Saudi Arabia to Host World Economic Forum Meeting in April

'Saudi Arabia: The Course Ahead' panel in Davos on Thursday
'Saudi Arabia: The Course Ahead' panel in Davos on Thursday
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Saudi Arabia to Host World Economic Forum Meeting in April

'Saudi Arabia: The Course Ahead' panel in Davos on Thursday
'Saudi Arabia: The Course Ahead' panel in Davos on Thursday

Saudi Arabia will host a special World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting in April, Economy Minister Faisal Alibrahim said on Thursday.

The meeting, scheduled to take place from April 28-29, will focus on global collaboration, growth and energy, Alibrahim said in Davos, Switzerland, where the World Economic Forum's main annual event is currently taking place.

He spoke at “Saudi Arabia: The Course Ahead" panel.

"The (World Economic) Forum has recognized that the kingdom is becoming a stronger, more impactful leader on the global stage... and we found it as an opportune time to bring this global Tier 1 event to the kingdom, and start this new chapter together," Alibrahim later told Reuters in an interview.

"This will contribute to Riyadh becoming a more global platform," he said, adding the Saudi government had been in talks with the WEF for some time to host an event.

Hosting the WEF in Riyadh will not take away from the kingdom's flagship annual event, the Future Investment Initiative (FII), Alibrahim said.



Abu Dhabi's XRG Targets Gas, LNG Capacity of 20-25 Million Tons a Year by 2035

Sultan Al Jaber, COP28 President, speaks at the United Nations climate change conference COP29 opening in Baku, Azerbaijan November 11, 2024. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov/File Photo
Sultan Al Jaber, COP28 President, speaks at the United Nations climate change conference COP29 opening in Baku, Azerbaijan November 11, 2024. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov/File Photo
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Abu Dhabi's XRG Targets Gas, LNG Capacity of 20-25 Million Tons a Year by 2035

Sultan Al Jaber, COP28 President, speaks at the United Nations climate change conference COP29 opening in Baku, Azerbaijan November 11, 2024. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov/File Photo
Sultan Al Jaber, COP28 President, speaks at the United Nations climate change conference COP29 opening in Baku, Azerbaijan November 11, 2024. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov/File Photo

XRG, the international investment arm of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), is aiming to have a gas and LNG business with a capacity of between 20 million and 25 million metric tons a year by 2035, the company said in a statement on Tuesday.

XRG was set up last year as an investment company focused on lower-carbon energy, gas and chemicals, with assets of more than $80 billion.

On Tuesday, its board, whose members include former BP CEO Bernard Looney and Blackstone's Jon Gray, approved the capacity target and a new five-year business plan.

Board members also supported the assessment of potential gas acquisitions and LNG opportunities in North America, Reuters reported.

ADNOC's current US investments already sit under XRG, and the oil giant's Chief Executive Sultan Al Jaber said in March that XRG would make a significant investment in US natural gas in coming months.

XRG has also changed the name of its low carbon energies platform to Energy Solutions to reflect the full scope of the company's strategy, including energy demand linked to artificial intelligence and the digital economy, a company spokesperson said on Tuesday.

The board "endorsed the company's ambition to create a top three global chemicals platform," XRG said.

ADNOC had agreed in October to buy German chemicals maker Covestro for 14.7 billion euros ($16.73 billion) including debt. Jaber later said it would sit under XRG.