Saudi Industry Minister Discusses in Singapore Partnerships in Advanced Manufacturing Technologies 

Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Ibrahim Alkhorayef held bilateral meetings with heads of Singaporean institutions to discuss boosting cooperation. (SPA)
Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Ibrahim Alkhorayef held bilateral meetings with heads of Singaporean institutions to discuss boosting cooperation. (SPA)
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Saudi Industry Minister Discusses in Singapore Partnerships in Advanced Manufacturing Technologies 

Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Ibrahim Alkhorayef held bilateral meetings with heads of Singaporean institutions to discuss boosting cooperation. (SPA)
Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Ibrahim Alkhorayef held bilateral meetings with heads of Singaporean institutions to discuss boosting cooperation. (SPA)

Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Ibrahim Alkhorayef held bilateral meetings with heads of Singaporean institutions to discuss boosting cooperation, benefiting from their expertise in creating sustainable economic growth, developing small and medium-sized enterprises, and partnering on advanced manufacturing technology, reported the Saudi Press Agency on Tuesday.

The meetings were attended by Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources Assistant Minister for Planning and Development Dr. Abdullah Ali Alahmari, National Industrial Development Center (NIDC) Chief Executive Eng. Saleh Al-Sulami, and Saudi Authority for Industrial Cities and Technology Zones Chief Executive Majed Rafed Al-Argoubi.

During a meeting with Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) Chairman Png Cheong Boon, Alkhorayef discussed opportunities to bolster cooperation, build partnerships, and benefit from the EDB’s expertise.

He met with Enterprise Singapore Executive Chairman Lee Chuan Teck to explore aspects of cooperation, leveraging the institution’s expertise in capacity building, innovation, and transformation.

Alkhorayef also met with Meinhardt Group's head of the fourth industrial revolution division to discuss modern technologies that could boost efficiency and innovation in the sector.

In his meeting with the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) chief executive, Alkhorayef explored ways to strengthen cooperation with the agency, which is considered one of the top innovative government organizations globally in the field of science and technology.

The minister’s official visit to Singapore is one leg of an economic tour of East-Asia where he is leading a ministry delegation with the aim of deepening bilateral ties, attracting high-quality investments to Saudi Arabia, and exploring mutual investment opportunities in the industrial sector.



Oil Dips on Worries China Stimulus Plans Not Enough to Boost Demand

FILE PHOTO: The PetroChina logo is seen near a car charging at the Chinese state oil giant's electric vehicle (EV) charging station in Beijing, China February 2, 2024. REUTERS/Florence Lo/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: The PetroChina logo is seen near a car charging at the Chinese state oil giant's electric vehicle (EV) charging station in Beijing, China February 2, 2024. REUTERS/Florence Lo/File Photo
TT

Oil Dips on Worries China Stimulus Plans Not Enough to Boost Demand

FILE PHOTO: The PetroChina logo is seen near a car charging at the Chinese state oil giant's electric vehicle (EV) charging station in Beijing, China February 2, 2024. REUTERS/Florence Lo/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: The PetroChina logo is seen near a car charging at the Chinese state oil giant's electric vehicle (EV) charging station in Beijing, China February 2, 2024. REUTERS/Florence Lo/File Photo

Oil prices fell on Wednesday as investors reassessed the ability of China's stimulus plans to boost the economy enough to drive more fuel demand growth in the world's largest crude importer.
Brent crude futures were down 19 cents, or 0.25%, at $74.98 a barrel at 0700 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate crude was down 28 cents, or 0.39%, at $71.28 per barrel, Reuters reported.
Prices rose about 1.7% on Tuesday after China announced its most aggressive economic stimulus since the COVID-19 pandemic, with interest rate cuts and government funding.
Analysts, however, warned that more fiscal help was needed to boost confidence in the world's second-largest economy and that eroded the initial impact on oil prices.
"The lack of a more concrete fiscal approach still instils some reservations over whether the economic boost can be sustained," said Yeap Jun Rong, market strategist at IG.
Yeap said there was an overall lack of traction to the oil market, with trades lower than usual, which was likely also due to a drop in US consumer confidence. It fell in September to its lowest in three years, with particular concern about the availability of jobs.
Still, declining US crude oil and fuel stockpiles provided some support for the market, which has generally risen since prices hit their lowest since 2021 on Sept. 10.
US oil stockpiles dropped by 4.34 million barrels last week while gasoline inventories fell by 3.44 million barrels and distillate stocks fell by 1.12 million barrels, according to market sources citing American Petroleum Institute figures on Tuesday.
An intensifying conflict in the Middle East between Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon and Israel also supported crude prices, with cross-border rockets launched by both sides increasing fears of a broadening war in the key producing region.
A hurricane threatening the US Gulf Coast has changed course towards Florida and away from oil and gas-producing areas near Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi.