Saudi PIF to Set Up Sawani Camel Dairy Company

Sawani contributes to the development of the local production system to reach sustainability (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Sawani contributes to the development of the local production system to reach sustainability (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi PIF to Set Up Sawani Camel Dairy Company

Sawani contributes to the development of the local production system to reach sustainability (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Sawani contributes to the development of the local production system to reach sustainability (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Public Investment Fund (PIF) has set up the Sawani Company to enable the growth of the Saudi camel farming industry and actively contribute to its sustainable development.

Sawani aims to be a leading producer of camel dairy products, supporting Saudi Arabia's wider Food and Agriculture sector and helping to diversify the Saudi economy, in line with Vision 2030.

The company will work in partnership with the private sector to boost the production capacity of the camel dairy industry and seek to elevate the standards of the domestic production ecosystem by modernizing operations, improving the localization of knowledge, and investing in the sector's latest technologies.

PIF has invested strategically in the Food and Agriculture sector to help diversify the Saudi economy and support its unique produce industries.

Among these investments are its creation of the Saudi Coffee Company, which promotes Saudi Khulani coffee beans, and the Halal Products Development Company, which invests in the halal products sector.

Since 2017, PIF has established 84 companies in 13 strategic sectors.

Sawani will place sustainability at the center of all production, distribution, and marketing stages and raise awareness of camel dairy products' health benefits among consumers.

It will also showcase the unique history and cultural heritage of camel husbandry within Saudi Arabia.

Camel milk is commonly known for its nutritional benefits, including high amounts of minerals and vitamins such as A, B, E, and C.

It is also rich in calcium, protein, and antioxidants, considered low in cholesterol, and is easy to digest.

The Head of PIF's Consumer Goods and Retail in the Mena Investments Division, Majed al-Assaf, said Saudi Arabia has extensive experience and knowledge of the camel dairy industry and enormous potential to expand its operational capabilities and the broader ecosystem.

Assaf noted that these factors are a competitive advantage across the entire supply chain, which, alongside investment, "will enable significant growth of the industry, and eventually lead to the export of camel dairy products, which have many nutritional benefits, to regional and global markets."

The establishment of Sawani will support the growth of the Food and Agriculture sector and contribute to sustainable economic and social development, in line with Vision 2030.

A key part of the company's strategy is to increase awareness and knowledge of the industry to preserve it and drive sustainable growth by introducing the best scientific practices in modern manufacturing technologies locally.



Oil Slips as Iran-Israel Conflict Enters Sixth Day

FILE PHOTO: A view shows an oil pump jack outside Almetyevsk in the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia, June 4, 2023. REUTERS/Alexander Manzyuk/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A view shows an oil pump jack outside Almetyevsk in the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia, June 4, 2023. REUTERS/Alexander Manzyuk/File Photo
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Oil Slips as Iran-Israel Conflict Enters Sixth Day

FILE PHOTO: A view shows an oil pump jack outside Almetyevsk in the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia, June 4, 2023. REUTERS/Alexander Manzyuk/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A view shows an oil pump jack outside Almetyevsk in the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia, June 4, 2023. REUTERS/Alexander Manzyuk/File Photo

Oil prices fell on Wednesday, after a gain of 4% in the previous session, as markets weighed up the chance of supply disruptions from the Iran-Israel conflict and as they ponder a direct US involvement.

Brent crude futures fell 93 cents, or 1.2%, to $75.52 a barrel by 0918 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate crude futures fell 88 cents, also 1.2%, to $73.96 per barrel.

US President Trump warned on social media on Tuesday that US patience was wearing thin, and called for an "unconditional surrender" from Iran.

While he said there was no intention to kill Iran's leader Ali Khamenei "for now," his comments suggested a tougher stance toward Iran as he weighs whether to deepen US involvement.

A source familiar with internal discussions said one of the options Trump and his team are considering included joining Israel on strikes against Iranian nuclear sites.

A direct US involvement threatens to widen the confrontation further, putting energy infrastructure in the region at higher risk of attack, analysts say.

"The biggest fear for the oil market is the shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz," ING analysts said in a note.

"Almost a third of global seaborne oil trade moves through this chokepoint. A significant disruption to these flows would be enough to push prices to $120 [a barrel]," the bank added.

Iran is OPEC's third-largest producer, extracting about 3.3 million barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil.

Meanwhile, Iranian ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva Ali Bahreini said on Wednesday that Tehran has conveyed to Washington that it will respond firmly to the United States if it becomes directly involved in Israel's military campaign.

Markets are also looking ahead to a second day of US Federal Reserve discussions on Wednesday, in which the central bank is expected to leave its benchmark overnight interest rate in the range of 4.25% to 4.50%.

However, the conflict in the Middle East and the risk of slowing global growth could potentially push the Fed to cut rates by 25 basis points in July, sooner than the market's current expectation of September, said Tony Sycamore, market analyst with IG.

Lower interest rates generally boost economic growth and demand for oil.

Confounding the decision for the Fed, however, is the Middle East conflict's potential creation of a new source of inflation via surging oil prices.

US crude stocks fell by 10.1 million barrels in the week ended June 13, market sources told Reuters, citing American Petroleum Institute figures on Tuesday. Official Energy Information Administration data is due later on Wednesday.