Khartoum Reviews Decision to Seize Lands Owned by Saudi Investors

Saudi investments in the country are estimated at more than USD 6 billion, according to the head of the Joint Saudi-Sudanese Business Council. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi investments in the country are estimated at more than USD 6 billion, according to the head of the Joint Saudi-Sudanese Business Council. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Khartoum Reviews Decision to Seize Lands Owned by Saudi Investors

Saudi investments in the country are estimated at more than USD 6 billion, according to the head of the Joint Saudi-Sudanese Business Council. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi investments in the country are estimated at more than USD 6 billion, according to the head of the Joint Saudi-Sudanese Business Council. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Sudan’s Minister of Investment, Dr. Al-Hadi Muhammad Ibrahim, underlined on Monday a strategic plan to solve issues pertaining to Saudi investments in his country.

He said he was looking forward to activating the banking mechanisms between the two sides, after the removal of Sudan from the US list of countries sponsoring terrorism.

The minister also stressed the importance of Saudi investments in Sudan, as one of the most significant resources for the development of the Sudanese economy that provides job opportunities for the youth.

His remarks came during a virtual meeting with members of the Executive Committee of the Saudi-Sudanese Business Council to discuss the main obstacles facing Saudi investors in Sudan at the request of Eng. Hussein Saeed Bahri, Chairman of the Council.

Bahri told Asharq Al-Awsat that the meeting focused on the reality and size of Saudi investments, the obstacles facing such investments, and the need to develop a clear strategy to solve related problems.

He added that the discussions emphasized the need to find a solution to the problem of ports and the means to provide fuel, in addition to reconsidering recent decisions to reclaim some lands owned by Saudi investors in Sudan.

He also quoted the Sudanese Minister of Investment as saying that Saudi investments would receive great attention from his government, as they currently constitute the biggest share of investments in the country.

The head of the joint business council pointed out that Saudi investments in Sudan were estimated at more than USD6 billion in agriculture, industry and the services sector, with a particular focus on agricultural and livestock projects.



Lebanon's Bonds Rally as Parliament Elects 1st President since 2022

Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri shakes hands with Lebanon’s army chief Joseph Aoun after he is elected as the country’s president at the parliament building in Beirut, Lebanon, Jan. 9, 2025. Reuters/Mohamed Azakir
Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri shakes hands with Lebanon’s army chief Joseph Aoun after he is elected as the country’s president at the parliament building in Beirut, Lebanon, Jan. 9, 2025. Reuters/Mohamed Azakir
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Lebanon's Bonds Rally as Parliament Elects 1st President since 2022

Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri shakes hands with Lebanon’s army chief Joseph Aoun after he is elected as the country’s president at the parliament building in Beirut, Lebanon, Jan. 9, 2025. Reuters/Mohamed Azakir
Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri shakes hands with Lebanon’s army chief Joseph Aoun after he is elected as the country’s president at the parliament building in Beirut, Lebanon, Jan. 9, 2025. Reuters/Mohamed Azakir

Lebanese government bonds extended their three-month-long rally on Thursday as the crisis-ravaged country's parliament voted in a new head of state for the first time since 2022.

Lebanese lawmakers elected army chief Joseph Aoun as president. It came after the failure of 12 previous attempts to pick a president and boosts hopes that Lebanon might finally be able to start addressing its dire economic woes.

The country's battered bonds have almost trebled in value since September, when the regional conflict with Israel weakened Lebanese armed group Hezbollah, long viewed as an obstacle to overcoming its political paralysis.

According to Reuters, most of Lebanon's international bonds, which have been in default since 2020, rallied after Aoun's victory was announced to stand 1.3 to 1.7 cents higher on the day and at just over 16 cents on the dollar.

They have risen almost every day since late December, although they remain some of the lowest-priced government bonds in the world, reflecting the scale of Lebanon's difficulties.

With its economy and financial system still reeling from a collapse in 2019, Lebanon is in dire need of international support to rebuild from the conflict, which the World Bank estimates to have cost the country $8.5 billion.

Hasnain Malik, an analyst at financial research firm Tellimer said Aoun's victory was "the first necessary step on a very long road to recovery".

Malik said Aoun now needs to appoint a prime minister and assemble a cabinet that can retain the support of parliament, resuscitate long-delayed reforms and help Lebanon secure international financial support.

The 61-year old Aoun fell short of the required support in Thursday's first round of parliamentary voting and only succeeded in a second round, reportedly after a meeting with Hezbollah and Amal party MPs.

"That presents significant ongoing risk to any new PM and cabinet, which need to maintain the confidence of a majority of parliament," Malik said.