Govt Support Ensures Growth of Industrial SMEs in Saudi Arabia

Small industrial establishments account for the largest percentage of factories in Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
Small industrial establishments account for the largest percentage of factories in Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
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Govt Support Ensures Growth of Industrial SMEs in Saudi Arabia

Small industrial establishments account for the largest percentage of factories in Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
Small industrial establishments account for the largest percentage of factories in Saudi Arabia. (SPA)

The Saudi government provides a wide range of services and support to enable entrepreneurs and owners of small and medium industrial enterprises to transform their ideas into successful projects, which contributes to raising the sector’s production and achieving the targets of the National Strategy for Industry.

The strategy aims to realize an industrial economy that attracts investments, contributes to economic diversification and develops domestic product and non-oil exports, in line with the goals of Vision 2030.

A recent report revealed that the number of industrial SMEs grew by 7.65 percent, while the size of the sector in manufacturing activity increased by 3.8 percent, by the end of September.

The report, released by the official website of Saudi Vision 2030, showed that the number of existing small and medium industrial establishments in the Kingdom in September reached about 11,110, while about 136 new industrial licenses were issued during the same month.

The Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources issued 130 new industrial licenses in November, with small establishments obtaining 93.08 percent of licenses and medium enterprises 6.15 percent.

The Saudi government established the General Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises (Monshaat) in 2016 to organize, support and develop the sector in accordance with international best practices, in addition to enhancing the Kingdom’s entrepreneurship and competitive environment.

The Authority recently said the number of SMEs in Saudi Arabia increased by 3.5 percent in the third quarter of 2023, compared to the second quarter of the same year, to reach 1.27 million.



Oil Prices Steady as Markets Weigh Demand against US Inventories

FILE - Pump jacks extract oil from beneath the ground in North Dakota, May 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown, File)
FILE - Pump jacks extract oil from beneath the ground in North Dakota, May 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown, File)
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Oil Prices Steady as Markets Weigh Demand against US Inventories

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

Oil prices were little changed on Thursday as investors weighed firm winter fuel demand expectations against large US fuel inventories and macroeconomic concerns.

Brent crude futures were down 3 cents at $76.13 a barrel by 1003 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate crude futures dipped 10 cents to $73.22.

Both benchmarks fell more than 1% on Wednesday as a stronger dollar and a bigger than expected rise in US fuel stockpiles pressured prices.

"The oil market is still grappling with opposite forces - seasonal demand to support the bulls and macro data that supports a stronger US dollar in the medium term ... that can put a ceiling to prevent the bulls from advancing further," said OANDA senior market analyst Kelvin Wong.

JPMorgan analysts expect oil demand for January to expand by 1.4 million barrels per day (bpd) year on year to 101.4 million bpd, primarily driven by increased use of heating fuels in the Northern Hemisphere.

"Global oil demand is expected to remain strong throughout January, fuelled by colder than normal winter conditions that are boosting heating fuel consumption, as well as an earlier onset of travel activities in China for the Lunar New Year holidays," the analysts said.

The market structure in Brent futures is also indicating that traders are becoming more concerned about supply tightening at the same time demand is increasing.

The premium of the front-month Brent contract over the six-month contract reached its widest since August on Wednesday. A widening of this backwardation, when futures for prompt delivery are higher than for later delivery, typically indicates that supply is declining or demand is increasing.

Nevertheless, official Energy Information Administration (EIA) data showed rising gasoline and distillates stockpiles in the United States last week.

The dollar strengthened further on Thursday, underpinned by rising Treasury yields ahead of US President-elect Donald Trump's entrance into the White House on Jan. 20.

Looking ahead, WTI crude oil is expected to oscillate within a range of $67.55 to $77.95 into February as the market awaits more clarity on Trump's administration policies and fresh fiscal stimulus measures out of China, OANDA's Wong said.