SIDF to Start New Phase to Support Economic Sectors

SIDF to Start New Phase to Support Economic Sectors
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SIDF to Start New Phase to Support Economic Sectors

SIDF to Start New Phase to Support Economic Sectors

Saudi Industrial Development Fund (SIDF) is preparing to start a new phase that would stimulate, support and finance the private sector, contributing to the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, an ambitious national vision aimed at diversifying the economy.

The Fund is expected to target new areas that will keep pace with the vitality of the Saudi economy in light of Vision 2030 and its national programs.

SIDF targets several areas including industry, mining, energy and logistics services under the National Industrial Development and Logistics Program (NIDLP).

The Saudi private sector is heading towards a new stage, which will stimulate it to contribute more to the Kingdom’s GDP and open a new horizon for investment.

The SIDF is now considered one of the most important arms that target stimulating, supporting, and financing the national industry.

The Cabinet approved Wednesday amendments to SIDF’s regulations, which marks a key step towards enhancing its role as a financial enabler for the Kingdom’s ambitious development plans, the most important of which is the NIDLP, which was launched earlier this year.

SIDF Director-General Dr. Ibrahim al-Mojel said that the amendment will enable the Fund to expand its support to a number of new and promising sectors through a new package of financial services and products that meet the needs of the private sector in the fields of industry, mining, energy, national industry, and logistics services.

“After 45 years of work, SIDF continues to contribute to a wide range of programs and services that will meet our ambitious goals under the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 to bolster the industry’s needs and meet its requirements, while providing first-class support to enterprises operating in the sector,” Mojel explained in a press release.



Kuwait Seeks to Offer Flexible Incentives to Attract Foreign Investments

Kuwait City (Asharq Al-Awsat file photo)
Kuwait City (Asharq Al-Awsat file photo)
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Kuwait Seeks to Offer Flexible Incentives to Attract Foreign Investments

Kuwait City (Asharq Al-Awsat file photo)
Kuwait City (Asharq Al-Awsat file photo)

Mohammad Yaqoub, Assistant Director General for Business Development at Kuwait’s Direct Investment Promotion Authority (KDIPA), announced that Kuwait is actively working to boost investments in emerging sectors such as the management of government facilities, hospitals, and ports, including Mubarak Al-Kabeer Port.

He added that his country is collaborating with Saudi Arabia on joint projects, notably the development of a railway linking the two nations.

Speaking at the 28th Annual Global Investment Conference in Riyadh, Yaqoub highlighted the 650-kilometer railway project, which is expected to cut travel time between Saudi Arabia and Kuwait to under three hours. He clarified that this initiative is separate from the broader GCC railway network under development.

The official further emphasized Kuwait’s commitment to offering streamlined processes and incentives to attract foreign investment in critical sectors such as oil and gas, healthcare, education, and technology.

Since January 2015, the Gulf country has attracted cumulative foreign investments valued at approximately 1.7 billion Kuwaiti dinars ($5.8 billion). During the 2023–2024 fiscal year, KDIPA reported foreign investment inflows amounting to 206.9 million Kuwaiti dinars ($672 million).

Yaqoub stressed that KDIPA is focused on creating an investor-friendly environment by offering flexible incentives to attract international companies. He noted Saudi Arabia’s achievements in this area and highlighted his country’s efforts to provide comparable benefits to foreign investors.

He also expressed optimism about the potential for growth in foreign investments in Kuwait, emphasizing their role in advancing economic development in line with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Yaqoub also underscored the strong synergy between the Kuwaiti and Saudi markets, which he said will help accelerate economic progress across the region.