Saudi Arabia Ranks 7th in Global Entrepreneurship Index

Birds eye view of the skyline of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Getty Images)
Birds eye view of the skyline of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Getty Images)
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Saudi Arabia Ranks 7th in Global Entrepreneurship Index

Birds eye view of the skyline of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Getty Images)
Birds eye view of the skyline of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Getty Images)

Saudi Arabia has made a leap in the Global Entrepreneurship Status Index, reaching the seventh position in the world during the past year, after ranking 17th in 2019, according to the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor report.

In comments on Thursday, Minister of Commerce Dr. Majid Al-Qasabi said: “With the support of the leadership and the efforts of the sons and daughters of this country, the Kingdom has reached the seventh place globally in the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor Report for the year 2020, after it was ranked 41st in 2018.”

The Kingdom is witnessing remarkable progress in entrepreneurship and has developed regulations and legislation to help stimulate and promote the sector.

Saleh Al-Rashidi, Governor of the SME General Authority (Monshaat), noted that the Kingdom’s new achievement reflected the government’s strong commitment to create a promising environment for this sector and provides opportunities for growth and prosperity.

A member of the Board of Directors of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Riyadh and Chairman of the Entrepreneurship Committee, Riyadh Al-Zamil, told Asharq Al-Awsat that the Kingdom’s new ranking has highlighted the “great support of the Saudi leadership and the efforts deployed by the government and private sector.”

The Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) carries out survey-based research on entrepreneurship and entrepreneurship ecosystems around the world, thus providing policymakers with valuable insights on how to best foster entrepreneurship.

GEM measures the average results of countries in a number of sectors, including higher education, transfer of research and development, access to commercial infrastructure and the dynamism of the local market, in addition to obstacles to entering the local market and obtaining services, Al-Zamil explained.



Gold Gains on Softer Dollar as Investors Weigh Trump Tariff Impact

Gold bullion displayed in a store in the German city of Pforzheim (dpa)
Gold bullion displayed in a store in the German city of Pforzheim (dpa)
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Gold Gains on Softer Dollar as Investors Weigh Trump Tariff Impact

Gold bullion displayed in a store in the German city of Pforzheim (dpa)
Gold bullion displayed in a store in the German city of Pforzheim (dpa)

Gold prices rose on Tuesday, helped by a softer US dollar and inflationary risks posed by President-elect Donald Trump's potential tariff policies, which could influence the pace of Federal Reserve monetary policy easing this year.

Spot gold was up 0.3% to $2,668.79 per ounce as of 1200 GMT. US gold futures gained 0.1% to $2,682.30.

"Gold prices are benefiting from reports that the incoming Trump administration is considering a gradual implementation of tariff increases to mitigate their impact on inflation," said Ricardo Evangelista, senior analyst at ActivTrades, referring to a Bloomberg report.

"This news led to a slight decline in US Treasury yields and a weakening of the dollar."

The dollar index fell 0.3% from a more than two-year high hit in the last session as traders scaled back US rate cut bets for 2025 after a strong jobs report. A softer dollar makes gold more affordable for buyers using other currencies, Reuters reported.

Investors are looking out for US Producer Price Index (PPI) data at 1330 GMT and Consumer Price Index (CPI) numbers due on Wednesday. A Reuters poll of economists gives a median forecast for an annual rise in CPI of 2.9%, up from November's 2.7%.

Also due is US retail sales on Thursday for further insights into the economy and the Fed's 2025 policy trajectory.

"If inflation increases again based on Trump´s spending policy, we may even see no cuts at all in the mid-term," said Henrik Marx, head of precious metals trading at Heraeus Precious Metals Germany.

Bullion is used as a hedge against inflation, although higher interest rates reduce the non-yielding asset's appeal.

Elsewhere, spot platinum was down 0.4% to $949.80.

"We look for platinum to be under-supplied by 500,000 ounces, or 6.4% of demand, in 2025," UBS said in a note.

Spot silver firmed 0.5% to $29.75 per ounce and palladium climbed 0.5% to $943.70.