Saudi Arabia to Host Energy Convention in May 2024

The Saudi Energy Convention will feature over 250 international speakers and decision-makers. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The Saudi Energy Convention will feature over 250 international speakers and decision-makers. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia to Host Energy Convention in May 2024

The Saudi Energy Convention will feature over 250 international speakers and decision-makers. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The Saudi Energy Convention will feature over 250 international speakers and decision-makers. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia will be at the forefront of renewable energy, hydrogen, and water advancements as it gears to host the Saudi Energy Convention in May 2024.

The Convention will feature over 250 international speakers leading over 50 conference sessions, providing visitors with essential insights into the latest energy trends and strategies.

The event, organized by dmg events, will be held at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Centre (RICEC) as the Kingdom's first event designed to focus on energy, hydrogen, and water.

Vision 2030 aims to see the Kingdom become one of the most competitive in the world by the end of the decade, with an economy powered by renewable energy, a burgeoning private sector, and thriving small and medium enterprises.

The Kingdom's ongoing socioeconomic reforms have already enabled it to become the fastest-growing G20 economy in 2022, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), with overall economic growth reaching 8.7 percent.

The Convention will convene leaders and experts across the energy value chain to accelerate and scale the energy transition.

The event will gather the people and solutions required to build a more resilient, efficient, and eco-conscious energy landscape, covering both the conventional and renewable energy sectors.

Furthermore, the conference will address solutions needed for a more flexible, efficient energy landscape that prioritizes environmental preservation.

Specialized sub-conferences will be dedicated to each energy, water, and hydrogen theme, gathering sector leaders to deliberate on vital opportunities and challenges.

President of dmg events Christopher Hudson said the Saudi Energy Convention will be a new focal point for the global energy industry.

The new event is designed to respond to the great investment and collaboration opportunities as the Kingdom leverages its passion, ambition, and resources to provide the world with a new economic and social strength model, he added.

"We look forward to having the Saudi Energy Convention play a key role in facilitating the partnerships, innovation, and investment in energy, hydrogen, and water that can fast-track Saudi Arabia's ongoing transformation and growth," said Hudson.

The Saudi Energy Convention also includes the Saudi Water Convention and the Saudi Hydrogen Convention, providing a 360-degree view of Saudi Arabia's forward-looking energy diversification and economic development efforts.

All these events will create an integrated platform for Saudi Arabia that addresses the challenges facing the entire energy value chain and the pivotal role of hydrogen and water in the energy transition.

The three conventions will jointly showcase the latest innovative solutions accelerating the global energy transition and support Saudi Arabia's goals of seeing renewable energy meet 50 percent of its energy mix and becoming net zero for carbon emissions by 2060.

The conventions will offer direct access to financiers from key infrastructure and utilities projects within the Kingdom, alongside international investors and decision-makers, facilitating new growth opportunities and commercial partnerships.

Saudi Arabia is among the world's fastest-growing economies, with national development plans paving the way for investment opportunities worth hundreds of billions of dollars.

The Kingdom is witnessing unprecedented growth, aligned with the national strategy anticipated to draw in $90 billion in energy investments and $53 billion in water sector investments to cater to domestic demand.

Additionally, the Kingdom is eyeing investments exceeding $36 billion as part of its national hydrogen strategy, aiming to position Saudi Arabia as the world's premier hydrogen supplier.



UN Predicts World Economic Growth to Remain at 2.8% in 2025

A vegetable vendor sits beside a bonfire on his handcart on a cold winter evening in New Delhi on January 6, 2025. (Photo by Sajjad HUSSAIN / AFP)
A vegetable vendor sits beside a bonfire on his handcart on a cold winter evening in New Delhi on January 6, 2025. (Photo by Sajjad HUSSAIN / AFP)
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UN Predicts World Economic Growth to Remain at 2.8% in 2025

A vegetable vendor sits beside a bonfire on his handcart on a cold winter evening in New Delhi on January 6, 2025. (Photo by Sajjad HUSSAIN / AFP)
A vegetable vendor sits beside a bonfire on his handcart on a cold winter evening in New Delhi on January 6, 2025. (Photo by Sajjad HUSSAIN / AFP)

Global economic growth is projected to remain at 2.8% in 2025, unchanged from 2024, held back by the top two economies, the US and China, according to a United Nations report released on Thursday.

The World Economic Situation and Prospects report said that "positive but somewhat slower growth forecasts for China and the United States" will be complemented by modest recoveries in the European Union, Japan, and Britain and robust performance in some large developing economies, notably India and Indonesia.

"Despite continued expansion, the global economy is projected to grow at a slower pace than the 2010–2019 (pre-pandemic) average of 3.2%," according to the report by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs.

"This subdued performance reflects ongoing structural challenges such as weak investment, slow productivity growth, high debt levels, and demographic pressures," Reuters quoted it as saying.

The report said US growth was expected to moderate from 2.8% last year to 1.9% in 2025 as the labor market softens and consumer spending slows.

It said growth in China was estimated at 4.9% for 2024 and projected to be 4.8% this year with public sector investments and a strong export performance partly offset by subdued consumption growth and lingering property sector weakness.
Europe was expected to recover modestly with growth increasing from 0.9% in 2024 to 1.3% in 2025, "supported by easing inflation and resilient labor markets," the report said.

South Asia is expected to remain the world’s fastest-growing region, with regional GDP projected to expand by 5.7% in 2025 and 6% in 2026, supported by a strong performance by India and economic recoveries in Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, the report said.

India, the largest economy in South Asia, is forecast to grow by 6.6% in 2025 and 6.8% in 2026, driven by robust private consumption and investment.
The report said major central banks are likely to further reduce interest rates in 2025 as inflationary pressures ease. Global inflation is projected to decline from 4% in 2024 to 3.4% in 2025, offering some relief to households and businesses.
It calls for bold multilateral action to tackle interconnected crises, including debt, inequality, and climate change.
"Monetary easing alone will not be sufficient to reinvigorate global growth or address widening disparities," the report added.