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Singapore Trade Minister: Saudi Investment Initiatives have Captivated Our Companies

Singapore's Minister of Trade and Industry Lim Hng Kiang attends an interview with Reuters at a hotel in Mexico City, Mexico, June 9, 2016. REUTERS/Henry Romero
Singapore's Minister of Trade and Industry Lim Hng Kiang attends an interview with Reuters at a hotel in Mexico City, Mexico, June 9, 2016. REUTERS/Henry Romero
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Singapore Trade Minister: Saudi Investment Initiatives have Captivated Our Companies

Singapore's Minister of Trade and Industry Lim Hng Kiang attends an interview with Reuters at a hotel in Mexico City, Mexico, June 9, 2016. REUTERS/Henry Romero
Singapore's Minister of Trade and Industry Lim Hng Kiang attends an interview with Reuters at a hotel in Mexico City, Mexico, June 9, 2016. REUTERS/Henry Romero

Singapore Trade Minister Lim Hng Kiang‎ said the initiatives recently announced in Saudi Arabia during the “Future Investment Initiative" Conference have raised the interest of Singaporean companies looking to increase their business activities and investments within the Kingdom and achieve mutual benefit.

“Given the great transformation that Saudi Arabia is seeking, Vision 2030 and the Future Investment Initiative are clear signals that the Kingdom welcomes foreign investment and takes concrete steps to diversify the Saudi economy,” Lim Hng Kiang told Asharq al-Awsat newspaper on the sidelines of the conference.

“These interesting Saudi initiatives are based on the determination to move away from traditional oil dependence and focus on different sectors such as health care, education, facilities management, logistics and exports; areas where Singaporean firms with relevant expertise can contribute to achieve the Kingdom’s plans,” he added.

Asked about relations between Saudi Arabia and Singapore, the trade minister said: “Saudi Arabia and Singapore enjoy strong trade and investment ties, supported by the GCC-Singapore Free Trade Agreement, which entered into force in 2013.”

He went on to say: “Today, Riyadh is one of Singapore’s largest trading partners in the Middle East, where bilateral trade between the two countries exceeded 36 billion riyals (USD 9.6 billion) last year.”

Kiang pointed to the work of major Singaporean companies in the Saudi market, including Changi International Airport, which is working to enhance the efficiency of King Fahd International Airport in Dammam.

He noted that since the beginning of the “Changi” management of Dammam airport, passenger growth has increased significantly each year, stressing that Dammam Airport currently serves 36 airlines, with 65 cities inside and outside the region.

The minister noted that Singapore’s central geostrategic position in South-East Asia makes it a useful starting point for Saudi companies like Aramco and others looking for new opportunities in one of the fastest growing regions in the world. He also said he expected trade and investment to increase between the two sides.

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Revenue Growth, Improved Operational Efficiency Boost Profitability of Saudi Telecom Companies

A man monitors the movement of stocks on the Saudi Tadawul index. (AFP)
A man monitors the movement of stocks on the Saudi Tadawul index. (AFP)
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Revenue Growth, Improved Operational Efficiency Boost Profitability of Saudi Telecom Companies

A man monitors the movement of stocks on the Saudi Tadawul index. (AFP)
A man monitors the movement of stocks on the Saudi Tadawul index. (AFP)

Telecommunications companies listed on the Saudi Stock Exchange (Tadawul) achieved a 12.46 percent growth in their net profits, which reached SAR 4.07 billion ($1.09 billion) during the second quarter of 2024, compared to SAR 3.62 billion ($965 million) during the same period last year.

They also recorded a 4.76 percent growth in revenues during the same quarter, after achieving sales worth more than SAR 26.18 billion ($7 billion), compared to SAR 24.99 billion ($6.66 billion) in the same quarter of 2023.

The growth in the revenues and net profitability is the result of several factors, including the increase in sales volume and revenues, especially in the business sector and fifth generation services, as well as the decrease in operating expenses and the focus on improving operational efficiency, controlling costs, and moving towards investment in infrastructure.

The sector comprises four companies, three of which conclude their fiscal year in December: Saudi Telecom Company (STC), Mobily, and Zain Saudi Arabia. The fiscal year of Etihad Atheeb Telecommunications Company (GO) ends on March 31.

According to its financial results announced on Tadawul, Etihad Etisalat Company (Mobily) achieved a 33 percent growth rate of profits, bringing its profits to SAR 661 million by the end of the second quarter of 2024, compared to SAR 497 million during the same period in 2023. The company also achieved a 4.59 percent growth in revenues to reach SAR 4.47 billion, compared to SAR 4.27 billion in the same quarter of last year.

The Saudi Telecom Company achieved the highest net profits among the sector’s companies, at about SAR 3.304 billion in the second quarter of 2024, compared to SAR 3.008 billion in the same quarter of 2023. The company registered a growth of 4.52 percent in revenues.

On the other hand, the revenues of the Saudi Mobile Telecommunications Company (Zain Saudi Arabia) increased by about 6.69 percent, as it recorded SAR 2.55 billion during the second quarter of 2024, compared to SAR 2.39 billion in the same period last year.

Commenting on the quarterly results of the sector’s companies, and the varying net profits, the head of asset management at Rassanah Capital, Thamer Al-Saeed, told Asharq Al-Awsat that the Saudi Telecom Company remains the sector leader in terms of customer base expansion.

He also noted the continued efforts of Mobily and Zain to offer many diverse products and other services.

Financial advisor at the Arab Trader Mohammed Al-Maymouni said the financial results of telecom sector companies have maintained a steady growth, up to 12 percent, adding that Mobily witnessed strong progress compared to the rest of the companies, despite the great competition which affected its revenues.

He added that Zain was moving at a good pace and its revenues have improved during the second quarter of 2024. However, its profits were affected by an increase in the financing cost by SAR 26.5 million riyals and a rise in interest, while net income declined significantly compared to the previous year, during which the company made exceptional returns.