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PIF, ACWA Power to Collaborate in the Development of Power, Water Infrastructure

PIF and ACWA Power will collaborate to advance resilient utilities and sustainable infrastructure projects further. (SPA)
PIF and ACWA Power will collaborate to advance resilient utilities and sustainable infrastructure projects further. (SPA)
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PIF, ACWA Power to Collaborate in the Development of Power, Water Infrastructure

PIF and ACWA Power will collaborate to advance resilient utilities and sustainable infrastructure projects further. (SPA)
PIF and ACWA Power will collaborate to advance resilient utilities and sustainable infrastructure projects further. (SPA)

Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) and ACWA Power signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to explore opportunities to develop power and water infrastructure for PIF’s local real estate portfolio companies, reported the Saudi Press Agency on Monday.

Under the MoU signed at the 9th edition of the Future Investment Initiative (FII9) in Riyadh, PIF and ACWA Power will collaborate to advance resilient utilities and sustainable infrastructure projects further. The parties, according to a PIF statement, intend to cooperate across the spectrum of utilities projects to provide the critical energy and water infrastructure and services to PIF-owned local real estate projects.

The cooperation between PIF and ACWA Power will expand the delivery of quality utilities infrastructure in PIF's local real estate projects. This cooperation will also help maximize the use of locally produced content and private-sector investment in Saudi infrastructure projects.

The signing took place in the presence of Head of the Local Real Estate Division at PIF Saad Alkroud and Founder and Chairman of the Board of Directors at ACWA Power Mohammad Abunayyan. Head of Investment Strategy Department in Local Real Estate Investments Division at PIF Sahem Nasser and Head of KSA Business Development at ACWA Power Khaled Almedbel signed the non-binding MoU.

"PIF continues with its strategic mandate to drive economic impact for Saudi Arabia while securing sustainable returns. It plays a leading role in supporting Saudi economic diversification, further enabling the creation and development of key sectors and opportunities that help shape the global economy," said the statement.

This MoU is part of PIF’s infrastructure strategy initiative to foster partnerships with local and international private sector developers and investors across the infrastructure asset class. It aligns with the strategy to advance clean and renewable energy and water infrastructure together among PIF’s priority sectors.

PIF’s local real estate and infrastructure strategy is advancing Saudi Arabia’s economic transformation and diversification, driving urban innovation and enhancing quality of life, in line with the ambitious goals of Saudi Vision 2030. PIF leads the development of transformative giga-projects and landmark real estate initiatives across Saudi Arabia.

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Indian Minister to Asharq Al-Awsat: We Expect Steady Growth in Tourism Between New Delhi and Riyadh

Saudi Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan holding talks with India’s Minister of Tourism and Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat,X)
Saudi Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan holding talks with India’s Minister of Tourism and Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat,X)
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Indian Minister to Asharq Al-Awsat: We Expect Steady Growth in Tourism Between New Delhi and Riyadh

Saudi Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan holding talks with India’s Minister of Tourism and Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat,X)
Saudi Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan holding talks with India’s Minister of Tourism and Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat,X)

India’s Minister of Tourism and Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said he was optimistic about the future of tourism ties between his country and Saudi Arabia, saying that many young Saudis choose India as a favored tourist destination, while a good number of Indian tourists traveled to Saudi Arabia last year, expecting further steady growth in this movement over the coming years.

Building on this, he affirmed his country’s commitment to establishing broad practical cooperation with Riyadh, covering key sectors including economy, culture, and tourism. He also highlighted a set of challenges facing the global tourism sector, calling for joint governmental efforts to strengthen its resilience and adopt sustainability principles.

Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat on the sidelines of the UN Tourism 26th General Assembly in Riyadh, the Indian minister said that global tourism is undergoing a major transformation that requires “stronger collaboration between governments and industry to enhance resilience, embrace sustainability, and ensure benefits are shared widely.” He looked forward to launching future joint production projects and initiatives with Saudi Arabia.

On this occasion, he congratulated Saudi Arabia for their successful hosting of the Assembly this year, noting that he had seized the opportunity to interact with his counterpart Ministers in Tourism and Culture during the visit, and to visit some prominent historical and cultural sites in the Kingdom.

Challenges Facing the Sector

The Indian minister acknowledged that the global tourism sector is going under a period of adjustment and facing multiple interconnected challenges, while international travel has rebounded post-pandemic, with many destinations still suffering from staff shortages, limited air connectivity, and uneven business recovery.

He added that climate change continues to pressure the sector to adopt sustainable practices, while geopolitical tensions and safety concerns affect traveler confidence. Tourists increasingly seek meaningful, tech-driven, and eco-conscious experiences, prompting destinations to rethink their travel offerings. Popular destinations face over-tourism, whereas emerging ones often lack the infrastructure for responsible growth. Persistent issues also include skills shortages, slow digital adoption among smaller operators, and the need for more inclusive and accessible tourism.

Tourism’s Economic Contribution

Regarding the size and economic contribution of tourism in India, and the steps taken by the Indian government to attract more foreign tourists, Shekhawat said that India is a prominent tourist destination and has shown consistent growth over the last few years.

He added that tourism contributes about 5% of the total GDP and supports close to 80 million direct and indirect jobs, serving as a principal source of foreign exchange earnings.

Shekhawat noted that his government has launched comprehensive reforms and focused investments to grow the tourism sector, including visa reforms, destination development, emphasis on healthcare and wellness tourism, and international partnerships.

He confirmed that India has opened the e-visa process where Saudi nationals can apply online and receive tourism visa within 72 hours.

