Suez Canal Economic Zone Attracts 127 Projects Worth $2.8 Billion in 9 Months

Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly meets with head of the Suez Canal Economic Zone Walid Gamal El-Din. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly meets with head of the Suez Canal Economic Zone Walid Gamal El-Din. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Suez Canal Economic Zone Attracts 127 Projects Worth $2.8 Billion in 9 Months

Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly meets with head of the Suez Canal Economic Zone Walid Gamal El-Din. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly meets with head of the Suez Canal Economic Zone Walid Gamal El-Din. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Chairman of the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZONE) Walid Gamal El-Din said that 127 projects worth around $2.8 billion were secured during the period between July 1, 2023 and March 21, 2024.

He added that 61 projects received final approvals, with a foreign investment rate of 49 percent, while 66 projects have been granted initial approval during the same period, with foreign investments accounting for 39% of the total.

The completion of these projects is expected to generate over 22,000 direct and indirect job opportunities, Gamal El-Din underlined, noting that from January 2024 to the present, 37 diverse projects have been contracted at an investment cost of $894 million.

The chairman unveiled these figures in a statement following a meeting with Egypt’s Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly.



Saudi PIF Invests $200 Million in ETF Bond Fund

The fund is the first of its kind in Saudi Arabia to focus on fixed-income exchange-traded funds (ETFs). (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The fund is the first of its kind in Saudi Arabia to focus on fixed-income exchange-traded funds (ETFs). (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi PIF Invests $200 Million in ETF Bond Fund

The fund is the first of its kind in Saudi Arabia to focus on fixed-income exchange-traded funds (ETFs). (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The fund is the first of its kind in Saudi Arabia to focus on fixed-income exchange-traded funds (ETFs). (Asharq Al-Awsat)

State Street Global Advisors, a subsidiary of State Street Corporation, announced that Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) has invested SAR 750 million ($200 million) in the newly launched SPDR J.P. Morgan Saudi Aggregate Bond ETF.

According to a statement released by the company on Wednesday, this fund is the first of its kind in Saudi Arabia to focus on fixed-income exchange-traded funds (ETFs). It is listed in both the London Stock Exchange and Germany’s Xetra, offering investors the opportunity to track government and quasi-government bonds denominated in either the Saudi Riyal or the US Dollar, including sukuk (Islamic bonds).

This investment aligns with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, representing a significant step toward enhancing the international presence of Saudi Arabia’s financial markets and attracting foreign investments. The fund is available to investors across several European countries, including Austria, Denmark, France, Germany, and Italy.

Commenting on the investment, Yazid Al-Humaid, Deputy Governor and Head of MENA Investments at PIF, said: “The fund continues to create opportunities and enable access to diverse capital markets in the Kingdom. Investing in the first internationally listed Saudi fixed-income ETF underscores PIF’s commitment to deepening Saudi capital markets, attracting investors, and fostering partnerships across global financial centers.”

CEO of State Street Global Advisors Yi-Hsin Hung emphasized that the launch of the fund is a significant milestone in providing innovative opportunities for investors while contributing to Saudi Arabia’s economic growth.