Saudi Stock Exchange to Stimulate Sustainability for Family Businesses

Family companies are invited to take advantage of the Saudi financial markets for their sustainability, Asharq Al-Awsat
Family companies are invited to take advantage of the Saudi financial markets for their sustainability, Asharq Al-Awsat
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Saudi Stock Exchange to Stimulate Sustainability for Family Businesses

Family companies are invited to take advantage of the Saudi financial markets for their sustainability, Asharq Al-Awsat
Family companies are invited to take advantage of the Saudi financial markets for their sustainability, Asharq Al-Awsat

The Capital Market Authority of Saudi Arabia (CMA) and Tadawul are mobilizing to increase the momentum of stimulating the Saudi private sector towards the transformation into joint-stock companies and to benefit from the financial markets in the country, especially the parallel market, Nomu.

This is coupled with indicators of economic recovery in the aftermath of the coronavirus lockdown and its lifting.

The past few days have witnessed active mobility from the CMA and Tadawul to raise awareness in the private sector.

They set out to encourage small and medium-sized companies and invited entrepreneurs to take advantage of financial market financing.

They invited family companies to seize the opportunity of the financial market to gain sustainability through the Tadawul market and Nomu, especially with the incentives and procedural facilities that are being provided.

CMA Chairman Mohammed El-Kuwaiz, in a meeting held a few days ago, said that family companies are invited to gain sustainability through the Saudi financial market which has recorded tangible progress that contributes in practical terms to adding an effective financing channel to develop businesses for companies.

El- Kuwaiz pointed out that 30% of family businesses avoid public offering due to a fear of losing control of the company.

But studies prove that more firmness and steadfastness are acquired after the offering in front of challenges. El- Kuwaiz pointed out that the dominant percentage of shares remains for the original owners.

He also underlined the relationship between disclosure and corporate governance, risk reduction related to family business management and the low cost of financing after listing, explaining that CMA regulations place clear considerations for the relationship between shareholders and founders of family businesses.



IMF Approves Third Review of Sri Lanka's $2.9 Bln Bailout

Peter Breuer, Senior Mission Chief for Sri Lanka at the IMF along with Katsiaryna Svirydzenka, Deputy Mission Chief for Sri Lanka at the IMF and Martha Tesfaye Woldemichael, Deputy Mission Chief for Sri Lanka at the IMF, attend a press conference organized by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Colombo, Sri Lanka, November 23, 2024. REUTERS/Thilina Kaluthotage
Peter Breuer, Senior Mission Chief for Sri Lanka at the IMF along with Katsiaryna Svirydzenka, Deputy Mission Chief for Sri Lanka at the IMF and Martha Tesfaye Woldemichael, Deputy Mission Chief for Sri Lanka at the IMF, attend a press conference organized by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Colombo, Sri Lanka, November 23, 2024. REUTERS/Thilina Kaluthotage
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IMF Approves Third Review of Sri Lanka's $2.9 Bln Bailout

Peter Breuer, Senior Mission Chief for Sri Lanka at the IMF along with Katsiaryna Svirydzenka, Deputy Mission Chief for Sri Lanka at the IMF and Martha Tesfaye Woldemichael, Deputy Mission Chief for Sri Lanka at the IMF, attend a press conference organized by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Colombo, Sri Lanka, November 23, 2024. REUTERS/Thilina Kaluthotage
Peter Breuer, Senior Mission Chief for Sri Lanka at the IMF along with Katsiaryna Svirydzenka, Deputy Mission Chief for Sri Lanka at the IMF and Martha Tesfaye Woldemichael, Deputy Mission Chief for Sri Lanka at the IMF, attend a press conference organized by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Colombo, Sri Lanka, November 23, 2024. REUTERS/Thilina Kaluthotage

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved the third review of Sri Lanka's $2.9 billion bailout on Saturday but warned that the economy remains vulnerable.
In a statement, the global lender said it would release about $333 million, bringing total funding to around $1.3 billion, to the crisis-hit South Asian nation. It said signs of an economic recovery were emerging, Reuters reported.
In a note of caution, it said "the critical next steps are to complete the commercial debt restructuring, finalize bilateral agreements with official creditors along the lines of the accord with the Official Creditor Committee and implement the terms of the other agreements. This will help restore Sri Lanka's debt sustainability."
Cash-strapped Sri Lanka plunged into its worst financial crisis in more than seven decades in 2022 with a severe dollar shortage sending inflation soaring to 70%, its currency to record lows and its economy contracting by 7.3% during the worst of the fallout and by 2.3% last year.
"Maintaining macroeconomic stability and restoring debt sustainability are key to securing Sri Lanka's prosperity and require persevering with responsible fiscal policy," the IMF said.
The IMF bailout secured in March last year helped stabilize economic conditions. The rupee has risen 11.3% in recent months and inflation disappeared, with prices falling 0.8% last month.
The island nation's economy is expected to grow 4.4% this year, the first increase in three years, according to the World Bank.
However, Sri Lanka still needs to complete a $12.5 billion debt restructuring with bondholders, which President Anura Kumara Dissanayake aims to finalize in December.
Sri Lanka will enter into individual agreements with bilateral creditors including Japan, China and India needed to complete a $10 billion debt restructuring, Dissanayake said.
He won the presidency in September, and his leftist coalition won a record 159 seats in the 225-member parliament in a general election last week.