Saudi-Indonesian Business Forum Discusses Boosting Joint Business Opportunities

Saudi Minister of Investment Khalid al-Falih with Indonesian officials during the Saudi-Indonesian Business Forum. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Minister of Investment Khalid al-Falih with Indonesian officials during the Saudi-Indonesian Business Forum. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
TT

Saudi-Indonesian Business Forum Discusses Boosting Joint Business Opportunities

Saudi Minister of Investment Khalid al-Falih with Indonesian officials during the Saudi-Indonesian Business Forum. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Minister of Investment Khalid al-Falih with Indonesian officials during the Saudi-Indonesian Business Forum. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Minister of Investment Khalid al-Falih asserted that Saudi Arabia continues to support and diversify its national economy within the framework of Vision 2030.

Speaking at the Saudi-Indonesian Business Forum, Falih said that improving the business environment and legislation, liberalizing the market and increasing the foreign investments had created many opportunities and improved foreign direct investment (FDI) by 12 percent.

The forum was organized by the Saudi Union of Chambers and attended by Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Maritime and Investments Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, Minister of State-Owned Enterprises Erick Thohir, and the Chairman of the Saudi Chambers' Council Ajlan bin Abdulaziz al-Ajlan.

The Saudi minister said it is important to exploit the capabilities of both countries through joint projects, stressing the need to enhance the role of the business sector.

Falih called on the business sectors to translate this partnership into joint business and investments.

The two countries, as influential economic forces of the G20, faced the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic and were able to enhance recovery through various measures and initiatives, stated the minister.

He called for boosting export exchange, in light of the great opportunities provided by the Saudi and Indonesian economies, the promising programs and strong infrastructure.

For his part, Pandjaitan discussed his country's economic, investment and natural potential, saying there were huge investment opportunities in the digital economy, including online shopping and banking.

He explained that his country has made great efforts to recover from the repercussions of the pandemic by supporting the economy and providing financial incentives to support the GDP.

The Minister called on Saudi investors to seize the promising opportunities in Indonesia, especially in transformative industries, hydroelectricity and the digital economy sectors.

Ajlan called for strengthening and activating the efforts of the joint Saudi-Indonesian Business Council.

He said the volume of bilateral trade exchange amounted to $5.4 billion dollars, including non-oil commodities, noting that he looks forward to completing the trade talks with Indonesian counterparts and their participation in the programs and projects of Vision 2030.

During the forum, the Ministry of Investment highlighted its role in serving investors, along with the efforts to boost the investment environment in Saudi Arabia and increase domestic and foreign investments.

It also addressed Vision 2030 and its objectives to boost the contributions of various sectors, such as the small and medium enterprises (SMEs), the private sector, oil and gas, and foreign direct investment.

The presentation also mentioned the incentives to choose Saudi Arabia as an investment destination, such as the innovative reforms brought about by Vision 2030, the encouraging business environment, the strategic location and innovative real estate solutions.



Türkiye TPAO, Shell Sign Deal to Carry out Exploration Work offshore Bulgaria

A Shell logo is seen at a gas station in Buenos Aires, Argentina, March 12, 2018. (Reuters)
A Shell logo is seen at a gas station in Buenos Aires, Argentina, March 12, 2018. (Reuters)
TT

Türkiye TPAO, Shell Sign Deal to Carry out Exploration Work offshore Bulgaria

A Shell logo is seen at a gas station in Buenos Aires, Argentina, March 12, 2018. (Reuters)
A Shell logo is seen at a gas station in Buenos Aires, Argentina, March 12, 2018. (Reuters)

Türkiye Petrolleri (TPAO) has signed a partnership agreement with Shell to carry out exploration work in Bulgaria's maritime zone, the Turkish energy ministry and British oil major said on Wednesday.

European Union member Bulgaria, which had been totally dependent on Russian gas until 2022, has been seeking to diversify its gas supplies and find cheaper sources, Reuters reported.

TPAO and Shell will jointly explore the Khan Tervel block, located near Türkiye's Sakarya gas field, and will hold a five-year licence in Bulgaria's exclusive economic zone, Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said.

Shell will continue as operator of the block, while TPAO will take a 33% interest in the licence, a Shell spokesperson said.

Since the start of this year, TPAO has signed energy cooperation agreements with ExxonMobil, Chevron and BP for possible exploration work in the Black Sea and the Mediterranean.

In April, Shell signed a contract with Bulgaria's government to allow the oil major to explore 4,000 square metres in the block.


