the military sector in its 2025 budget. This allocation represents 21 percent of the total government spending and 7.19 percent of the country’s gross domestic product.

The governor reiterated that the work of GAMI is aligned with Saudi Vision 2030, which seeks to build a prosperous, diversified, and sustainable economy by reducing dependence on oil revenues and fostering growth in industry and innovation.

“In the presence of His Excellency Prof. Haluk Gorgun, chairman of the Defense Industries Authority of Turkiye, and leaders of Turkish military industry companies, I discussed Saudi Arabia’s ongoing transformation toward a more diversified and innovation-driven economy,” Al-Ohali stated.

He further added: “I also emphasized the promising investment opportunities within Saudi Arabia’s military industries sector and the strategic partnerships between our two countries, with the goal of localizing over 50 percent of military spending by 2030.”

The governor underscored GAMI’s commitment to developing a sustainable military industries sector that not only strengthens military readiness but also makes a significant contribution to the national economy.

To achieve its localization goals, the authority has introduced several initiatives designed to attract both foreign and domestic investments in the defense sector.

Al-Ohali highlighted that GAMI has rolled out a range of incentives to encourage investment and expand military industries, helping companies meet localization targets.

“A total of 74 supply chain opportunities have been created within the military industries sector, with 30 priority opportunities identified, representing about 80 percent of future expenditures on supply chains,” he noted.

The authority is also offering support and facilitation to small and medium-sized enterprises specializing in military industries, both domestically and internationally.

“The aim is to establish a resilient and robust military industrial base that will not only bolster national security but also contribute significantly to the Kingdom’s economic diversification,” Al-Ohali added.

In November of last year, Al-Ohali mentioned at the Local Content Forum that Saudi Arabia had localized 19.35 percent of its military spending, a significant increase from just 4 percent in 2018. The Kingdom plans to exceed 50 percent by 2030.

He also pointed out that the number of licensed entities in the military industries sector had risen to 296 by the third quarter of 2024.

Saudi Arabia continues to solidify its position as a key player in the global defense sector, with strategic partnerships and industrial development playing a pivotal role in achieving the goals outlined in Vision 2030.


Saudi Arabia launches February ‘Sah’ savings with 4.94% return

Saudi Arabia launches February ‘Sah’ savings with 4.94% return
Updated 02 February 2025
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Saudi Arabia launches February ‘Sah’ savings with 4.94% return

Saudi Arabia launches February ‘Sah’ savings with 4.94% return
  • Minimum subscription amount is SR1,000 and the maximum total issuance per user during the program period is SR200,000
  • Kingdom aims to raise savings rate among residents from 6% to the international benchmark of 10% by 2030

JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia has launched the second round of its subscription-based savings product, Sah, for 2025, offering a competitive return of 4.94 percent for February.

Issued by the Ministry of Finance and organized by the National Debt Management Center, the Sah bonds are the Kingdom’s first savings product designed specifically for individuals. 

Structured within the local bond program and denominated in Saudi riyals, Sah offers attractive returns to promote financial stability and growth among citizens.

The product aligns with the Financial Sector Development Program under Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to raise the savings rate among residents from 6 percent to the international benchmark of 10 percent by the end of the decade.

The Shariah-compliant, government-backed sukuk began at 10:00 a.m. Saudi time on Feb. 2 and will remain open until 3:00 p.m. on Feb. 4. Redemption amounts are expected to be paid within a year, as announced by the NDMC on X.

Sah offers fee-free, low-risk returns and is available through the digital platforms of various approved financial institutions. The bonds are issued monthly based on the issuance schedule, with a one-year savings period, fixed returns, and profits paid out at the bond’s maturity.

The minimum subscription amount is SR1,000 ($266), corresponding to the value of one bond, while the maximum total issuance per user during the program period is SR200,000. Returns are paid monthly per the issuance calendar.

The savings period lasts one year with a fixed return, and accrued profits are disbursed at the bond’s maturity. Future returns will be influenced by market conditions on a month-to-month basis.

The product is available to Saudi nationals aged 18 and older, who must open an account with either SNB Capital, Aljazira Capital, Alinma Investment, SAB Invest, or Al-Rajhi Capital.

Last month, NDMC announced the closure of the year’s first issuance with a total amount allocated of SR3.724 billion. It was divided into four tranches, with the first valued at SR1.255 billion to mature in 2029 and the second worth SR1.405 billion, maturing in 2032. The third tranche totaled SR1.036 billion to mature in 2036, while the fourth amounted to SR28 million and matures in 2039.

The initial 2025 issuance concluded on Jan. 7, offering a competitive return of 4.95 percent over its three-day subscription period.


Saudi stc Group tops MENA telecom operators with $57.7bn market cap

Saudi stc Group tops MENA telecom operators with $57.7bn market cap
Updated 02 February 2025
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Saudi stc Group tops MENA telecom operators with $57.7bn market cap

Saudi stc Group tops MENA telecom operators with $57.7bn market cap
  • stc posted a net profit of SR11.23 billion in the first nine months of 2024
  • Company’s Saudi mobile subscriber base grew 7.9% year on year

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s stc Group has emerged as the largest listed telecom operator in the Middle East and North Africa, with a market capitalization of $57.7 billion as of Jan. 28, according to a Forbes analysis.

The ranking places stc ahead of UAE’s e&, the Kingdom’s Etihad Etisalat, also known as Mobily, Qatar’s Ooredoo Group, and UAE’s Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Co., which round out the top five telecom firms in the region by market value. 

The combined capitalization of these five companies stood at $132 billion, representing 84.7 percent of the total market value of the 16 publicly listed telecom operators in the region.

stc’s share price rose 2 percent year on year to SR43.3 ($11.6) as of Jan. 28. On Feb. 2, the stock gained 0.34 percent to trade at SR43.65 as of 12:30 p.m. Saudi time. The company posted a net profit of SR11.23 billion in the first nine months of 2024, marking a 2 percent increase from the same period a year earlier, according to Saudi Exchange data.

The group’s financial arm, STC Bank, recently secured a non-objection certificate from the Saudi Central Bank to commence operations, becoming the first licensed digital financial institution in Saudi Arabia. The approval aligns with the regulator’s push for digital transformation and enhanced competition in the banking sector while ensuring financial stability.

Forbes said that stc’s Saudi mobile subscriber base grew 7.9 percent year on year in the first nine months of 2024, reaching 27.6 million, while fixed-line subscribers rose 2.3 percent to 5.7 million. In contrast, stc Kuwait saw its mobile subscriber base decline 4.2 percent to 2.3 million by the end of the third quarter.

Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund holds a 62 percent stake in stc Group.

Among regional rivals, e& holds the second-largest market capitalization at $41.1 billion, while Mobily ranks third at $12 billion. Mobily’s stock price climbed 14.5 percent year on year to SR58.4 as of Jan. 28, with net profit surging 43 percent to SR2.12 billion for the first nine months of 2024. The company’s subscriber base also expanded 1.5 percent to 11.7 million.

Ooredoo Group ranks fourth with an $11.4 billion market capitalization, followed by Emirates Integrated Telecommunications at $9.8 billion.