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Experts: Saudi PIF’s Alat to Explore New Opportunities in Modern Sectors

Alat specializes in manufacturing products within seven strategic business units, including Advanced Industries (SPA).
Alat specializes in manufacturing products within seven strategic business units, including Advanced Industries (SPA).
TT
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Experts: Saudi PIF’s Alat to Explore New Opportunities in Modern Sectors

Alat specializes in manufacturing products within seven strategic business units, including Advanced Industries (SPA).
Alat specializes in manufacturing products within seven strategic business units, including Advanced Industries (SPA).

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman announced on Thursday the launch of Alat - a Public Investment Fund company – with the aim to transform Saudi Arabia into a global hub for sustainable technology manufacturing that focuses on advanced technologies and electronics.
In this regard, experts told Asharq Al-Awsat that the new entity would explore new opportunities in modern sectors, in addition to supporting national companies and enabling them to launch investments in advanced technologies and industries.
Professor of Economics at the University of Jeddah, Dr. Salem Bajaja, stressed that Saudi Arabia would become a pioneer in the manufacture of electronics, by providing sustainable industrial solutions that rely on clean energy sources and meet the future needs of the sector.
Bajaja added that the Alat Company would be able to create more job opportunities in the local market, which would reduce the unemployment rate, pointing that the Kingdom enjoyed all the success ingredients to develop the advanced technologies and electronics sector.
He also emphasized that Alat would in turn explore untapped opportunities in this promising field to reach its desired goals.
Alat will work on manufacturing products that serve local and international markets within seven key strategic business units: advanced industries, semiconductors, smart appliances, smart health, smart devices, smart buildings, and next generation infrastructure.
The company, chaired by the crown prince, aims to enhance the capabilities of the Saudi technology sector, increase its contribution to local content, and raise the country’s attractiveness and its ability to create investment opportunities.
According to Bajaja, the launching of the new company keeps pace with the global evolution of Information Technology, which would contribute to transforming Saudi Arabia into a leader in electronics and open new horizons for the private sector and increase its contribution to the country’s GDP.
For his part, Economic Expert Ahmed al-Jubeir said: “It is important to rely on clean energy in the work of the new company, which focuses on modern industries, with the aim to meet the Kingdom’s directions in the next stage in creating promising investment opportunities.”
Al-Jubeir noted that Alat will have a positive impact on the national economy and will stimulate the private sector to invest in new industries and forge partnerships with the PIF.
Moreover, the new products that will be manufactured through Alat will raise the competition levels and will reflect on the prices in the local market, he said, noting that the new company will also help generate new job opportunities and develop human capabilities in these fields.
Alat will focus on manufacturing in more than 30 categories that serve vital sectors, mainly robotic systems, communication, advanced computers, digital entertainment products, and advanced heavy equipment used in construction, building and mining.
The new company aims to create 39,000 direct jobs in Saudi Arabia by 2030, and achieve a direct non-oil GDP contribution of $9.3 billion by the same year.

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Dollar Steadies ahead of Trump Inauguration

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
TT
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Dollar Steadies ahead of Trump Inauguration

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 US dollar steadied on Thursday despite the sharp fall in US bond yields after Wednesday’s inflation data as market focus shifted to Donald Trump’s presidential inauguration next week and possible inflationary impact of his policies.

Meanwhile the yen rose against the dollar and the euro as investors expected the Bank of Japan to hike rates next week.

The US dollar index - a measure of the value of the greenback relative to a basket of foreign currencies - was up 0.1% at 109.12.

"Markets are cautious before the inauguration because there is still policy uncertainty," said Paul Mackel, global head of foreign exchange research at HSBC.

"If the risk of US tariffs begins to materialize, the dollar will get another lift," he added, Reuters reported.

The highlight of the day should be the nomination hearing of Trump's choice of Scott Bessent to head the Treasury Department.

Bessent, who will face questioning before the US Senate Finance Committee, is expected to keep a leash on US deficits and to use tariffs as a negotiating tool, mitigating the expected inflationary impact of economic policies expected from the Trump administration.

The US inflation curve "has a well-identifiable 40 bps 'hump' over the next 12 months, which is near-identical to the estimated impact of a 5% universal and 20% China tariff starting as soon as Trump gets in office," said George Saravelos, head of forex research at Deutsche Bank.

"The market is pricing quick but moderate tariffs," he added. "We see risks of slower but bigger tariffs."

Traders who have been growing more worried about inflation responded with relief to Wednesday's US data, buying stocks and sending benchmark 10-year Treasury yields down more than 13 basis points. The currency reaction was more muted.

Analysts flagged that the US consumer price data was better than expected, but still showing inflation above Federal Reserve targets. The figures provided the US bond market with an excuse to do some downside testing for yields, but such a move is unlikely to go far.

"We still think that it will be easy for the Fed to remain on hold for now and wait for more data and fiscal policy clarity," said Allison Boxer, an economist at PIMCO, adding that US data did not change their forecasts for core inflation.

"We expect this to be the message (Fed) Chair (Jerome) Powell aims to communicate at the January meeting."

There was little direct reaction in foreign exchange markets to the ceasefire deal in Gaza, though the Israeli shekel did touch a one-month high on Wednesday.

The yen rose 0.46% against the dollar, after hitting 155.21, its lowest level since Dec. 19. It was up 0.51% against the euro at 160.19.

Recent remarks from Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda and his deputy Ryozo Himino have made clear that a hike will at least be discussed at next week's policy meeting and markets see about a 79% chance of a 25 basis point increase, while pricing 50 bps of rate hikes by year-end.

"Yen strengthened on expectations for a rate hike, but now the focus is on what BOJ officials will say about the monetary policy outlook," HSBC's Mackel argued.

"They could signal a more gradual path for the future, which could limit yen gains."

Japan's annual wholesale inflation held steady at 3.8% in December on stubbornly high food costs, data showed on Thursday.

"Expectations of a BOJ hike and perhaps fears of more forex intervention in the 158/160 area have helped the yen outperform," said Chris Turner, head of forex strategy at ING.

"We expect that to continue into next week's BOJ meeting. However, dips may exhaust in the 153/155 area," he said.

The euro was up 0.05% at $1.0294.

Sterling dropped sharply against the yen and also weakened versus the dollar and the euro on Thursday as investors focused on monetary policy divergence after last week's selloff in gilts and the pound.

China's yuan, seen on the front lines of tariff risk, was pinned near the weak end of its trading band at 7.3468 throughout the Asia session.