Saudia Signs Strategic Partnership Agreement with Six Flags and Aquarabia Qiddiya City

udia will develop special travel packages designed to enable visitors to experience world-class attractions - SPA
udia will develop special travel packages designed to enable visitors to experience world-class attractions - SPA
TT

Saudia Signs Strategic Partnership Agreement with Six Flags and Aquarabia Qiddiya City

udia will develop special travel packages designed to enable visitors to experience world-class attractions - SPA
udia will develop special travel packages designed to enable visitors to experience world-class attractions - SPA

Saudia Airlines has signed a five-year strategic partnership with Six Flags and Aquarabia Qiddiya City, becoming the official premier partner exclusively in the airline category.

As part of the partnership, Saudia will develop special travel packages designed to enable visitors to experience world-class attractions. The collaboration also brings the spirit of Six Flags and Aquarabia Qiddiya City to the skies through special aircraft branding across Saudia’s fleet, SPA reported. 

Chief Marketing Officer of Saudia Group Khaled Tash said in a press release: "Saudia is committed to supporting national development projects as part of its contribution to Vision 2030, aligned with our strategy to bring the world to the Kingdom. Partnerships of this scale with national partners play a key role in positioning Saudi Arabia as a leading global destination for entertainment and tourism."

Park President of Six Flags and Aquarabia Qiddiya City Brian Machamer added: "Our partnership with Saudia not only reflects a shared ambition to connect the Kingdom to the world through world-class entertainment experiences, but strengthens our ability to attract visitors from around the world and realize our vision of setting a new global benchmark for immersive, world-class theme park entertainment and reinforcing Saudi Arabia’s growing presence on the global tourism stage."

Six Flags Qiddiya City sets a new benchmark for exceptional entertainment regionally and globally. Spanning six iconic themed lands, the theme park takes visitors on an immersive journey across 28 rides and attractions designed to world-class standards. Beyond the scale and diversity of its offerings, Six Flags Qiddiya City stands out for pushing the boundaries of engineering and entertainment, featuring five exclusive, record-breaking rides that have redefined global benchmarks. Leading these innovations is Falcons Flight, the roller coaster that has captured global attention as the fastest, tallest, and longest in the world.

Aquarabia Qiddiya City delivers a distinctive aquatic entertainment experience, offering 22 rides and water attractions, along with a man-made river designed for both relaxation and family-friendly water fun. For guests seeking privacy and elevated comfort, Aquarabia features 91 luxury cabanas, positioning the destination as a fully integrated leisure offering that redefines water-based entertainment to the highest international standards.

Located in the Tuwaiq Mountains near Riyadh, Qiddiya City is an emerging destination bringing together entertainment, sports, and culture. Six Flags and Aquarabia Qiddiya City form part of its entertainment offering.


Moody’s Establishes Regional HQ in Riyadh, Deepening Presence in Region

(FILES) Signage for Moody's Corporation is displayed at their headquarters at 7 World Trade Center on March 18, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by ANGELA WEISS / AFP)
(FILES) Signage for Moody's Corporation is displayed at their headquarters at 7 World Trade Center on March 18, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by ANGELA WEISS / AFP)
TT

Moody’s Establishes Regional HQ in Riyadh, Deepening Presence in Region

(FILES) Signage for Moody's Corporation is displayed at their headquarters at 7 World Trade Center on March 18, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by ANGELA WEISS / AFP)
(FILES) Signage for Moody's Corporation is displayed at their headquarters at 7 World Trade Center on March 18, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by ANGELA WEISS / AFP)

Moody’s Corporation announced that it has established its regional headquarters in Riyadh, reflecting ongoing commitment to support the development of the Kingdom’s capital markets and economy.

“This investment aligns to the Kingdom's Vision 2030 initiative and underscores its dynamism and growth,” Moody’s said in a statement this week.

The new regional headquarters marks an expansion of Moody’s presence in Saudi Arabia, where the company first opened an office in 2018, and reflects its longstanding commitment to the Middle East.

“The headquarters will strengthen Moody’s engagement with Saudi institutions and enable broader access to Moody’s decision grade data, analytics and insights,” said the statement.

“Our decision to establish a regional headquarters in Riyadh reflects our confidence in Saudi Arabia’s strong economic momentum, as well as our commitment to helping domestic and international investors unlock opportunities with our expertise and insights,” said President and Chief Executive Officer of Moody’s Rob Fauber.

“We are well positioned to provide the analytical capabilities and market intelligence that investors and institutions need to navigate evolving markets across the Middle East,” the statement quoted him as saying.

Mahmoud Totonji will lead the regional headquarters as General Manager.