Saudi Private Sector Urged to Reveal Challenges

One of the branches of the Saudi Business Center concerned with facilitating procedures for starting businesses in Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat)
One of the branches of the Saudi Business Center concerned with facilitating procedures for starting businesses in Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Private Sector Urged to Reveal Challenges

One of the branches of the Saudi Business Center concerned with facilitating procedures for starting businesses in Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat)
One of the branches of the Saudi Business Center concerned with facilitating procedures for starting businesses in Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi authorities have called on the local private sector to report challenges facing companies and institutions in the Saudi market.

Since the launch of Vision 2030, the Saudi government has been seeking to identify and address the difficulties facing the private sector to enable it to play a vital role in advancing the national economy.

According to information available to Asharq Al-Awsat, Aug. 10 was set as the deadline for receiving reports on the obstacles facing local companies and institutions.

The Saudi government is launching many economic reforms, including amending legislation and regulations for a better business environment in the Kingdom.

These reforms have contributed to raising the quality, efficiency and digitization of government services provided to the private sector, in addition to the establishment of many programs, initiatives, financing funds, business incubators and accelerators.

The government is working to accelerate the pace of the private sector business and raise its contribution to the GDP to 65 percent by 2030.

The Federation of Saudi Chambers periodically assesses obstacles facing the private sector, through meetings and workshops that are aimed at facilitating communication with government agencies.

The Kingdom’s Vision 2030 ensures the integration and coordination of efforts between its programs and government agencies to raise the quality of services available to companies and institutions, facilitate the business environment and promote unexploited economic sectors, in addition to attracting foreign investments.



Oil Extends Climb on Supply Fears, Trade War Concerns Cap Gains

FILE - Pump jacks extract oil from beneath the ground in North Dakota, May 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown, File)
FILE - Pump jacks extract oil from beneath the ground in North Dakota, May 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown, File)
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Oil Extends Climb on Supply Fears, Trade War Concerns Cap Gains

FILE - Pump jacks extract oil from beneath the ground in North Dakota, May 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown, File)
FILE - Pump jacks extract oil from beneath the ground in North Dakota, May 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown, File)

Oil prices inched higher on Tuesday after threats by US President Donald Trump to impose secondary tariffs on Russian crude and attack Iran, though worries about the impact of a trade war on global growth capped gains.

Brent futures rose 21 cents, or 0.3%, to $74.98 a barrel at 0645 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate crude futures climbed 22 cents, or 0.3%, to $71.70.

The contracts settled at five-week highs a day earlier.

"Near-term risks are skewed to the upside, with US threats of secondary tariffs on Russian and Iranian oil leading market participants to price for the risks of tighter oil supplies," said Yeap Jun Rong, market strategist at IG, Reuters reported.

However, broader themes still revolve around concerns of upcoming tariffs weighing on global demand, along with prospects of increased supply from OPEC+ and the US, said Yeap.

A Reuters poll of 49 economists and analysts in March projected that oil prices would remain under pressure this year from US tariffs and economic slowdowns in India and China, while OPEC+ increases supply.

Slower global growth would dent fuel demand, which might offset any reduction in supply due to Trump's threats.

After news of Trump's threats initially boosted prices on Monday, traders told Reuters they viewed the president's warnings to Russia, at least, as a bluff.

Trump, on Sunday, told NBC News that he was very angry with Russian President Vladimir Putin and would impose secondary tariffs of 25% to 50% on Russian oil buyers if Moscow tries to block efforts to end the war in Ukraine.

Tariffs on buyers of oil from Russia, the world's second largest oil exporter, would disrupt global supply and hurt Moscow's biggest customers, China and India.

Trump also threatened Iran with similar tariffs and bombings if Tehran did not reach an agreement with the White House over its nuclear program.

"For now, it appears to be just a threat to Russia and Iran. However, if it becomes a reality, it creates plenty of upside risk to the market given the significant oil export volumes from both countries," said ING commodities strategists on Tuesday.

The market will be watching for weekly inventory data from US industry group the American Petroleum Institute later on Tuesday, ahead of official statistics from the Energy Information Administration on Wednesday.

Five analysts surveyed by Reuters estimated on average that US crude inventories fell by about 2.1 million barrels in the week to March 28.