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Saudi Arabia's SWCC and Brazil’s WEG to Collaborate in Electrical Engineering, Energy, and Automation

Saudi Minister of Investment Eng. Khalid Al-Falih meets with a Brazilian ministers in São Paulo, Brazil. Asharq Al-Awsat
Saudi Minister of Investment Eng. Khalid Al-Falih meets with a Brazilian ministers in São Paulo, Brazil. Asharq Al-Awsat
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Saudi Arabia's SWCC and Brazil’s WEG to Collaborate in Electrical Engineering, Energy, and Automation

Saudi Minister of Investment Eng. Khalid Al-Falih meets with a Brazilian ministers in São Paulo, Brazil. Asharq Al-Awsat
Saudi Minister of Investment Eng. Khalid Al-Falih meets with a Brazilian ministers in São Paulo, Brazil. Asharq Al-Awsat

Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Brazilian company WEG, which is specialized in electrical engineering, energy, and automation.

The MoU aims to strengthen strategic cooperation and promote collaboration between the two entities by actively exchanging expertise, studies, research, innovations, and engineering applications in water desalination and its technologies.

The MoU provides opportunities for localization and content enrichment in electrical engineering.
It also focuses on developing and enhancing the efficiency of various electrical systems, such as motors and variable frequency devices.

Moreover, it targets improving the performance of standard low-voltage motors and innovating high-efficiency electrical systems to reduce energy consumption, aligning with the latest models to promote sustainable energy efficiency.

The MoU was signed during the Brazilian-Saudi Investment Forum that was organized by the Saudi Ministry of Investment and witnessed the presence of the Brazilian Vice President and Minister of Development, Industry, Trade, and Services, Geraldo Alckmin, alongside Saudi Minister of Investment Eng. Khalid Al-Falih.

The Forum saw the presence of various prominent figures and the active participation of several government officials, CEOs of major companies, and representatives from the private sectors of both countries.

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Fitch Revises Italy's Outlook to 'Positive' on Stronger Fiscal Performance

Porta Nuova's financial district is seen in downtown Milan, Italy, May 16, 2018. REUTERS/Stefano Rellandini/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights
Porta Nuova's financial district is seen in downtown Milan, Italy, May 16, 2018. REUTERS/Stefano Rellandini/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights
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Fitch Revises Italy's Outlook to 'Positive' on Stronger Fiscal Performance

Porta Nuova's financial district is seen in downtown Milan, Italy, May 16, 2018. REUTERS/Stefano Rellandini/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights
Porta Nuova's financial district is seen in downtown Milan, Italy, May 16, 2018. REUTERS/Stefano Rellandini/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights

Global credit ratings agency Fitch on Friday revised its outlook on Italy to 'positive' from 'stable', citing recent improvements in the fiscal performance of the euro zone's third largest economy and its commitment to EU budget regulations.
The upgrade to the outlook is a boost to Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's government and comes shortly after Rome reached an agreement with the European Commission on a seven-year budget adjustment, said Reuters.
"Italy's fiscal credibility has increased, and the 2025 budget underscores the government's commitment to EU fiscal rules," Fitch said in a statement.
The agency confirmed Italy's rating at 'BBB'.
In June, the Commission placed Italy and six other countries under a disciplinary procedure due to high budget deficits. Italy's 2023 shortfall came in at 7.2% of gross domestic product, the highest in the 20-nation euro zone.
However, last month the Italian government revised down its targets for the deficit this year and next, to 3.8% and 3.3% of GDP respectively, and said the deficit would fall below the EU’s 3% limit in 2026.
"The judgments of the ratings agencies are the result of the responsible actions of this government and they underscore Italy's credibility," Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti said in a statement after Fitch's announcement.
Earlier on Friday, S&P Global confirmed its rating on Italy at 'BBB' and left the outlook at 'stable'.
RISING DEBT
Despite the narrowing annual budget deficits, Italy's debt, proportionally the second highest in the euro zone, is forecast by the government to climb from 134.8% of gross domestic product last year to 137.8% in 2026, before gradually declining.
The Treasury says the projected increase is due to costly home renovation incentives adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic, known as the Superbonus scheme.
The premium investors pay to hold Italian government bonds over top-rated German ones narrowed on Friday to around 116 basis points, the lowest level since end-2021.
Analysts said earlier this week that positive news from any of the ratings agencies due to review Italy could trigger a further narrowing of the yield spread against Germany.
Fitch said its revision to Italy's outlook was also driven by "signs of stronger potential growth and a more stable political context."
The Italian economy expanded by 0.7% in 2023, and most analysts expect a similar modest growth rate this year, slightly below the government's official 1% target.
Meloni, who took office two years ago, retains high approval ratings and opinion polls show her right-wing Brothers of Italy party is comfortably the largest in Italy, with popular support of almost 30%, up from the 26% it won at the 2022 election.
Italy faces further credit rating reviews by Moody's, DBRS and Scope Ratings over the next few weeks up to No. 29.