India–Saudi Cooperation

Shekhawat emphasized that India and Saudi Arabia share deep-rooted cultural and historical ties based on centuries of exchange, trade, and people-to-people connections, stressing that cultural and tourism cooperation remain key pillars of our strategic partnership.

He said: “To further strengthen this bond, a Ministerial Committee on Tourism and Cultural Cooperation was established under the India–Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council during the State Visit of Hon’ble Prime Minister of India to the Kingdom in April 2025.”

The Minister added: “During my current visit, I had a fruitful meeting with Saudi Minister of Culture, HH Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan Al-Saud and we also signed an MoU on Cultural Cooperation between our two countries. We discussed ways to enhance our cultural ties, promote exchanges between our cultural institutions, and intensify participation in each other’s cultural events and festival.”

Shekhawat concluded: “Many young Saudis choose India as a favored tourist destination, and a good number of Indian tourists traveled to Saudi Arabia last year. We expect these numbers to grow steadily over the coming years.”

Business

Saudi Industrial Production Index Increases by 9.3% in September

GASTAT said Saudi Arabia’s Industrial Production Index for September 2025 rose by 9.3%. SPA
GASTAT said Saudi Arabia’s Industrial Production Index for September 2025 rose by 9.3%. SPA
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Saudi Industrial Production Index Increases by 9.3% in September

GASTAT said Saudi Arabia’s Industrial Production Index for September 2025 rose by 9.3%. SPA
GASTAT said Saudi Arabia’s Industrial Production Index for September 2025 rose by 9.3%. SPA

The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) announced on Monday that Saudi Arabia’s Industrial Production Index for September 2025 rose by 9.3% compared to the same month last year.

Compared to September 2024, the sub-indices for mining and quarrying and for manufacturing activities rose by 11.0% and 6.3%, respectively.

The sub-index for electricity, gas, steam, and air conditioning supply increased by 12.6%, while the sub-index for water supply, sewerage, waste management, and remediation activities grew by 9.2%.

The oil activities index increased by 10.1%, while the non-oil activities index rose by 7.3% compared to September 2024.

Business

Riyadh, Ottawa Launch Foreign Investment Agreement and Reactivate Joint Commission

The Saudi Minister of Investment meets with the Canadian Minister of Trade. Asharq A-Awsat
The Saudi Minister of Investment meets with the Canadian Minister of Trade. Asharq A-Awsat
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Riyadh, Ottawa Launch Foreign Investment Agreement and Reactivate Joint Commission

The Saudi Minister of Investment meets with the Canadian Minister of Trade. Asharq A-Awsat
The Saudi Minister of Investment meets with the Canadian Minister of Trade. Asharq A-Awsat

Saudi Arabia and Canada have launched negotiations on a Foreign Investment and Protection Agreement in the Canadian capital, Ottawa, a move reflecting the shared commitment to strengthening bilateral economic relations.

The talks coincided with a visit by a high-level Saudi delegation led by the Minister of Investment, Eng. Khalid Al-Falih, during which both sides announced the reactivation of the Joint Economic Commission.

These developments are gaining significant momentum, supported by Canada’s endorsement of Saudi Vision 2030 and the two countries’ willingness to expand their economic partnership across vital and non-oil sectors.

The Canadian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Jean-Philippe Linteau, told Asharq Al-Awsat that Canada was thrilled to welcome Al-Falih.

“His meetings with Prime Minister Mark Carney, Minister of Trade Maninder Sidhu and Foreign Minister Anita Anand, as well as with senior Canadian business leaders, were a clear illustration of Canada’s desire to grow the economic partnership between Saudi Arabia and Canada,” said Linteau.

The diplomat added that “there is growing momentum because of Canada’s support for the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 goals and the visit helped advance key engagement on trade and investment as well as partnerships in sectors such as education, mining, AI and infrastructure.”

In 2024, Saudi Arabia was Canada’s largest merchandise trading partner in the Middle East. Two-way merchandise trade between the two countries in 2024 was valued at approximately $4.1 billion.

Over 150 Canadian companies are active in Saudi Arabia, offering competitive solutions in artificial intelligence and frontier technology, healthcare, infrastructure, mining, defense products, and creative industries.

During their meeting in Ottawa, Sidhu and Al-Falih announced the launch of negotiations for a Foreign Investment and Protection Agreement between Canada and Saudi Arabia. They also announced the reactivation of the Joint Economic Commission, a treaty-based mechanism to promote trade and economic initiatives of mutual benefit.

Sidhu and Al-Falih welcomed the October 23 signing of a memorandum of understanding between Export Development Canada and the Saudi EXIM Bank.

The increased partnership between Canada and Saudi Arabia will boost business opportunities, increase bilateral trade and unlock export opportunities and investments in Canadian and Saudi Arabian companies alike.

The two ministers also discussed future strategic sector partnerships between Canadian and Saudi Arabian companies, including in the areas of artificial intelligence and frontier technologies, healthcare, infrastructure, mining, defense, and creative industries.

They also met with business leaders and industry stakeholders, participated in a business round table with Invest in Canada and focused on deepening Canada-Saudi relations by highlighting commercial success stories between Canadian and Saudi companies.

“Saudi Arabia is an important market for Canada as our largest bilateral merchandise trading partner in the Middle East. We’re committed to advancing economic cooperation and mutually beneficial investment opportunities to foster greater commercial prosperity for Canadians and Saudis,” Sidhu said in a statement.

“I look forward to strengthening the relationship between our two countries and promoting continued cooperation for our businesses, industries and workers,” he added.