Aramco, Petrovietnam Sign Collaboration Framework Agreement

FILE PHOTO: The Saudi Aramco logo is pictured at Hyvolution exhibition in Paris, France, February 1, 2024. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: The Saudi Aramco logo is pictured at Hyvolution exhibition in Paris, France, February 1, 2024. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier/File Photo
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Aramco, Petrovietnam Sign Collaboration Framework Agreement

FILE PHOTO: The Saudi Aramco logo is pictured at Hyvolution exhibition in Paris, France, February 1, 2024. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: The Saudi Aramco logo is pictured at Hyvolution exhibition in Paris, France, February 1, 2024. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier/File Photo

Saudi Aramco has signed a Collaboration Framework Agreement with Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (Petrovietnam), paving the way for potential cooperation spanning the storage, supply and trading of energy and petrochemical products.

The agreement was formalized during an official visit by Vietnam’s Prime Minister, Pham Minh Chinh, to the Kingdom.

It was signed during the FII 8th Edition in Riyadh with a view to identifying potential opportunities to optimize operations and unlock additional value.

“This agreement lays the foundation for potential collaboration across the hydrocarbon value chain,” said Aramco Downstream President Mohammed Y. Al Qahtani.

“We look forward to exploring multiple opportunities with Petrovietnam that complement Aramco’s global downstream ambitions, contribute to Petrovietnam’s own strategy, and reinforce Asia’s importance in global energy and petrochemicals markets.”

Petrovietnam CEO Le Ngoc Son described the signing of the agreement as “a strategic step.”

On Tuesday, Aramco said that the company, and Taulia, a SAP company and leading FinTech provider of working capital management solutions — supported by the Saudi Industrial Development Fund (SIDF) as one of the key finance providers of the domestic industrial sector — have signed agreements to establish a supply chain financing solution.

The entities are joining forces to establish one of the world’s largest supply chain financing programs, which aims to provide an alternative and affordable source of financing for Aramco’s suppliers.

Announced during the FII 8th Edition in Riyadh, the new FinTech solution is expected to enhance suppliers’ liquidity and cash forecasting accuracy, while reinforcing Aramco’s supply chain resilience.



FII: Artificial Intelligence Represents Future of Global Economy

Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan speaks at one of the sessions of the second day of the conference. (SPA)
Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan speaks at one of the sessions of the second day of the conference. (SPA)
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FII: Artificial Intelligence Represents Future of Global Economy

Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan speaks at one of the sessions of the second day of the conference. (SPA)
Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan speaks at one of the sessions of the second day of the conference. (SPA)

Economic policymakers and decision-makers have identified key points for leveraging artificial intelligence to shape the future of investment and drive global economic growth.

These insights were discussed on Wednesday in dialogue sessions at the eighth annual Future Investment Initiative conference held in Riyadh. Sessions on the second day, attended by over 7,000 participants and 600 international speakers, also emphasized building bridges of understanding, uniting global communities to tackle challenges, and underscored the importance of a collaborative approach.

Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan announced that the Kingdom is one of the world’s most attractive regions for investors seeking to achieve their investment goals.

The minister stated that Saudi Arabia is deepening its commitment to Vision 2030 for economic transformation, revealing that the non-oil sector now represents 52% of the Kingdom’s economy, a result attributed to the vision’s objectives.

Speaking during an opening session on the second day of the Future Investment Initiative conference, Al-Jadaan expressed satisfaction with the progress made so far, underscoring that Saudi Arabia ranks among the most capable countries globally in meeting investor needs.

Al-Jadaan explained that the National Center for Performance Measurement, an independent government authority that monitors government performance, reported a few months ago that around 87% of the vision’s targets have either been achieved or are on track.

“We are focusing on the remaining 13% to bring them in line by prioritizing them accordingly,” he added.

He acknowledged that the Kingdom faces challenges in achieving Vision 2030 targets, particularly in human resources and execution capacity, and stated: “We aim to ensure we are unlocking further potential without overburdening the economy.”

Saudi Arabia is currently targeting a 40% female participation rate in the workforce by 2030, having already surpassed the original 30% target. Al-Jadaan highlighted that 45% of small and medium-sized enterprises are led by women.

He also noted that the country is working to align its economic plans with a private sector capable of complementing government efforts.

In one of the discussion sessions, Ashraf Al-Ghazawi, Saudi Aramco’s Executive Vice President, stated that the company produces the world’s lowest carbon-intensity oil. He noted that Aramco operates 17 cogeneration plants, contributing to a reduction of approximately 7 million tons of carbon emissions.

Additionally, Abdulrahman Al-Faqeeh, CEO of the Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC), revealed that the company successfully cut carbon emissions at its facilities by 12.5 percent by the end of last year compared to 2010.

Robert Wilt, CEO of the Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Ma’aden), highlighted the company’s accelerated efforts to shorten the copper extraction process.

He added: “We have made progress in reducing waste, water consumption, and carbon emissions.”