Riyadh Welcomes Global Investors with Open Arms

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Riyadh Welcomes Global Investors with Open Arms

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Saudi Arabia’s ministries of investment and of foreign affairs have launched the second phase of issuing a “Visiting Investor” business visit e-visa, to include the rest of world countries.

This service is offered to foreign investors as part of the Kingdom’s efforts to boost investment, consistent with the Saudi national transformation plan, “Vision 2030.”

In this move, the state intends to open its doors to attract foreign capital.

The Foreign Ministry, in cooperation with the Investment Ministry, had announced the launch of the first phase of the visa for investors from several European, Asian, North American, and Oceanic countries back in June.

Experts have highlighted the significance of this new step in facilitating the entry of foreign investors into the Kingdom’s local market, enabling them to attend all local events and explore opportunities in major projects.

Experts believe that the launch of the second phase of the business visitor visa issuance service opens opportunities for national companies to build alliances, seize business expansion opportunities, and create new high-quality jobs that contribute to reducing unemployment rates.

According to Mohammad Mazfer, a member of the National Commercial Committee at the Saudi Chambers of Commerce, with the launch of the second phase of the business visitor visa issuance service to include all countries worldwide, investors can now easily engage in local projects and attend major events in the Kingdom.

Moreover, Mazfer said the expansion and launch of the second phase confirm the government’s commitment to attracting foreign capital.

Mazfer emphasized that simplifying travel procedures for business people to enter Saudi Arabia opens up opportunities for investors to capitalize on the market, expand their businesses, positively impacting non-oil revenues in the national GDP, which has seen significant growth in recent times.

He noted that the Investment Ministry, in collaboration with the Foreign Ministry, has taken unprecedented steps to streamline procedures for foreign investors to access the local market, discover significant opportunities, and establish partnerships with domestic companies while expanding the activities of all parties involved.

 

 



Dollar Drifts as World Braces for Trump's Reciprocal Tariffs

A teller sorts US dollar banknotes inside the cashier's booth at a forex exchange bureau in downtown Nairobi, Kenya February 16, 2024. REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya/File photo
A teller sorts US dollar banknotes inside the cashier's booth at a forex exchange bureau in downtown Nairobi, Kenya February 16, 2024. REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya/File photo
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20

Dollar Drifts as World Braces for Trump's Reciprocal Tariffs

A teller sorts US dollar banknotes inside the cashier's booth at a forex exchange bureau in downtown Nairobi, Kenya February 16, 2024. REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya/File photo
A teller sorts US dollar banknotes inside the cashier's booth at a forex exchange bureau in downtown Nairobi, Kenya February 16, 2024. REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya/File photo

The dollar wobbled on Tuesday after a bruising quarter as weary investors braced for reciprocal tariffs from US President Donald Trump this week, a move that is likely to exacerbate the global trade war that has evoked US recession worries.

Investors' focus has been firmly on the new round of reciprocal levies that the White House is due to announce on Wednesday, with details scarce. Trump said late on Sunday that essentially all countries will be slapped with duties this week.

That has left currency markets subdued as traders stayed on the sidelines awaiting clarity on Trump's trade policies. Trump has already imposed tariffs on aluminium, steel and autos, along with increased tariffs on all goods from China.

"The second quarter may bring with it as much uncertainty and volatility for investors as the first quarter of the year," said Anthony Saglimbene, chief market strategist at Ameriprise Financial, Rueters reported.

"To date, there has been very little clarity on what and who these tariffs will target out of the gate. Market volatility could escalate depending on what and who is targeted."

The euro was 0.11% lower at $1.0805 after gaining 4.5% in the first quarter of the year, its strongest quarterly performance since October-December in 2022, thanks mainly to Germany's fiscal overhaul, although some investors are sceptical of the bull run lasting longer.

The Japanese yen was a shade stronger at 149.815 per dollar on Tuesday. The yen rose nearly 5% against the dollar in the January-March period on growing bets that the Bank of Japan would hike interest rates again.

Data on Tuesday showed business sentiment among big Japanese manufacturers worsened in the three months to March, a sign escalating trade tensions were already taking a toll on the export-reliant economy and complicating the BOJ's next move.

Beyond tariffs, a string of economic reports, including jobs and payrolls data, could shed much-needed light on how the US economy is holding up under a second Trump presidency.

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell and other central bank officials' speeches this week also could offer clues on the path for US interest rates.

The Reserve Bank of Australia on Tuesday held interest rates steady at 4.1% and said it was still cautious about the outlook, though it dropped an explicit reference to being cautious about cutting rates again.

The Aussie was mostly steady, up 0.1% at $0.6256 in a muted response to the policy decision. The currency had touched a four-week low of $0.6219 on Monday, though it eked out a 1% gain in the first quarter.

"The RBA's statement suggests they're inching towards their next cut, but in no rush to signal one ahead of the election or the quarterly inflation figures," said Matt Simpson, senior market analyst at City Index. Australia will hold a general election on May 3.

The RBA delivered its first rate cut in over four years in February but has since adopted a cautious tone on further easing, with Governor Michele Bullock and other top policymakers downplaying the likelihood of multiple cuts.

The dollar index, which measures the US currency against six rivals, was flat at 104.23. Sterling last fetched $1.2916, while the New Zealand dollar was at $0.56755.