Lebanon's Finance Minister: 'Steps Needed After Long-term Investment Rating Downgraded '

FILE PHOTO: Minister Ali Hassan Khalil speaks during a meeting in Beirut.
FILE PHOTO: Minister Ali Hassan Khalil speaks during a meeting in Beirut.
TT
20

Lebanon's Finance Minister: 'Steps Needed After Long-term Investment Rating Downgraded '

FILE PHOTO: Minister Ali Hassan Khalil speaks during a meeting in Beirut.
FILE PHOTO: Minister Ali Hassan Khalil speaks during a meeting in Beirut.

Lebanon's Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil said a report by Moody's Investors Service that downgraded the country's long-term investment ratings reflects the need for quickly forming a new government and implementing reforms, the Associated Press (AP) reported.

Khalil's statement came in a tweet Tuesday after Moody's downgraded the Lebanon's issuer ratings to Caa1 from B3.

The outlook was changed to stable from negative.

Moody's said its decision reflects the heightened risk that the government's response to increased liquidity and financial stability risks will include "a debt rescheduling or other liability management exercise that may constitute a default under Moody's definition," according to AP.

Lebanon's economy has been under pressure with a debt of $85 billion equal to 150 percent of its GDP and little growth.



Saudi Arabia Strengthens Relations with Danish Private Sector to Boost Bilateral Trade

Saudi Industry Minister strengthens relations with Danish private sector to boost bilateral trade. (SPA)
Saudi Industry Minister strengthens relations with Danish private sector to boost bilateral trade. (SPA)
TT
20

Saudi Arabia Strengthens Relations with Danish Private Sector to Boost Bilateral Trade

Saudi Industry Minister strengthens relations with Danish private sector to boost bilateral trade. (SPA)
Saudi Industry Minister strengthens relations with Danish private sector to boost bilateral trade. (SPA)

Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, Bandar Alkhorayef, held a series of bilateral meetings on Friday with leaders of several leading Danish companies in the industry and mining sectors. Discussions covered joint investment opportunities, as well as the enablers and incentives offered by the Kingdom to investors, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The meetings focused on strengthening cooperation in the industrial and mining sectors between the two sides, with an emphasis on leveraging the strategic opportunities presented by the National Strategy for Industry across its 12 priority sectors that the Kingdom aims to localize and develop. This was discussed alongside the opportunities provided by the comprehensive mining strategy, in line with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.
Alkhorayef also met with executives from the pharmaceutical, food, and mining sectors, including FLSmidth, Danfoss, Novo Holdings, Novonesis, and Arla Foods.
The visit reflects Saudi Arabia’s continued efforts to deepen economic partnerships with leading industrial nations and attract global expertise to accelerate the growth and competitiveness of the Kingdom's industrial and mining sectors.