Brazilian-Saudi Investment Forum Witnesses Signing of 25 MoUs in Various Fields

The forum included presentations on Invest Saudi, a program that aims to promote investment opportunities in Saudi Arabia to the world. (SPA)
The forum included presentations on Invest Saudi, a program that aims to promote investment opportunities in Saudi Arabia to the world. (SPA)
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Brazilian-Saudi Investment Forum Witnesses Signing of 25 MoUs in Various Fields

The forum included presentations on Invest Saudi, a program that aims to promote investment opportunities in Saudi Arabia to the world. (SPA)
The forum included presentations on Invest Saudi, a program that aims to promote investment opportunities in Saudi Arabia to the world. (SPA)

The Saudi Ministry of Investment organized on Monday in Sao Paulo the Brazilian-Saudi Investment Forum, which saw the signing of many memoranda of understanding (MoUs) in various fields, SPA said.
The 25 MoUs covered the fields of petrochemicals, healthcare, defense, food, real estate, tourism, water desalination and treatment, and agriculture.
Attending the Forum were Brazil’s Vice President and Minister of Development, Industry, Trade, and Services Geraldo Alckmin; Saudi Minister of Investment Eng. Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al-Falih; Mayor of Sao Paulo Ricardo Nunes; Saudi Ambassador to Brazil Faisal bin Ibrahim Ghulam; President of the Federation of Industries of the State of Sao Paulo Josue Gomes; and a number of government officials, CEOs of major companies as well as representatives of the private sector from both countries.
The Forum constituted a significant opportunity for Saudi and Brazilian companies to exchange expertise, explore collaboration and partnership prospects and discover the investment opportunities available in the two countries.
The Forum also saw presentations about the “INVEST SAUDI” initiative, investment in the Kingdom’s economic zones, Riyadh Expo 2030, investment opportunities in Brazil and the investment environment in Sao Paulo.
Additionally, dialogue sessions were held during the Forum, covering the sectors of transportation, logistics services, mining, food industries, agriculture, healthcare, sports, and entertainment.



Oil Prices Held Down by Trump Tariff Uncertainty

FILE - Pump jacks extract oil from beneath the ground in North Dakota, May 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown)
FILE - Pump jacks extract oil from beneath the ground in North Dakota, May 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown)
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Oil Prices Held Down by Trump Tariff Uncertainty

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

Oil prices were little changed on Thursday, maintaining almost all of the previous session's losses on uncertainty over how US President Donald Trump's proposed tariffs and energy policies would affect global economic growth and energy demand.

Brent crude futures were up 18 cents at $79.18 a barrel by 1315 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate crude (WTI) rose 14 cents to $75.58.

"Oil markets have given back some recent gains due to mixed drivers," said Priyanka Sachdeva, senior market analyst at brokerage Phillip Nova.

"Key factors include expectations of increased US production under President Trump's pro-drilling policies and easing geopolitical stress in Gaza, lifting fears of further escalation in supply disruption from key producing regions."

The broader economic implications of US tariffs could further dampen global oil demand growth, she added, Reuters reported.

Trump has said he would add new tariffs to his sanctions threat against Russia if the country does not make a deal to end its war in Ukraine.

He also vowed to hit the European Union with tariffs and impose 25% tariffs against Canada and Mexico. On China, Trump said his administration was discussing a 10% punitive duty because fentanyl is being sent from there to the United States.

On Monday he declared a national energy emergency intended to provide him with the authority to reduce environmental restrictions on energy infrastructure and projects and ease permitting for new transmission and pipeline infrastructure.

There will be "more potential downward choppy movement in the oil market in the near term due to the Trump administration's lack of clarity on trade tariffs policy and impending higher oil supplies from the US", OANDA senior market analyst Kelvin Wong said in an email.

On the US oil inventory front, crude stocks rose by 958,000 barrels in the week ended Jan. 17, according to sources citing American Petroleum Institute figures on Wednesday.

Gasoline inventories rose by 3.23 million barrels and distillate stocks climbed by 1.88 million barrels, they said.