Al-Badr to Asharq Al-Awsat: Exploring Opportunities for Saudi-Japanese Cooperation in Vital Sectors

Al-Badr talking to Asharq Al-Awsat on the sidelines of the Saudi-Japanese round-table meeting.
Al-Badr talking to Asharq Al-Awsat on the sidelines of the Saudi-Japanese round-table meeting.
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Al-Badr to Asharq Al-Awsat: Exploring Opportunities for Saudi-Japanese Cooperation in Vital Sectors

Al-Badr talking to Asharq Al-Awsat on the sidelines of the Saudi-Japanese round-table meeting.
Al-Badr talking to Asharq Al-Awsat on the sidelines of the Saudi-Japanese round-table meeting.

The Undersecretary of the Ministry of Investment for Communication with Investors, Badr Al-Badr, unveiled joint efforts by the Saudi and Japanese governments to explore investment opportunities in several vital sectors.

Al-Badr told Asharq Al-Awsat that the Saudi-Japanese relations were developing at all levels, thanks to the converging visions of the two countries’ leaderships.

He pointed to a round-table meeting, which was organized by the Ministry of Investment on Sunday, in the presence of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Saudi Investment Minister Khaled al-Falih and representatives of a number of government and private agencies, within the framework of the Saudi-Japanese Vision 2030 Committee.

He noted that the meeting was aimed at strengthening economic and investment relations between the Kingdom and Japan, and exploring investment opportunities in a number of sectors, including: petrochemicals, energy, health care, mining, financial and logistical services, technology and infrastructure, and others.

Al-Badr added that 26 agreements and MOUs were signed between major Saudi and Japanese companies, which he said highlighted the volume of investment opportunities that would be activated between the Kingdom and Japan, in many vital sectors.

According to Al-Badr, the two countries, which assume a major role within the G20, are keen to promote and develop joint investments.

Japan is the Kingdom’s third largest trading partner, while 110 Japanese companies operate in the Kingdom in various fields, including energy and technology, the Saudi official said.



Abu Dhabi's XRG Targets Gas, LNG Capacity of 20-25 Million Tons a Year by 2035

Sultan Al Jaber, COP28 President, speaks at the United Nations climate change conference COP29 opening in Baku, Azerbaijan November 11, 2024. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov/File Photo
Sultan Al Jaber, COP28 President, speaks at the United Nations climate change conference COP29 opening in Baku, Azerbaijan November 11, 2024. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov/File Photo
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Abu Dhabi's XRG Targets Gas, LNG Capacity of 20-25 Million Tons a Year by 2035

Sultan Al Jaber, COP28 President, speaks at the United Nations climate change conference COP29 opening in Baku, Azerbaijan November 11, 2024. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov/File Photo
Sultan Al Jaber, COP28 President, speaks at the United Nations climate change conference COP29 opening in Baku, Azerbaijan November 11, 2024. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov/File Photo

XRG, the international investment arm of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), is aiming to have a gas and LNG business with a capacity of between 20 million and 25 million metric tons a year by 2035, the company said in a statement on Tuesday.

XRG was set up last year as an investment company focused on lower-carbon energy, gas and chemicals, with assets of more than $80 billion.

On Tuesday, its board, whose members include former BP CEO Bernard Looney and Blackstone's Jon Gray, approved the capacity target and a new five-year business plan.

Board members also supported the assessment of potential gas acquisitions and LNG opportunities in North America, Reuters reported.

ADNOC's current US investments already sit under XRG, and the oil giant's Chief Executive Sultan Al Jaber said in March that XRG would make a significant investment in US natural gas in coming months.

XRG has also changed the name of its low carbon energies platform to Energy Solutions to reflect the full scope of the company's strategy, including energy demand linked to artificial intelligence and the digital economy, a company spokesperson said on Tuesday.

The board "endorsed the company's ambition to create a top three global chemicals platform," XRG said.

ADNOC had agreed in October to buy German chemicals maker Covestro for 14.7 billion euros ($16.73 billion) including debt. Jaber later said it would sit under XRG.