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Biban24 Forum in Riyadh Concludes with Signing of Agreements Worth SAR35.4 Billion

The five-day forum attracted a large number of entrepreneurs from various countries and featured over 300 panel discussions and workshops. (SPA)
The five-day forum attracted a large number of entrepreneurs from various countries and featured over 300 panel discussions and workshops. (SPA)
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Biban24 Forum in Riyadh Concludes with Signing of Agreements Worth SAR35.4 Billion

The five-day forum attracted a large number of entrepreneurs from various countries and featured over 300 panel discussions and workshops. (SPA)
The five-day forum attracted a large number of entrepreneurs from various countries and featured over 300 panel discussions and workshops. (SPA)

The Biban24 Forum, organized by Saudi Arabia’s Small and Medium Enterprises General Authority (Monsha’at), concluded in Riyadh on Saturday after five days with agreements and initiatives topping SAR35.4 billion.

The forum, which attracted more than 182,000 visitors and was held under the theme “Global Destination for Opportunities”, offered numerous opportunities and activities to support the Kingdom's rapid development in the SME and entrepreneurial sectors.

Monsha'at Governor Sami Alhussaini said: “Biban24 achieved great success this year. We witnessed record agreements and the introduction of many innovative initiatives that support entrepreneurship in the Kingdom. We are proud of the announcements for financing portfolios and strategic partnerships with prominent local and international entities.”

The five-day forum attracted a large number of entrepreneurs from various countries and featured over 300 panel discussions and workshops in which over 250 foreign and local speakers took part.

The Biban Talks stage hosted over 100 speakers who delved into topics such as media, tourism, environment, education, sports, finance, and investment. The interactive environment enabled entrepreneurs to share their success stories and challenges.

Some 115 entrepreneurs took part in the Investors Arena, showcasing their projects to investors, which resulted in preliminary agreements for investors to sign deals with 65 companies, worth over SAR15 million.

More than 1,300 startups from 72 countries participated in the forum, which also celebrated the graduation of 12 startups from the Real Estate Innovation Accelerator. Also, the virtual lab was launched to support entrepreneurs.

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Saudi Trade Surplus Hits 10-Month High as Imports Decline

King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam, Eastern Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat)
King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam, Eastern Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Trade Surplus Hits 10-Month High as Imports Decline

King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam, Eastern Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat)
King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam, Eastern Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia posted its highest trade surplus in 10 months in February, buoyed by a sharp drop in merchandise imports, a trend that supports state revenues, bolsters currency stability, and reflects strong global demand for locally produced goods.

The Kingdom recorded a trade surplus of 31 billion riyals ($8.26 billion) in February, up 44.6% from 21 billion riyals in January and higher than the 29 billion riyals recorded in the same month last year, data from the General Authority for Statistics showed.

The surge came despite a slight dip in exports, as merchandise imports fell by 5.6% month-on-month to 63 billion riyals ($16.7 billion) — the lowest level since late 2023. Meanwhile, merchandise exports stood at 94 billion riyals ($18.3 billion), down from 97 billion riyals in January.

Saudi Arabia’s non-oil exports, including re-exports, rose 14.3% year-on-year in February to 26 billion riyals ($6.9 billion), up from 23 billion riyals in the same month last year, driven by ongoing efforts to boost domestic industry and global market access.

The growth comes as the Kingdom steps up its “Made in Saudi” initiative, aimed at helping local companies expand operations, tap new customer bases, and market their products to a wider audience. The program is part of Riyadh’s broader push to diversify the economy and reduce reliance on oil.

Trade experts say the rise in exports relative to imports is supported by a mix of financial incentives, export facilitation, and expanded logistics infrastructure across air, land and sea.

China remained Saudi Arabia’s largest export destination in February, accounting for 16.2% of total exports. South Korea followed with 10.1%, and the United Arab Emirates came third with 9%.

Dr. Fawaz Alamy, an international trade expert, told Asharq Al-Awsat that the trade surplus reflects the Kingdom’s successful policies to stimulate the private sector and boost the competitiveness of national products abroad. He said recent regulatory reforms have eliminated key obstacles for exporters and helped create entities that support global expansion.

He added that government agencies are working closely with the private sector by providing consulting services, financing, and market targeting strategies to facilitate international trade.

“Saudi Arabia’s non-oil activities are now growing steadily and contributing more than 50% to GDP,” Alamy said, noting this aligns with Vision 2030 goals to build a diversified and thriving economy.

Economic analyst Ahmed Al-Shehri echoed the sentiment, saying February’s trade surplus highlights the success of government collaboration in enhancing the export environment, overcoming exporter challenges, and improving export-related knowledge and talent.

He added that authorities continue to support the private sector and create an attractive environment for local and foreign investment. “In recent years, the government has worked to understand and remove the challenges facing domestic companies to ensure they can drive economic growth,” Al-Shehri said.

He noted that the non-oil sector’s contribution to GDP is now around 50%, adding: “Government agencies are actively helping manufacturers and exporters identify global market opportunities and deliver tailored support.”