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‘GREAT FUTURES’ Initiative Launches from Riyadh, Forging Saudi-UK Investment Path

Saudi Arabia’s Commerce Minister Majid Al-Qasabi at the GREAT FUTURES Initiative Conference in Riyadh (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Arabia’s Commerce Minister Majid Al-Qasabi at the GREAT FUTURES Initiative Conference in Riyadh (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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‘GREAT FUTURES’ Initiative Launches from Riyadh, Forging Saudi-UK Investment Path

Saudi Arabia’s Commerce Minister Majid Al-Qasabi at the GREAT FUTURES Initiative Conference in Riyadh (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Arabia’s Commerce Minister Majid Al-Qasabi at the GREAT FUTURES Initiative Conference in Riyadh (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia and the UK have launched the GREAT FUTURES Initiative to boost investments between the two nations. The initiative aims to explore opportunities in 13 sectors through 60 projects, strengthening economic ties.

The GREAT FUTURES Initiative Conference began in Riyadh and is being organized by the Saudi-UK Strategic Partnership Council, led by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

The event is being attended by over 800 participants from both Kingdoms’ public and private sectors.

Saudi Arabia’s Commerce Minister Majid Al-Qasabi emphasized that the conference embodies the vision of the Saudi-UK Strategic Partnership Council which is dedicated to expanding the economic alliance.

Al-Qasabi highlighted that the Saudi-UK partnership has led to the launch of 60 initiatives in 13 economic sectors, with bilateral trade increasing by over 30% from 2018 to 2023, surpassing 79 billion pounds sterling.

British Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden emphasized the partnership’s goal of fostering prosperity and adapting to challenges and advancements.

Leading a UK delegation of over 450 participants, 70% of whom are visiting the Kingdom for the first time, Dowden expressed Britain's readiness to contribute to Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 goals and strengthen the economic alliance.

On his part, Saudi Investment Minister Khalid Al-Falih affirmed that both Saudi Arabia and the UK lead over 20 global economies. He highlighted that Saudi Arabia’s national transformation plan, “Vision 2030,” aims to diversify the economy and boost investments by over $880 billion, making the local market among the top 10 worldwide.

Al-Falih noted the increasing trend of companies choosing Saudi Arabia for investments, with over half of these investments coming from the UK.

He explained that the conference isn’t a one-time event but a year-long campaign with various initiatives across 13 sectors. Al-Falih emphasized sectors like culture, sports, digital, financial services, and trade as focal points for growth.

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Saudi EXIM Hosts Global Risk Experts Meeting in Riyadh

The event gathered specialists from 47 organizations from 33 countries; it served as a platform for discussing strategies, partnerships, and innovative solutions. - SPA
The event gathered specialists from 47 organizations from 33 countries; it served as a platform for discussing strategies, partnerships, and innovative solutions. - SPA
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Saudi EXIM Hosts Global Risk Experts Meeting in Riyadh

The event gathered specialists from 47 organizations from 33 countries; it served as a platform for discussing strategies, partnerships, and innovative solutions. - SPA
The event gathered specialists from 47 organizations from 33 countries; it served as a platform for discussing strategies, partnerships, and innovative solutions. - SPA

The Saudi Export-Import Bank (Saudi EXIM) hosted the Berne Union's Country Risk Specialist Meeting, providing a platform for experts and thought leaders in risk management from the export credit community.
At the meeting, which took place from November 19 to 21 in Riyadh, the attendees exchanged best practices to better protect the industry amid shifting global dynamics.
According to a statement issued by the Saudi EXIM on Saturday, the event gathered specialists from 47 organizations from 33 countries; it served as a platform for discussing strategies, partnerships, and innovative solutions.
By strengthening institutional resilience, the industry is ready to turn global economic challenges into opportunities for economic prosperity, said the statement, adding that it played a crucial role in advancing global trade, strengthening international cooperation, and developing credit solutions that empower export activities while controlling risk, SPA reported.
According to the statement, discussions centered on critical risks impacting international trade and the global economy, such as debt sustainability and geopolitical tensions, along with innovative approaches to risk modelling. Participants also explored the global shifts in infrastructure, energy and critical minerals sectors, and were given an overview of Saudi Arabia's National Industrial Strategy, which focuses on economic diversification through investments, developing new sectors, and promoting local industries.
In his opening remarks, Saudi EXIM CEO Eng. Saad bin Abdulaziz Al-Khalb said the meeting is an ideal platform to address risks impacting global economic decision making.
He stated: "Through such meetings, we can turn challenges into strategic opportunities and enhance our resilience in an ever-changing world. At Saudi EXIM, we remain committed to enabling companies by offering expert financial and non-financial solutions to navigate risks effectively."
He also said that "at Saudi EXIM, we place great emphasis on risk management. In alignment with the main objective of this meeting, I am pleased to announce the completion of our independent country risk model, which is supported by advanced modelling tools and machine learning. This model will provide country ratings and predictions of default risks. We look forward to collaborating with our partners in other export credit agencies to exchange knowledge and expertise, and to strengthening our risk management functions with greater responsibility and effectiveness."
Associate Director at Berne Union Eve Hall said: "The global risk landscape today is highly volatile and highly interconnected. As we navigate our way around the ongoing transformations connected to energy transition and shifting industrial strategies, the traditional concept of 'country risk' is becoming increasingly complex. Our industry excels at understanding, quantifying and pricing these risks, and by bringing together this community of experts for technical exchange the Berne Union is able to help support the development of the industry as a whole. The initiatives announced by our colleagues at Saudi EXIM, making use of new technology in risk analysis, provide a fantastic example of where collaboration in this field can be effectively applied."
The statement disclosed that Saudi EXIM's membership in Berne represents a significant strategic step, and is consistent with the Kingdom's commitment to expanding collaboration and integration in the global economy.
This is achieved by building partnerships with leading institutions to address the challenges facing the export credit sector. It also aligns with the bank's goal of developing the export of national products and services through partnerships with national and international financial and funding organizations.
Berne Union works with global trade organizations to encourage the adoption of best practices in export credit insurance, and to cooperate in maintaining the stability of global trade.
Saudi EXIM, a development bank under the National Development Fund, contributes to diversifying the Kingdom's economic base by improving the efficiency of non-oil export ecosystems, bridging financial gaps, and minimizing export risks. This plays a role in helping the non-oil national economy grow, in line with Vision 2030.