Saudi Arabia, Jordan Discuss Complementary Projects North of NEOM

A view of the NEOM project. (NEOM via Twitter)
A view of the NEOM project. (NEOM via Twitter)
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Saudi Arabia, Jordan Discuss Complementary Projects North of NEOM

A view of the NEOM project. (NEOM via Twitter)
A view of the NEOM project. (NEOM via Twitter)

Saudi Arabia and Jordan discussed last week efforts to activate the opportunities available north of NEOM project, from the Jordanian side.

Jordan’s side of the border boasts ports and ready infrastructure that could be used immediately for projects that serve both countries and boost Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and the region.

Chairman of Jordan’s Investment Commission Khalid Wazani said the NEOM project is attracting more Saudi-Jordanian investments that will be established in the Aqaba port city, including the enhancement of the existing business there.

He pointed out that the Jordanian side of NEOM includes Aqaba port and Marsa Zayed. It is expected to become a platform for exchange of expertise and consultations that will yield complementary projects related to NEOM.

This will make it easier for investors to benefit from the port, Wazani noted.

In a statement Friday, he stressed that the expected results, convergence of views and the achievement of some of the project’s objectives will serve Saudi Vision 2030 and the region in general, including Egypt and Jordan, which are part of NEOM.

He made his remarks following a meeting in Riyadh with member of the Board of Directors and Chairman of the Securities and Investment Committee at the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce Mohammed al-Sayer.

The meeting was attended by a number of Jordanian officials and investors from both countries representing different sectors.

In October 2017, the $500 billion NEOM project was launched by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense.

Located in the Kingdom’s far northwest, NEOM will provide opportunities for development with a total area of 460 km on the banks of the Red Sea and a total area of 26,500 square meters.



Syria Completes First Global SWIFT Transfer since War

FILE PHOTO: A drone view shows the Syrian central bank, after the ousting of Syria's Bashar al-Assad, in Damascus, Syria, December 16, 2024. REUTERS/Yosri Al Jamal/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A drone view shows the Syrian central bank, after the ousting of Syria's Bashar al-Assad, in Damascus, Syria, December 16, 2024. REUTERS/Yosri Al Jamal/File Photo
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Syria Completes First Global SWIFT Transfer since War

FILE PHOTO: A drone view shows the Syrian central bank, after the ousting of Syria's Bashar al-Assad, in Damascus, Syria, December 16, 2024. REUTERS/Yosri Al Jamal/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A drone view shows the Syrian central bank, after the ousting of Syria's Bashar al-Assad, in Damascus, Syria, December 16, 2024. REUTERS/Yosri Al Jamal/File Photo

Syria has carried out its first international bank transaction via the SWIFT system since the outbreak of its 14-year civil war, its central bank governor said on Thursday, a milestone in Syria's push to reintegrate into the global financial system.

Central bank governor Abdelkader Husriyeh told Reuters in Damascus that a direct commercial transaction had been carried out from a Syrian to an Italian bank on Sunday, and that transactions with US banks could begin within weeks.

"The door is now open to more such transactions," he said.

Syrian banks were largely cut off from the world during the civil war after a crackdown by Bashar al-Assad on anti-government protests in 2011 led Western states to impose sanctions, including on Syria's central bank. Assad was ousted as president in a lightning offensive by opposition factions last year and Syria has since taken steps to re-establish international ties, culminating in a May meeting between interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa and US President Donald Trump in Riyadh. The US then significantly eased its sanctions and some in Congress are pushing for them to be totally repealed. Europe has announced the end of its economic sanctions regime.

Syria needs to make transfers with Western financial institutions in order to bring in huge sums for reconstruction and to kickstart a war-ravaged economy that has left nine out of 10 people poor, according to the United Nations.

Husriyeh chaired a high-level virtual meeting on Wednesday bringing together Syrian banks, several US banks and US officials, including Washington's Syria envoy Thomas Barrack.

The aim of the meeting was to accelerate the reconnection of Syria's banking system to the global financial system and Husriyeh extended a formal invitation to US banks to re-establish correspondent banking ties.

"We have two clear targets: have US banks set up representative offices in Syria and have transactions resume between Syrian and American banks. I think the latter can happen in a matter of weeks," Husriyeh told Reuters.

Among the banks invited to Wednesday's conference were JP Morgan, Morgan Stanley and Citibank, though it was not immediately clear who attended.