Saudi PIF Gathers 1,000 Global Executives for Board Forum

PIF Governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan delivers his speech at the second edition of the Directors’ Gathering (Asharq Al-Awsat)
PIF Governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan delivers his speech at the second edition of the Directors’ Gathering (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi PIF Gathers 1,000 Global Executives for Board Forum

PIF Governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan delivers his speech at the second edition of the Directors’ Gathering (Asharq Al-Awsat)
PIF Governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan delivers his speech at the second edition of the Directors’ Gathering (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Public Investment Fund has held the second edition of the Directors’ Gathering, bringing together more than 1,000 top executives from Saudi Arabia and around the world to align on priorities between PIF and its portfolio companies, as well as to exchange insights and enrich the PIF ecosystem.

The Directors’ Gathering focused on optimizing board performance and fostering collaboration among PIF portfolio companies and their stakeholders. Held in Riyadh, the event involved directors and executives from approximately 220 PIF portfolio companies, of which PIF has created and established 103, in line with part of its mandate to drive Saudi Arabia’s economic transformation.

Speaking to the delegates, PIF Governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan, highlighted PIF’s vision and that the roles of boards include three main priorities: brainstorming and setting strategy, ensuring the right governance frameworks are in place for management, and monitoring performance, with a view to the ever-changing macro-economic context and evolving innovations. He stressed that this could transform challenges into opportunities to lead, grow and innovate.

In his speech, he also stressed the importance of collaboration among companies in the PIF ecosystem, reminding delegates that collaboration should be seen as the main measure of success. He urged directors to begin seeing PIF and its 220 portfolio companies as a single ecosystem and use this thinking to benefit from the variety of strengths and experiences across PIF and its companies.

During the day-long forum, directors and executives discussed topics such as redefining board impact in the context of national transformation, continuously strengthening oversight in a changing risk landscape, planning for management succession, and navigating the governance issues which AI and other burgeoning technologies present. Delegates also emphasized the importance of a growth mindset as well as the potential for synergies given the untapped potential in the PIF ecosystem and the private sector.

PIF offers a comprehensive governance guide for its fully owned companies, to ensure that portfolio companies work according to the best practices and standards. PIF’s strategy for portfolio companies stresses merit-based hiring and quality performance. The strategy also clarifies the separate roles and duties of management and board to enable creativity and accountability.

The forum is part of PIF’s wider corporate excellence program, which includes the Center for Governance, founded in 2020. The center is a dedicated platform offering board members, from both within and outside the PIF ecosystem, guidance and development opportunities with the aim of using corporate governance to create sustainable value in Saudi Arabia and globally.

The center provides its services through three main business lines: development programs, advisory services, and research. It equips directors and company secretaries with the knowledge and tools they need to ensure and build on effective governance through more than 70 tailored programs on relevant subjects including IPO preparation, sustainability, board effectiveness and audit oversight.

PIF’s work to spread best practice in corporate governance is designed to spur innovation throughout the local private sector and make Saudi Arabia an ever more attractive place for international companies to do business.

As one of the world’s most impactful investors, PIF enables the creation of key sectors and opportunities that help shape the global economy while driving Saudi Arabia’s economic diversification.

Launched in 2023, the PIF Directors’ Gathering serves as a cornerstone for collaboration, insight-sharing, and advancement of boardroom excellence, not only across PIF and its portfolio companies but also more broadly. It contributes to the dialogue on effective governance and board leadership at both regional and global levels.



Asian Markets Drop as Trump's Tariff Deadline Looms

A currency trader watches monitors near a screen showing the Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) at the foreign exchange dealing room of the KEB Hana Bank headquarters in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, July 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
A currency trader watches monitors near a screen showing the Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) at the foreign exchange dealing room of the KEB Hana Bank headquarters in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, July 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
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Asian Markets Drop as Trump's Tariff Deadline Looms

A currency trader watches monitors near a screen showing the Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) at the foreign exchange dealing room of the KEB Hana Bank headquarters in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, July 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
A currency trader watches monitors near a screen showing the Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) at the foreign exchange dealing room of the KEB Hana Bank headquarters in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, July 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

Most Asian markets fell Monday as countries fought to hammer out trade deals days before Donald Trump's tariff deadline, though investors took heart after he said the levies would not kick in until the start of next month.

While the White House has said several deals were in the pipeline, only two have been finalized ahead of the July 9 cut-off set by the US president, AFP said.

Governments from major trading partners including Japan, India, the European Union and South Korea have fought for the past three months to get agreements.

But Trump said he will send his first tariff letters at 1600 GMT Monday, setting out what Washington will charge for doing business with the United States.

He said an extra 10 percent would be added to any country "aligning themselves with the Anti-American policies of BRICS", an 11-member alliance including Brazil, Russia, India and China.

The announcement came after leaders of the group warned Trump's "indiscriminate" import tariffs risked hurting the global economy.

The deadline for a deal is Wednesday, but Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed on Sunday that the measures would not be applied until August 1.

"It's not a new deadline. We are saying, this is when it's happening. If you want to speed things up, have at it. If you want to go back to the old rate, that's your choice," Bessent told CNN.

He said the rates will then "boomerang back" to the sometimes very high levels Trump announced on April 2, before the president suspended the levies to allow for trade talks.

"I would expect to see several big announcements over the next couple of days," Bessent said.

The president told reporters Sunday on Air Force One that "I think we'll have most countries done by July 9, either a letter or a deal", adding that some deals have already been made.

Tariff uncertainty weighed on equity markets, with Tokyo, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Sydney, Wellington and Taipei all down, though there were small gains in Singapore, Seoul, Manila and Jakarta.

Wall Street was closed Friday for a holiday.

"Whether deadlines get extended remains uncertain given Trump's unpredictable style," said IG market analyst Fabien Yip. "Our base case expects several important trade partners to agree on a high-level basis before the deadline.

"This would provide more time for detailed discussions over the following two months. The other risk factor is sector-specific tariffs covering semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, and materials may also be announced in due course."

Oil prices sank after major producers in the OPEC+ alliance said they would boost output far more than expected in August, fueling demand worries just as Trump's tariffs are about to begin.

The group said "a steady global economic outlook and current healthy market fundamentals, as reflected in the low oil inventories" led to the decision to further hike output.