JEDDAH: A number of Saudi and American investors have agreed that the visit of Deputy Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman to the United States is receiving special interest in US economic circles. The visit follows the announcement of Saudi Vision 2030, which includes operational programs to increase investment opportunities and to attract funds to the Kingdom.

Jim Schuler, who owns one of the top five US companies specializing in establishing giant infrastructure, said the Saudi market increased the attractiveness to US capital to operate in the Kingdom. He said the important visit of Prince Mohammad bin Salman, who is in charge of the Kingdom’s economic side, would encourage the entry of American businessmen into partnerships with Saudis with mutual benefits.

He added that the investment climate, which the Kingdom is working to prepare for investors within the framework of the new vision, will constitute an excellent atmosphere which is bound to increase the chances of success for foreign investors.

Jesse, a project manager of a business development company that produces and distributes electricity the Kingdom, said the US could help build and operate power plants which provide good opportunities to work in electricity distribution in the Kingdom.

On the issue of the Saudi investments in the US, Jesse said the market was open to foreign investments, and there were already large Saudi investments in American markets. He expressed his belief that this was evidence that the future would see more partnerships between Saudi and American businessmen.

A Saudi investor in US markets, Mohammad Saleh, the owner of Mas Services and Suppliers specializing in logistics and constructive architecture, said American economic circles expressed interest in the visit of the Deputy Crown Prince from the time of its announcement, especially at this time when the ambitious vision of the Kingdom was launched two weeks before the visit.

Vision 2030 includes very important goals concerning foreign investments in which the Kingdom is aiming to increase the ratio of foreign direct investment to the GDP from 3.8 percent to the global ratio of 5.7 percent, and to move from its current rank of 25th in the global competitiveness index to one of the top ten, he said.

“This has given the visit of the Deputy Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman significant economic weight because of the large investment opportunities in Saudi Arabia. There is a prevailing thought among businessmen and financiers that the Saudi markets come with substantial low risk ratios, along with the political stability in the Kingdom; the stability in the economic and financial policies of the Kingdom withstood the crisis experienced by the world’s economies,” he said.

Meanwhile, Yemeni leaders said the deputy crown prince’s visit was important and determine the future of the region, besides creating strong support for the Islamic alliance to counter terrorism.

Sheikh Yahya Muqeet, the head of the tribal alliance in Saada Province, said the discussions of Prince Mohammad bin Salman with US officials would address many issues in the region, especially concerning the coup d’état in Yemen and its effects on global peace and security, and developments in Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, and Iran’s continuing interference in the internal affairs of the Arab and Islamic states.

Sheikh Hadi Turshan, a member of the National Dialogue Conference, said the visit would not only focus on the relations between the two countries, but would also be represented through meetings the deputy crown prince will have with United Nations officials and permanent members of the Security Council.

"These meetings will play a pivotal role in enforcing peace in the Middle East, with the aim to coordinate efforts to confront armed groups such as Al Qaeda, Daesh and the groups backed by Iran which are trying to disrupt and undermine the security and stability of the region."

Turshan said the Yemeni people were placing great hopes on the visit in order to acquire the support of the international community and assert their right to live in dignity and freedom, and eliminate the power of militias in the country.

Akram Fahd, a media specialist, said the visit would create an international alliance to confront armed terrorist groups and would give support to the Islamic alliance.