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.
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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 Aramco Signs Development Deal with China’s EV Giant BYD

The Saudi Aramco logo is pictured at Hyvolution exhibition in Paris, France, February 1, 2024. (Reuters)
The Saudi Aramco logo is pictured at Hyvolution exhibition in Paris, France, February 1, 2024. (Reuters)
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Saudi Aramco Signs Development Deal with China’s EV Giant BYD

The Saudi Aramco logo is pictured at Hyvolution exhibition in Paris, France, February 1, 2024. (Reuters)
The Saudi Aramco logo is pictured at Hyvolution exhibition in Paris, France, February 1, 2024. (Reuters)

Saudi oil giant Aramco signed a joint development agreement with Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer BYD to explore collaboration in the development of new energy vehicle technologies, Aramco said on Monday.

The agreement, signed by Aramco unit Saudi Aramco Technologies Company (SATC), aims to enhance vehicle efficiency and environmental performance, as the Kingdom steps up efforts to transition toward cleaner mobility.

The deal comes after US EV maker Tesla launched its presence in Saudi Arabia with an event in Riyadh on April 10. The company is looking to revive global sales, which fell 13% in the first quarter of 2025 amid intensifying competition and ongoing political controversy surrounding CEO Elon Musk.

"Aramco is exploring a number of ways to potentially optimize transport efficiency, from innovative lower-carbon fuels to advanced powertrain concepts", Ali A. Al-Meshari, Aramco Senior Vice President of Technology Oversight and Coordination said.

Saudi Arabia has set an ambitious target to increase electric vehicle adoption from 1% to 30% within five years.

Tesla has announced plans to roll out online sales, pop-up stores, and Supercharger stations in key Saudi cities to support its expansion.

Tesla and BYD, the world’s two largest EV makers, are increasingly vying for global market dominance, as BYD’s rapid growth and lower-cost models pressure Tesla’s share in key regions.