عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Business

Saudi Arabia, Canada Discuss Smart Industrial Cities

The meetings held by the Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources with Canadian ministers are aimed at strengthening industrial and mining cooperation between the two countries. SPA
The meetings held by the Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources with Canadian ministers are aimed at strengthening industrial and mining cooperation between the two countries. SPA
TT
TT

Saudi Arabia, Canada Discuss Smart Industrial Cities

The meetings held by the Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources with Canadian ministers are aimed at strengthening industrial and mining cooperation between the two countries. SPA
The meetings held by the Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources with Canadian ministers are aimed at strengthening industrial and mining cooperation between the two countries. SPA

Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef has discussed with Canadian government ministers ways to bolster industrial and mining cooperation between the two countries, opportunities for developing industrial innovation, and building an effective partnership to establish smart industrial cities in the Kingdom by leveraging Canadian expertise.

During his meeting with Canadian Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry François-Philippe Champagne, and accompanied by National Industrial Development Center Chief Executive Saleh AlSulami, Alkhorayef underscored the Kingdom's commitment to benefiting from the applications of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, particularly artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics, to develop the industrial sector and create added value, while improving production efficiency in industrial facilities.

Meeting participants discussed enhancing cooperation in the field of industrial digitization, utilizing AI technologies to improve industrial processes, and exploring opportunities for collaboration in building smart industrial cities in the Kingdom, benefiting from Canadian advancements in digital infrastructure.

The two sides also discussed collaboration between the Kingdom and Canada in the field of innovation, including the partnership between the Saudi Ministry of Education and Metax, a Canadian research organization funded by the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Industry with a focus on providing joint research opportunities for graduate and doctoral students in both countries.

During a meeting with Canadian Minister of International Development Ahmed Hussen, Alkhorayef discussed ways to enhance economic relations and non-oil trade between the two countries, given the fact that the Kingdom is the largest trading partner for Canada in the Middle East and North Africa. The ministers reviewed the role of industrial development globally in advancing communities, increasing their well-being, and improving individuals' living standards.

Alkhorayef and Canada's Mining Industry Human Resources Council (MIHR) executive director Ryan Montpellier discussed opportunities to benefit from council's expertise in workforce human capabilities development strategies in the mining sector.

The meetings held by the Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources with Canadian ministers are part of his visit to Canada, aimed at strengthening industrial and mining cooperation between the two countries, exploring mutual opportunities in both sectors, and attracting foreign investments to the Kingdom.

Most Viewed

 
 
Business

Türkiye Inflation Exceeds Forecasts, Tempering Rate Cut Expectations

Türkiye Inflation Exceeds Forecasts, Tempering Rate Cut Expectations
TT
TT

Türkiye Inflation Exceeds Forecasts, Tempering Rate Cut Expectations

Türkiye Inflation Exceeds Forecasts, Tempering Rate Cut Expectations

Turkish annual inflation fell to 49.38% in September while the monthly rate was much higher than expected at nearly 3%, setting the stage for later than expected interest rate cuts by the central bank.

At 50%, the central bank's policy rate is now higher than the annual consumer price index (CPI) for the first time since 2021, marking a milestone in an aggressive tightening cycle meant to correct years of easy money and soaring prices.

But after prices came in higher than expected last month, boosted in part by education-related costs, some analysts said the bank was unlikely to be able to ease policy until December at the earliest and possibly not until next year.

The "data makes an interest rate cut this year look very unlikely to us," said Capital Economics in a note.

Month-on-month inflation was 2.97%, according to the Turkish Statistical Institute, above a Reuters poll forecast of 2.2%. Annual CPI was also higher than the poll forecast of 48.3%.

In August, monthly CPI was 2.47%, with the annual rate at 51.97%. The central bank is closely watching the monthly rate for signals of when to begin an easing cycle, though it has only dipped below 2% once this year, in June.

Last month, a Reuters poll showed a growing minority of analysts expecting a first cut next year, with the consensus settled around November and expectations of at least 20 points of easing by the end of 2025.

But Haluk Burumcekci, founding partner at Burumcekci Consulting, said the September data did not signal an imminent cut. Even if October inflation is in line with the central bank's guidance, he said, "it may not be sufficient" for a November cut.

-TIGHT POLICY

The domestic producer price index was up 1.37% month-on-month in September for an annual rise of 33.09%, the data showed.

The lira was slightly firmer at 34.18 against the dollar.

Annual inflation in September was driven by a 97.9% rise in housing prices, with education prices up 93.59%. The key food and non-alcoholic drinks sector prices were up 43.72%, below the overall level.

Last month the central bank held rates steady at 50% for a sixth straight month, saying it remained highly attentive to inflation risks. But it removed a reference to potential tightening, seen as a first signal that easing would eventually come.

The bank, which has hiked rates by 4,150 basis points since June last year, sees inflation falling to 38% at the end of this year and 14% next. In the medium term programme, the government sees end-2024 inflation of 41.5%.