Saudi Government Sectors Prepare for Privatization Arrangements

A general view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
A general view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Government Sectors Prepare for Privatization Arrangements

A general view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
A general view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

With the imminent implementation of the privatization plan for Saudi government sectors, economists have underlined the necessity of choosing the best implementation tools and taking into account the interests of the different parties.

Earlier this month, Saudi Minister of Finance Mohammad Al-Jadaan announced the entry into force of the privatization system within 45 days, which would enable the private sector to provide government services and launch new investments.

Dr. Osama bin Ghanim al-Obaidi, professor of international commercial law at the Institute of Public Administration in Riyadh, told Asharq Al-Awsat that privatization in the Kingdom was not something new, as experience has shown tangible improvement in the services provided, citing as an example the privatization of the telecommunications sector.

The coming period is expected to witness same successes with the privatization of other vital sectors, according to Obaidi, who noted that Saudi Arabia was seeking to increase privatization plans to reduce the burden on the state’s general budget and boost the private sector’s participation in the GDP from 40 percent to 65 percent by 2030.

He added that the privatization of government sectors would stimulate the participation of the private sector according to transparent and fair procedures and activate the work of the relevant supervisory committees.

According to Obaidi, privatization has proven its effectiveness in stopping financial squandering and administrative corruption, raising the quality and efficiency of services, increasing the effectiveness of the regulatory and supervisory role of agencies, stimulating and activating economic diversity and increasing competitiveness to face challenges at the regional and international levels. It will also contribute to attracting foreign investments, improving the balance of payments and providing more job opportunities.

Financial market analyst Hamad Al-Olayan told Asharq Al-Awsat that after about a month, government sectors and agencies will enter the privatization program to achieve the goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, through the implementation of an integrated package of policies aimed at relying on the private sector.

“Precise studies will facilitate the identification of activities that can be allocated to the private sector to allow it to become a partner in the state’s economic development,” he underlined.



Firm Dollar Keeps Pound, Euro and Yen Under Pressure

US Dollar and Euro banknotes are seen in this illustration taken July 17, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/ File Photo
US Dollar and Euro banknotes are seen in this illustration taken July 17, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/ File Photo
TT

Firm Dollar Keeps Pound, Euro and Yen Under Pressure

US Dollar and Euro banknotes are seen in this illustration taken July 17, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/ File Photo
US Dollar and Euro banknotes are seen in this illustration taken July 17, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/ File Photo

The US dollar charged ahead on Thursday, underpinned by rising Treasury yields, putting the yen, sterling and euro under pressure near multi-month lows amid the shifting threat of tariffs.

The focus for markets in 2025 has been on US President-elect Donald Trump's agenda as he steps back into the White House on Jan. 20, with analysts expecting his policies to both bolster growth and add to price pressures, according to Reuters.

CNN on Wednesday reported that Trump is considering declaring a national economic emergency to provide legal justification for a series of universal tariffs on allies and adversaries. On Monday, the Washington Post said Trump was looking at more nuanced tariffs, which he later denied.

Concerns that policies introduced by the Trump administration could reignite inflation has led bond yields higher, with the yield on the benchmark 10-year US Treasury note hitting 4.73% on Wednesday, its highest since April 25. It was at 4.6709% on Thursday.

"Trump's shifting narrative on tariffs has undoubtedly had an effect on USD. It seems this capriciousness is something markets will have to adapt to over the coming four years," said Kieran Williams, head of Asia FX at InTouch Capital Markets.

The bond market selloff has left the dollar standing tall and casting a shadow on the currency market.

Among the most affected was the pound, which was headed for its biggest three-day drop in nearly two years.

Sterling slid to $1.2239 on Thursday, its weakest since November 2023, even as British government bond yields hit multi-year highs.

Ordinarily, higher gilt yields would support the pound, but not in this case.

The sell-off in UK government bond markets resumed on Thursday, with 10-year and 30-year gilt yields jumping again in early trading, as confidence in Britain's fiscal outlook deteriorates.

"Such a simultaneous sell-off in currency and bonds is rather unusual for a G10 country," said Michael Pfister, FX analyst at Commerzbank.

"It seems to be the culmination of a development that began several months ago. The new Labour government's approval ratings are at record lows just a few months after the election, and business and consumer sentiment is severely depressed."

Sterling was last down about 0.69% at $1.2282.

The euro also eased, albeit less than the pound, to $1.0302, lurking close to the two-year low it hit last week as investors remain worried the single currency may fall to the key $1 mark this year due to tariff uncertainties.

The yen hovered near the key 160 per dollar mark that led to Tokyo intervening in the market last July, after it touched a near six-month low of 158.55 on Wednesday.

Though it strengthened a bit on the day and was last at 158.15 per dollar. That all left the dollar index, which measures the US currency against six other units, up 0.15% and at 109.18, just shy of the two-year high it touched last week.

Also in the mix were the Federal Reserve minutes of its December meeting, released on Wednesday, which showed the central bank flagged new inflation concerns and officials saw a rising risk the incoming administration's plans may slow economic growth and raise unemployment.

With US markets closed on Thursday, the spotlight will be on Friday's payrolls report as investors parse through data to gauge when the Fed will next cut rates.