عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Business

Industry Minister: Saudi Arabia Seeks to Boost Partnership with India in Strategic Industries 

Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef speaks at the roundtable meeting with leaders from India's private sector in New Delhi. (SPA)
Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef speaks at the roundtable meeting with leaders from India's private sector in New Delhi. (SPA)
TT
TT

Industry Minister: Saudi Arabia Seeks to Boost Partnership with India in Strategic Industries 

Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef speaks at the roundtable meeting with leaders from India's private sector in New Delhi. (SPA)
Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef speaks at the roundtable meeting with leaders from India's private sector in New Delhi. (SPA)

Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef stressed on Tuesday Saudi Arabia’s commitment to boosting its strategic partnership with India across key economic sectors, particularly industry and mining.

The minister made his remarks while chairing a roundtable meeting with leaders from India's private sector in New Delhi.

Alkhorayef said the Kingdom is taking serious steps to boost collaboration in vital industries, including automotive, medical industries, biotechnology, chemicals, petrochemicals, machinery and renewable energy.

The meeting was attended by Local Content and Government Procurement Authority Chief Executive Abdulrahman Al-Samari, National Industrial Development Center Chief Executive Eng. Saleh Al-Solami, and Saudi-Indian Business Council Chairman Abdulaziz Al-Qahtani.

During his address to leading Indian business executives, Alkhorayef stated that the Saudi Vision 2030, which drives the Kingdom’s economic diversification, sees India as an ideal partner due to its rich history, knowledge, and expertise.

Saudi Arabia’s manufacturing and mining sectors present significant opportunities for collaboration between the two nations, he added.

The minister pointed to the potential for strong investment partnerships in the automotive sector, as Saudi Arabia is the largest importer of vehicles in the Middle East.

The Kingdom aims to localize car manufacturing, spare parts and supply chains, leveraging global expertise in automotive production, he went on to say.

As one of the world's largest petrochemical producers, he said that Saudi Arabia is committed to maximizing the domestic utilization of petrochemicals to create added value within the national economy.

Saudi Arabia sees a major opportunity for cooperation in machinery and equipment manufacturing, given India's advanced capabilities in this field, Alkhorayef stressed, highlighting that Saudi Arabia is undergoing a major transformation in mining and aspires to become a key player in the global metals market, increasing the demand for heavy equipment.

The minister detailed several initiatives to attract industrial investments, including the "Factories of the Future" program, which promotes advanced manufacturing technologies; low-cost land leasing for industrial projects; financial support from the Saudi Industrial Development Fund, which offers loans covering up to 75% of project costs with flexible repayment terms; export support through the Saudi Export Development Authority; competitive energy prices and improved industrial infrastructure; and training programs for local employees and talent attraction initiatives.

Alkhorayef underscored the Kingdom’s strong focus on local content development, localizing strategic industries and integrating supply chains.

He stressed that achieving the goals of the Saudi National Industry Strategy requires activating public-private sector partnerships by enabling the latter to utilize opportunities provided by the strategy. The minister called on Indian companies to explore and benefit from the unique investment opportunities available in the Kingdom.

Alkhorayef later met with Indian Minister of Coal and Mines G. Kishan Reddy to discuss advancing Saudi-Indian cooperation in the mining and minerals sector. 

The talks centered on exploring horizons of a strategic partnership and joint initiatives in mining, as well as mutual opportunities for prospecting critical minerals. Alkhorayef discussed means of exchanging knowledge and expertise in sustainable mining practices, as well as smart solutions for mining operations and mine management. 

Additionally, the meeting addressed the enhancement of collaboration in developing human resources for the mining sector, facilitating the transfer of technology and innovation between the two countries, and leveraging advanced Indian solutions in mineral exploration. Participants discussed fostering joint efforts in geological survey programs. 

The ministers emphasized the importance of collaboration among universities, scientific research institutions, and specialized companies in both nations to develop new technologies aimed at improving the efficiency of mining operations and achieving environmental sustainability. 

