Saudi-Egyptian Investment Protection Deal to Be Implemented within 2 Months, Says Egypt PM

Egyptian Prime Minister Dr. Mostafa Madbouly speaks at the meeting with the Saudi private sector at the Federation of Saudi Chambers in Riyadh on Monday. (SPA)
Egyptian Prime Minister Dr. Mostafa Madbouly speaks at the meeting with the Saudi private sector at the Federation of Saudi Chambers in Riyadh on Monday. (SPA)
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Saudi-Egyptian Investment Protection Deal to Be Implemented within 2 Months, Says Egypt PM

Egyptian Prime Minister Dr. Mostafa Madbouly speaks at the meeting with the Saudi private sector at the Federation of Saudi Chambers in Riyadh on Monday. (SPA)
Egyptian Prime Minister Dr. Mostafa Madbouly speaks at the meeting with the Saudi private sector at the Federation of Saudi Chambers in Riyadh on Monday. (SPA)

Egyptian Prime Minister Dr. Mostafa Madbouly announced on Monday that the Saudi-Egyptian Investment Protection Agreement has been finalized and will be activated within two months. He also stated that the remaining challenges facing Saudi investors in Egypt will be resolved by the end of this year.

Speaking during a meeting with the Saudi private sector at the Federation of Saudi Chambers in Riyadh, Madbouly emphasized the Egyptian government’s commitment to support Saudi investments.

He said a special unit within Egypt's Ministry of Investment will be dedicated to overseeing Saudi investments, and the government has already resolved 90 issues affecting Saudi investors, leaving only 14 outstanding.

Ministers and officials from the public and private sectors attended the meeting.

Madbouly highlighted Egypt's recent reforms and incentives in various sectors, including development, real estate, industry, agriculture, tourism, and renewable energy. He noted that Egypt has successfully managed challenges related to financial and monetary policies, particularly the exchange rate of the Egyptian pound.

Minister of Commerce Majid Al-Qasabi underscored the intense efforts to improve the business environment between Saudi Arabia and Egypt, adding that the activation of the Saudi-Egyptian Investment Protection Agreement will further strengthen economic ties.

Minister of Investment Khalid Al-Falih praised the close cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Egypt, describing their relationship as a model for Arab cooperation that promotes regional economic growth.

He noted that trade between the two countries exceeded SAR 124 billion during 2022 and 2023 and that 5,767 licenses have been granted to Egyptian investors in the Kingdom.

The meeting also highlighted new developments in Saudi-Egyptian economic relations, focusing on opportunities for integration, cooperation to access African markets, and comparative advantages in various investment sectors.

Earlier, Madbouly met with Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef for talks on boosting cooperation and integration in the industrial and mining sectors.

They also discussed prospects for their development through the exchange of expertise and knowledge.

They explored the development of appropriate solutions to address challenges in order to maximize the benefits of both sectors.

In addition, they discussed strategies to support and incentivize private sector investment in strategic areas within the industrial and mining sectors, such as food industries, which would contribute to achieving food security in Saudi Arabia and Egypt.



Oil Extends Climb on Supply Fears, Trade War Concerns Cap Gains

FILE - Pump jacks extract oil from beneath the ground in North Dakota, May 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown, File)
FILE - Pump jacks extract oil from beneath the ground in North Dakota, May 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown, File)
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Oil Extends Climb on Supply Fears, Trade War Concerns Cap Gains

FILE - Pump jacks extract oil from beneath the ground in North Dakota, May 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown, File)
FILE - Pump jacks extract oil from beneath the ground in North Dakota, May 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown, File)

Oil prices inched higher on Tuesday after threats by US President Donald Trump to impose secondary tariffs on Russian crude and attack Iran, though worries about the impact of a trade war on global growth capped gains.

Brent futures rose 21 cents, or 0.3%, to $74.98 a barrel at 0645 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate crude futures climbed 22 cents, or 0.3%, to $71.70.

The contracts settled at five-week highs a day earlier.

"Near-term risks are skewed to the upside, with US threats of secondary tariffs on Russian and Iranian oil leading market participants to price for the risks of tighter oil supplies," said Yeap Jun Rong, market strategist at IG, Reuters reported.

However, broader themes still revolve around concerns of upcoming tariffs weighing on global demand, along with prospects of increased supply from OPEC+ and the US, said Yeap.

A Reuters poll of 49 economists and analysts in March projected that oil prices would remain under pressure this year from US tariffs and economic slowdowns in India and China, while OPEC+ increases supply.

Slower global growth would dent fuel demand, which might offset any reduction in supply due to Trump's threats.

After news of Trump's threats initially boosted prices on Monday, traders told Reuters they viewed the president's warnings to Russia, at least, as a bluff.

Trump, on Sunday, told NBC News that he was very angry with Russian President Vladimir Putin and would impose secondary tariffs of 25% to 50% on Russian oil buyers if Moscow tries to block efforts to end the war in Ukraine.

Tariffs on buyers of oil from Russia, the world's second largest oil exporter, would disrupt global supply and hurt Moscow's biggest customers, China and India.

Trump also threatened Iran with similar tariffs and bombings if Tehran did not reach an agreement with the White House over its nuclear program.

"For now, it appears to be just a threat to Russia and Iran. However, if it becomes a reality, it creates plenty of upside risk to the market given the significant oil export volumes from both countries," said ING commodities strategists on Tuesday.

The market will be watching for weekly inventory data from US industry group the American Petroleum Institute later on Tuesday, ahead of official statistics from the Energy Information Administration on Wednesday.

Five analysts surveyed by Reuters estimated on average that US crude inventories fell by about 2.1 million barrels in the week to March 28.