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.



Oil Prices Edge up as Market Assesses Trump's Tariff Plans

FILE PHOTO: A ship is moored near storage tanks at an oil refinery off the coast of Singapore October 17, 2008. REUTERS/Vivek Prakash/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A ship is moored near storage tanks at an oil refinery off the coast of Singapore October 17, 2008. REUTERS/Vivek Prakash/File Photo
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Oil Prices Edge up as Market Assesses Trump's Tariff Plans

FILE PHOTO: A ship is moored near storage tanks at an oil refinery off the coast of Singapore October 17, 2008. REUTERS/Vivek Prakash/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A ship is moored near storage tanks at an oil refinery off the coast of Singapore October 17, 2008. REUTERS/Vivek Prakash/File Photo

Oil prices picked up on Tuesday, after the previous session's sell-off, as the market assessed US President-elect Donald Trump's planned trade tariffs on Mexico and Canada and his aim to increase US crude production.

Oil prices had fallen more than $2 a barrel on Monday after multiple reports that Israel and Lebanon had agreed to the terms of a ceasefire in the Israel-Hezbollah conflict. A senior Israeli official said Israel looks set to approve a US plan for a ceasefire on Tuesday, but some analysts said Monday's sell-off in oil prices had been overdone.

Brent crude futures were up 43 cents, or 0.6%, at $73.44 a barrel as of 1414 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate crude futures were at $69.38 a barrel, up 44 cents, or 0.6%.

Brent crude futures fluctuated between $73.30 and $73.80 a barrel in afternoon trading.

"Today’s intra-day fluctuations are probably more of the function of assessing Trump’s overnight pledge to impose tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China," PVM analyst Tamas Varga said.

On Monday, Trump said he would impose a 25% tariff on all products coming into the US from Mexico and Canada.

The vast majority of Canada's 4 million bpd of crude exports go to the US Analysts have said it is unlikely Trump would impose tariffs on Canadian oil, which cannot be easily replaced since it differs from grades that the US produces.

On Monday, Reuters reported that Trump's team is also preparing an energy package to roll out within days of his taking office that would increase oil drilling.

A senior executive at Exxon Mobil said on Tuesday that US oil and gas producers are unlikely to "radically increase'' production.

OPEC+ MEETING

Market reaction on Monday to the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire news was "over the top" as the broader Middle East conflict has "never actually disrupted supplies significantly to induce war premiums" this year, said senior market analyst Priyanka Sachdeva at Phillip Nova.

Elsewhere, OPEC+ at its next meeting on Sunday may consider leaving its current oil output cuts in place from Jan. 1. The producer group is already postponing hikes amid global demand worries.