SAMA Governor: Saudi Arabia Plays Key Role in Supporting Global Economic Recovery

G20 leaders meet in Brazil. (Reuters)
G20 leaders meet in Brazil. (Reuters)
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SAMA Governor: Saudi Arabia Plays Key Role in Supporting Global Economic Recovery

G20 leaders meet in Brazil. (Reuters)
G20 leaders meet in Brazil. (Reuters)

Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) Governor Ayman Al-Sayari emphasized the Kingdom’s pivotal role in sustaining global economic recovery and maintaining financial stability. He also highlighted Saudi Arabia’s active participation in addressing key issues during Brazil’s presidency of the G20 Summit.

In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), Al-Sayari affirmed the Kingdom’s commitment to achieving the summit’s goals and strengthening multilateral cooperation to tackle challenges such as slow growth and rising global debt levels.

Al-Sayari noted that Saudi Arabia’s participation in the G20 reflects its efforts to promote its own interests while contributing to global economic stability, particularly for regional economies. As the only Arab member of the group, Saudi Arabia seeks to leverage its position to enhance global financial resilience.

He recalled the Kingdom’s leadership of the G20 in 2020, during which it prioritized measures to accelerate global economic recovery, foster financial inclusion, ensure financial stability, and assist low-income countries in mitigating the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Key issues currently under discussion include the slow global economic growth, high inflation rates, rising global debt, and disparities in economic policies among nations.

Al-Sayari highlighted the importance of the G20’s Common Framework for Debt Treatments, a key initiative launched during Saudi Arabia’s presidency of the group. The framework aims to alleviate the debt burden of the world’s most vulnerable countries, a concern that has grown more pressing as sovereign debt levels reach unprecedented heights.

The governor underscored the alignment between the objectives of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and the G20’s goals, particularly in fostering financial stability and sustainable development. This includes initiatives to develop financial markets, mitigate risks, adopt global best practices, and ensure the financial sector’s stability while expanding its services and products to support the transition to a sustainable economy.

Moreover, Al-Sayari pointed out ongoing efforts to enhance the fintech sector through updated regulatory frameworks and improved guidelines. The Kingdom also aims to increase financial inclusion and awareness by providing individuals and businesses with access to licensed financial services, ensuring consumer protection, and promoting fairness and transparency in financial transactions.



Ma’aden CEO to Asharq Al-Awsat: 820,000 Meters of Exploration Wells Drilled in Saudi Arabia

Ma’aden CEO Robert Wilt. (Future Investment Initiative)
Ma’aden CEO Robert Wilt. (Future Investment Initiative)
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Ma’aden CEO to Asharq Al-Awsat: 820,000 Meters of Exploration Wells Drilled in Saudi Arabia

Ma’aden CEO Robert Wilt. (Future Investment Initiative)
Ma’aden CEO Robert Wilt. (Future Investment Initiative)

The Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Ma’aden) has undertaken the largest exploration program in a single region worldwide as part of the Kingdom’s efforts to achieve the goals of Vision 2030, diversify its economic base, and position mining as the third pillar of the national industry.

The company has drilled over 820,000 meters of exploration wells in the past two years, surpassing similar efforts in other countries, Ma’aden CEO Robert Wilt told Asharq Al-Awsat.

Wilt revealed that this program has already yielded a potential gold discovery spanning 100 kilometers south of the Mansourah and Massarah mines, located 460 kilometers east of Jeddah.

The CEO emphasized Ma’aden’s role in leading the development of the mining sector as the third pillar of Saudi Arabia’s economy, harnessing mineral resources estimated at $2.5 trillion.

He highlighted the company’s ambitions to unlock the Kingdom’s potential in strategic minerals, such as gold and copper, which are vital for manufacturing industries and the global energy transition.

To sustain the company’s strategies, Wilt stressed the importance of supporting and developing the next generation of Saudi talent. Ma’aden is committed to creating an attractive industry for young professionals and investing in skills and technology to enable its workforce to build a new era for mining in the Kingdom.

Ma’aden currently operates more than 17 mines and exploration sites across Saudi Arabia, transforming mineral wealth into added value for the national economy. The company exports its products to over 30 countries worldwide.

Additionally, Ma’aden has invested in the necessary infrastructure for mining and processing operations. This includes constructing modern mines, advanced processing plants, and world-class export ports.

The company leverages cutting-edge technology to boost productivity, improve product quality, and reduce costs. It also utilizes advanced systems for analyzing geological data to identify promising mineral sites, integrating this technology throughout its operations from exploration to marketing.