Attending the meeting were Local Content and Government Procurement Authority (LCGPA) Chief Executive Abdulrahman Al Samari; Industrial Center Chief Executive Saleh Al Solami; and Saudi embassy Chargé d'Affaires Jadi bin Naif Alraqaas. 

Most Viewed

 
 
Business

China Passes Revised Foreign Trade Law to Bolster Trade War Capabilities

Containers are seen at the port in Shanghai, China, Oct. 13, 2025. (AFP)
Containers are seen at the port in Shanghai, China, Oct. 13, 2025. (AFP)
TT
TT

China Passes Revised Foreign Trade Law to Bolster Trade War Capabilities

Containers are seen at the port in Shanghai, China, Oct. 13, 2025. (AFP)
Containers are seen at the port in Shanghai, China, Oct. 13, 2025. (AFP)

China on Saturday passed revisions to a key piece of legislation aimed at strengthening Beijing's ability to wage trade war, curb outbound shipments from strategic minerals, and further open its $19 trillion economy.

The latest revision to the Foreign Trade Law, approved by China's top legislative body, will take effect on March 1, 2026, state news agency Xinhua reported on Saturday.

The world's second-largest economy is overhauling its trade-related legal frameworks partly to convince members of a major trans-Pacific trade bloc created to counter China's growing influence that the manufacturing powerhouse ‌deserves a seat at ‌the table, as Beijing seeks to reduce ‌its ⁠reliance on the US.

Adopted ‌in 1994 and revised three times since China joined the World Trade Organization in 2001, most recently in 2022, the Foreign Trade Law empowers policymakers to hit back against trading partners that seek to curb its exports and to adopt mechanisms such as "negative lists" to open restricted sectors to foreign firms.

The revision also adds a provision that foreign trade should "serve national economic and social development" and help build China ⁠into a "strong trading nation", Xinhua said.

It further "expands and improves" the legal toolkit for countering external challenges, according ‌to the report.

The revision focuses on areas such ‍as digital and green trade, along ‍with intellectual property provisions, key improvements China needs to make to meet the ‍standards of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, rather than the trade defense tools the 2020 revamp honed in on following four years of tariff war with the first Trump administration.

Beijing is also sharpening the wording of its powers in anticipation of potential lawsuits from private firms, which are becoming increasingly prominent in China, according to trade diplomats.

"Ministries have become more concerned about private sector criticism," ⁠said one Western trade diplomat with decades' of experience working with China. "China is a rule-of-law country, so the government can stop a company's shipment, but it needs a reason."

"It's not totally lawless here. Better to have everything written out in black and white," they added, requesting anonymity, as they were not authorized to speak with media.

China's private exporting firms attracted global attention in November after the French government moved to suspend the Chinese e-commerce platform Shein.

The Chinese government increasingly could also find itself at odds with private enterprise when seeking to carry out sweeping bans, ‌such as Beijing's prohibition of all Japanese seafood imports, as Asia's top two economies continue to feud over Taiwan, trade diplomats say.

Business

Lebanese Cabinet Approves Draft Law on Financial Crisis Losses

A photograph released by the Lebanese Government Press Office on December 26, 2025, show Prime Minister Nawaf Salam speaking during a press conference after a cabinet session in Beirut on December 26, 2025. (Photo by Handout / Lebanese Government Press Office / AFP)
A photograph released by the Lebanese Government Press Office on December 26, 2025, show Prime Minister Nawaf Salam speaking during a press conference after a cabinet session in Beirut on December 26, 2025. (Photo by Handout / Lebanese Government Press Office / AFP)
TT
TT

Lebanese Cabinet Approves Draft Law on Financial Crisis Losses

A photograph released by the Lebanese Government Press Office on December 26, 2025, show Prime Minister Nawaf Salam speaking during a press conference after a cabinet session in Beirut on December 26, 2025. (Photo by Handout / Lebanese Government Press Office / AFP)
A photograph released by the Lebanese Government Press Office on December 26, 2025, show Prime Minister Nawaf Salam speaking during a press conference after a cabinet session in Beirut on December 26, 2025. (Photo by Handout / Lebanese Government Press Office / AFP)

Lebanon's government on Friday approved a draft law to distribute financial losses from the 2019 economic crisis that deprived many Lebanese of their deposits despite strong opposition to the legislation from political parties, depositors and banking officials.

