NEOM Established as Closed Joint-Stock Company Owned by Saudi Sovereign Wealth Fund

NEOM is established as a closed joint-stock company owned by the Saudi Sovereign Wealth Fund. (SPA)
NEOM is established as a closed joint-stock company owned by the Saudi Sovereign Wealth Fund. (SPA)
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NEOM Established as Closed Joint-Stock Company Owned by Saudi Sovereign Wealth Fund

NEOM is established as a closed joint-stock company owned by the Saudi Sovereign Wealth Fund. (SPA)
NEOM is established as a closed joint-stock company owned by the Saudi Sovereign Wealth Fund. (SPA)

The world’s future destination for dreamers and innovators has obtained the necessary approvals from authorities in Saudi Arabia to establish a closed joint-stock company under the name NEOM to develop the project that is set to be the most ambitious on earth.

The newly-established entity is fully owned by the Public Investment Fund, the sovereign wealth fund of Saudi Arabia and is responsible for achieving NEOM’s vision, which is to be the land of the future, where the greatest minds and best talents are empowered to embody pioneering ideas and exceed boundaries in a world inspired by imagination.

In order to achieve NEOM’s vision, the company will develop a new area in the Northwest of Saudi Arabia equipped with all elements to make it the best place to live and work; and a leading investment destination.

This area will be the land of the future that will incubate human genius in search for solutions key challenges facing humanity.

NEOM will have new cities with extensive infrastructure that includes a network of airports, an advanced seaport, industrial areas, as well as creative and innovation centers to unlock the potential of a knowledge-based economy, and a range of world-class tourist destinations.

It is designed as an eco-friendly environment that caters for sustainability and livability.

The significant change in the legal status of NEOM will also allow the company to create 16 key economic sectors that will put it on the global investment map, which includes the future of energy, water, tourism, media, health and well-being, sport, food, mobility, biotech, manufacturing and livability.

Nadhmi Al-Nasr, will serve as the CEO of NEOM, while the 16 sectors will be spearheaded by leading international executives and experts in their fields.

Al-Nasr is a leading Saudi executive with a track record of developing mega projects including Shaybah oilfield, a giant deposit located at the heart of the Empty Quarter desert, as well as King Abdullah University for Science and Technology (KAUST).

Commenting on this milestone, he said: “The new entity will have a unique and historical role to play as it will be responsible for developing a new global destination from scratch on a huge area, and a futuristic civilization that is based on sustainability and livability.”

He added: "All this aims to turn NEOM into a global center for attracting investment, knowledge, innovation and technology in order to compete with all economic capital cities.”



Fitch Revises Italy's Outlook to 'Positive' on Stronger Fiscal Performance

Porta Nuova's financial district is seen in downtown Milan, Italy, May 16, 2018. REUTERS/Stefano Rellandini/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights
Porta Nuova's financial district is seen in downtown Milan, Italy, May 16, 2018. REUTERS/Stefano Rellandini/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights
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Fitch Revises Italy's Outlook to 'Positive' on Stronger Fiscal Performance

Porta Nuova's financial district is seen in downtown Milan, Italy, May 16, 2018. REUTERS/Stefano Rellandini/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights
Porta Nuova's financial district is seen in downtown Milan, Italy, May 16, 2018. REUTERS/Stefano Rellandini/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights

Global credit ratings agency Fitch on Friday revised its outlook on Italy to 'positive' from 'stable', citing recent improvements in the fiscal performance of the euro zone's third largest economy and its commitment to EU budget regulations.
The upgrade to the outlook is a boost to Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's government and comes shortly after Rome reached an agreement with the European Commission on a seven-year budget adjustment, said Reuters.
"Italy's fiscal credibility has increased, and the 2025 budget underscores the government's commitment to EU fiscal rules," Fitch said in a statement.
The agency confirmed Italy's rating at 'BBB'.
In June, the Commission placed Italy and six other countries under a disciplinary procedure due to high budget deficits. Italy's 2023 shortfall came in at 7.2% of gross domestic product, the highest in the 20-nation euro zone.
However, last month the Italian government revised down its targets for the deficit this year and next, to 3.8% and 3.3% of GDP respectively, and said the deficit would fall below the EU’s 3% limit in 2026.
"The judgments of the ratings agencies are the result of the responsible actions of this government and they underscore Italy's credibility," Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti said in a statement after Fitch's announcement.
Earlier on Friday, S&P Global confirmed its rating on Italy at 'BBB' and left the outlook at 'stable'.
RISING DEBT
Despite the narrowing annual budget deficits, Italy's debt, proportionally the second highest in the euro zone, is forecast by the government to climb from 134.8% of gross domestic product last year to 137.8% in 2026, before gradually declining.
The Treasury says the projected increase is due to costly home renovation incentives adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic, known as the Superbonus scheme.
The premium investors pay to hold Italian government bonds over top-rated German ones narrowed on Friday to around 116 basis points, the lowest level since end-2021.
Analysts said earlier this week that positive news from any of the ratings agencies due to review Italy could trigger a further narrowing of the yield spread against Germany.
Fitch said its revision to Italy's outlook was also driven by "signs of stronger potential growth and a more stable political context."
The Italian economy expanded by 0.7% in 2023, and most analysts expect a similar modest growth rate this year, slightly below the government's official 1% target.
Meloni, who took office two years ago, retains high approval ratings and opinion polls show her right-wing Brothers of Italy party is comfortably the largest in Italy, with popular support of almost 30%, up from the 26% it won at the 2022 election.
Italy faces further credit rating reviews by Moody's, DBRS and Scope Ratings over the next few weeks up to No. 29.