SIDF Stimulates Small Businesses, Entrepreneurships

Saudi Arabia supports small and medium businesses and entrepreneurships. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Arabia supports small and medium businesses and entrepreneurships. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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SIDF Stimulates Small Businesses, Entrepreneurships

Saudi Arabia supports small and medium businesses and entrepreneurships. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Arabia supports small and medium businesses and entrepreneurships. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Saudi Industrial and Development Fund (SIDF) has been seeking to stimulate small and medium enterprises by financing projects in the manufacturing sector within Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.

In order to promote the industrial sector and provide it with its financial needs, the SIDF has provided a package of innovative specialized financing programs with many payment facilities.

The Fund adopted “Mutajadida” (renewable) program, which aims to achieve national aspirations in this field by building sustainable industrial utilities for renewable energy, stimulating production projects to serve the industrial, commercial and agricultural sectors, and raising the quality of products specialized in solar and wind energy, and aligning them with local and global demand.

The SIDF has also launched the “Afaaq” (Horizons) program, which contributes to the growth and motivation of small and medium enterprises and entrepreneurs through early financing with payment facilities.

Another program, called “Tawtin” (nationalization), seeks to raise the level of spending to maximize local content by supporting existing national products.

The Saudi Industrial Development Fund is the main financial supporter of the sectors of industry, mining, energy and logistic services listed under the National Industry and Logistics Services Development Program (NDLP).

This will support Saudi Arabia’s transformation into a major industrial power, and a global logistical platform, as one of the most important targets of Vision 2030.

The Fund has approved loans worth SAR 12.5 billion riyals (USD 3.3 billion) during the 2019 fiscal year, with an increase of 32 percent compared to 2018.



Putin, Al-Sudani Discuss OPEC+ Coordination on Oil Price Stability

Russian President Vladimir Putin
Russian President Vladimir Putin
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Putin, Al-Sudani Discuss OPEC+ Coordination on Oil Price Stability

Russian President Vladimir Putin
Russian President Vladimir Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani on Thursday discussed the importance of coordination between OPEC and OPEC+ members on oil price stability in a manner that guarantees fair prices for exporters and consumers.

Putin held a phone call with al-Sudani during which they discussed the OPEC+ oil agreement and the situation in the Middle East, the Kremlin said.

The telephone conversation came days prior to an OPEC+ key meeting expected early next month.

Reuters said that OPEC+ may push back output increases again when it meets on Dec. 1 due to weak global oil demand, according to three OPEC+ sources familiar with the discussions. Ministers last shelved the increase for a month when they met virtually on Nov. 3.

In a statement, the Kremlin on Thursday said Putin and Al-Sudani touched upon various aspects of coordination as part of OPEC+, a format that helps maintain stability in the global oil market, and reaffirmed the importance of continuing to coordinate steps in this format.

The Middle East issues were also mentioned in light of the unprecedented escalation of tensions in the region, it added.

The parties also agreed on further contacts at various levels, the statement said.

Later, Al-Sudani’s office said the phone call touched on energy-related matters, highlighting the importance of coordination among all concerned countries within OPEC and the OPEC+ group to stabilize oil and gas prices, ensuring fair pricing for both producers and consumers.