The draft law will be submitted to the country's divided parliament for approval before it can become effective.

The legislation, known as the "financial gap" law, is part of a series of reform measures required by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in order to access funding from the lender.

The cabinet passed the draft bill with 13 ministers in favor and nine against. It stipulates that each of the state, the central bank, commercial banks and depositors will share the losses accrued as a result of the financial crisis.

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam defended the bill, saying it "is not ideal... and may not meet everyone's aspirations" but is "a realistic and fair step on the path to restoring rights, stopping the collapse... and healing the banking sector.”

According to government estimates, the losses resulting from the financial crisis amounted to about $70 billion, a figure that is expected to have increased over the six years that the crisis was left unaddressed.

Depositors who have less than $100,000 in the banks, and who constitute 85 percent of total accounts, will be able to recover them in full over a period of four years, Salam said.

Larger depositors will be able to obtain $100,000 while the remaining part of their funds will be compensated through tradable bonds, which will be backed by the assets of the central bank.

The central bank's portfolio includes approximately $50 billion, according to Salam.

The premier told journalists that the bill includes "accountability and oversight for the first time.”

"Everyone who transferred their money before the financial collapse in 2019 by exploiting their position or influence... and everyone who benefited from excessive profits or bonuses will be held accountable and required to pay compensation of up to 30 percent of these amounts," he said.

Responding to objections from banking officials, who claim components of the bill place a major burden on the banks, Salam said the law "also aims to revive the banking sector by assessing bank assets and recapitalizing them.”

The IMF, which closely monitored the drafting of the bill, previously insisted on the need to "restore the viability of the banking sector consistent with international standards" and protect small depositors.

Parliament passed a banking secrecy reform law in April, followed by a banking sector restructuring law in June, one of several key pieces of legislation aimed at reforming the financial system.

However, observers believe it is unlikely that parliament will pass the current bill before the next legislative elections in May.

Financial reforms in Lebanon have been repeatedly derailed by political and private interests over the last six years, but Salam and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun have pledged to prioritize them.

Business

Türkiye Says Russia Gave It $9 Billion in New Financing for Akkuyu Nuclear Plant

Türkiye’s Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar talks during a meeting in Ankara, Türkiye, September 14, 2023. (Reuters)
Türkiye’s Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar talks during a meeting in Ankara, Türkiye, September 14, 2023. (Reuters)
TT
TT

Türkiye Says Russia Gave It $9 Billion in New Financing for Akkuyu Nuclear Plant

Türkiye’s Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar talks during a meeting in Ankara, Türkiye, September 14, 2023. (Reuters)
Türkiye’s Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar talks during a meeting in Ankara, Türkiye, September 14, 2023. (Reuters)

Türkiye's energy minister said Russia had provided new financing worth $9 billion for the Akkuyu nuclear power plant being built by ​Moscow's state nuclear energy company Rosatom, adding Ankara expected the power plant to be operational in 2026.

Rosatom is building Türkiye's first nuclear power station at Akkuyu in the Mediterranean province of Mersin per a 2010 accord worth $20 billion. The plant was expected ‌to be operational ‌this year, but has been ‌delayed.

"This (financing) ⁠will ​most ‌likely be used in 2026-2027. There will be at least $4-5 billion from there for 2026 in terms of foreign financing," Alparslan Bayraktar told some local reporters at a briefing in Istanbul, according to a readout from his ministry.

He said ⁠Türkiye was in talks with South Korea, China, Russia, and ‌the United States on ‍nuclear projects in ‍the Sinop province and Thrace region, and added ‍Ankara wanted to receive "the most competitive offer".

Bayraktar said Türkiye wanted to generate nuclear power at home and aimed to provide clear figures on targets.