عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Business

UK Second Largest Foreign Investor in Saudi Arabia

Photo by SPA
Photo by SPA
TT
TT

UK Second Largest Foreign Investor in Saudi Arabia

Photo by SPA
Photo by SPA

Saudi Minister of Investment Eng. Khalid Al-Falih highlighted the deep-rooted Saudi-British relations, saying the UK is the second largest foreign investor in the Kingdom with approximately $16 billion in investment shares.

This came during a panel session held on Tuesday as part of the Great Futures Initiative Conference at the King Abdullah Financial District. The event was held with United Kingdom (UK) Minister for Business and Trade Lord Dominic Johnson.
“The investment sector relies heavily on banks and economic ventures in the financial field," Al-Falih said, indicating that the Kingdom has the fastest growing economy over the past six years.
For his part, the British minister hailed the Kingdom's achievements in expanding joint economic ventures, noting that economic cooperation between the two countries will continue for many decades to come.
He also explained that economic cooperation between the two kingdoms demonstrates the depth of relations and cooperation, as the UK is keen to participate in Saudi Arabia's development.
The UK minister also commended the remarkable development in the Kingdom and the ease of access to investment in the Saudi market, citing the exceptional opportunities for British investors in Saudi Arabia.

Most Viewed

 
 
Business

Washington Urges Israel to Extend Cooperation with Palestinian Banks

A West Bank Jewish settlement is seen in the background, while a protestor waves a Palestinian flag during a protest against Israel's separation barrier in the West Bank village of Bilin in 2012. (AP)
A West Bank Jewish settlement is seen in the background, while a protestor waves a Palestinian flag during a protest against Israel's separation barrier in the West Bank village of Bilin in 2012. (AP)
TT
TT

Washington Urges Israel to Extend Cooperation with Palestinian Banks

A West Bank Jewish settlement is seen in the background, while a protestor waves a Palestinian flag during a protest against Israel's separation barrier in the West Bank village of Bilin in 2012. (AP)
A West Bank Jewish settlement is seen in the background, while a protestor waves a Palestinian flag during a protest against Israel's separation barrier in the West Bank village of Bilin in 2012. (AP)

The United States on Thursday called on Israel to extend its cooperation with Palestinian banks for another year, to avoid blocking vital transactions in the occupied West Bank.

"I am glad that Israel has allowed its banks to continue cooperating with Palestinian banks, but I remain convinced that a one-year extension of the waiver to facilitate this cooperation is needed," US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said Thursday, on the sidelines of a meeting of G20 finance ministers in Rio de Janeiro.

In May, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich threatened to cut off a vital banking channel between Israel and the West Bank in response to three European countries recognizing the State of Palestine.

On June 30, however, Smotrich extended a waiver that allows cooperation between Israel's banking system and Palestinian banks in the occupied West Bank for four months, according to Israeli media, according to AFP.

The Times of Israel newspaper reported that the decision on the waiver was made at a cabinet meeting in a "move that saw Israel legalize several West Bank settlement outposts."

The waiver was due to expire at the end of June, and the extension permitted Israeli banks to process payments for salaries and services to the Palestinian Authority in shekels, averting a blow to a Palestinian economy already devastated by the war in Gaza.

The Israeli threat raised serious concerns in the United States, which said at the time it feared "a humanitarian crisis" if banking ties were cut.

According to Washington, these banking channels are key to nearly $8 billion of imports from Israel to the West Bank, including electricity, water, fuel and food.