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Riyadh’s FII Day One: 23 Agreements Worth $15 Billion

A view shows branded oil tanks at Saudi Aramco oil facility in Abqaiq, Saudi Arabia October 12, 2019. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov/File Photo
A view shows branded oil tanks at Saudi Aramco oil facility in Abqaiq, Saudi Arabia October 12, 2019. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov/File Photo
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Riyadh’s FII Day One: 23 Agreements Worth $15 Billion

A view shows branded oil tanks at Saudi Aramco oil facility in Abqaiq, Saudi Arabia October 12, 2019. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov/File Photo
A view shows branded oil tanks at Saudi Aramco oil facility in Abqaiq, Saudi Arabia October 12, 2019. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov/File Photo

The first day of the Future Investment Initiative (FII), currently held in Riyadh, witnessed the signing of 23 agreements worth a total of $15 billion by foreign and Saudi companies.

The Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA) said in a statement on Wednesday that one of the aims of the FII was to attract foreign investment to the Kingdom, adding that companies from all continents have signed agreements to invest in an array of fields.

Saudi Aramco announced its intention to establish the Jazan Power Joint Venture. The JV will be 46 percent owned by Air Products, 25 percent by ACWA Power, 20 percent by Saudi Aramco and 9 percent by Air Products Qudra.

In addition, the Company signed seven MoUs at the FII in Riyadh on Tuesday, including a collaboration MoU worth $1 billion with Tubacex Group, to invest in pipe weld overlay and cladding services manufacturing facilities in the Kingdom.

Another MoU was signed between Saudi Aramco and Baker Hughes to collaborate on artificial intelligence and digital transformation, worth $230 million.

Aramco Senior Vice President of Technical Services, Ahmad A. Al Saadi, reaffirmed the Company’s position, saying: “Saudi Aramco aims to promote business investment opportunities through technology across the Kingdom’s energy services sector ecosystem. The agreements signed today support the Kingdom’s plans to develop industrial zones, create jobs and attract foreign direct investment, as well as drive economic diversification.”

The statement by Aramco noted that the MoUs “represent new collaborations with companies from six countries. These include France, Norway, New Zealand, South Korea, Spain and the United States.”

“The MoUs are intended to support Saudi Aramco’s operations and Saudi Arabia’s economic diversification strategy by increasing the efficiency of technology used in upstream, downstream and engineering services. In the long term, these agreements aim to help improve sustainability and technological efficiency throughout the value chain,” the statement added.

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Future Investment Initiative Conference Gathers Global Decision-Makers in Riyadh

One of the dialogue sessions of the Future Investment Initiative in its previous edition (Asharq Al-Awsat)
One of the dialogue sessions of the Future Investment Initiative in its previous edition (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Future Investment Initiative Conference Gathers Global Decision-Makers in Riyadh

One of the dialogue sessions of the Future Investment Initiative in its previous edition (Asharq Al-Awsat)
One of the dialogue sessions of the Future Investment Initiative in its previous edition (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, Riyadh is set to launch the eighth edition of the Future Investment Initiative (FII) conference on Monday.
This year’s event carries the theme, “Infinite Horizons... Investing Today, Shaping Tomorrow” and will feature prominent figures in finance, investment, and technology.
Through its annual conference, often called the “Davos of the Desert,” the Future Investment Initiative aims to foster discussions on how investment can drive a prosperous and sustainable future, expanding the possibilities for humanity.
The conference is expected to attract over 7,000 guests and 500 speakers, covering a wide range of current topics across more than 200 sessions. Key areas of focus include economic stability, equitable development, climate change, artificial intelligence, innovation, health, and geopolitical issues.
Among those looking to leverage projects aligned with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 are David Solomon of Goldman Sachs, Jane Fraser of Citigroup, and Larry Fink of BlackRock, which recently agreed to establish a multi-asset investment platform in Riyadh, backed by a $5 billion investment from Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund. This year, the conference will also host the New Africa Summit, featuring speakers from Africa’s mining and banking sectors.
Reflecting Saudi Arabia’s emphasis on technology and artificial intelligence, industry leaders in these fields will participate in the event. Notably, Alphabet President Ruth Porat, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew, and tech entrepreneur Benjamin Horowitz, co-founder of the venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, are scheduled to speak for the first time.
According to Richard Attias, CEO of the Future Investment Initiative, executives worldwide are expected to announce deals exceeding $28 billion. Some of these initiatives will focus on artificial intelligence, including a new potential fund with Andreessen Horowitz that could grow to $40 billion, as reported by Bloomberg.
The Kingdom is also expected to announce a new company that will invest at least $10 billion in making Saudi Arabia the world’s largest producer of hydrogen—a low-carbon fuel critical for the global transition away from fossil fuels. Key speakers from Asia will include Hong Kong’s Financial Secretary Paul Chan and Belt and Road Commissioner Nicholas Ho.
On the eve of the event, Swiss entrepreneur and FII participant Stephan Knuser told Asharq Al-Awsat that the conference will provide significant business insights for both local and international communities, anticipating that new partnerships will form between Swiss and Saudi companies in energy-efficient technologies and food security.
Neil Bush, Chairman of Sky Towers, remarked: “We view FII as not only a driver for attracting capital but also for bringing in technologies that accelerate Saudi Arabia’s goals.” According to Bush, the FII topics align with needs like business registration processes, free trade zone policies, and strategies for developing industrial complexes, which will help accelerate Vision 2030 goals, including carbon reduction.