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French Companies Look For Riyadh’s Opportunities in Modern Industries, Renewable Energy

A French business delegation visits Saudi Arabia for the first time since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo: Asharq Al-Awsat)
A French business delegation visits Saudi Arabia for the first time since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo: Asharq Al-Awsat)
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TT

French Companies Look For Riyadh’s Opportunities in Modern Industries, Renewable Energy

A French business delegation visits Saudi Arabia for the first time since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo: Asharq Al-Awsat)
A French business delegation visits Saudi Arabia for the first time since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo: Asharq Al-Awsat)

Fifteen French companies discussed in Riyadh on Monday cooperation opportunities in the fields of technology, modern industries, agricultural production, renewable energy, entertainment, tourism, education and training, and ways to strengthen partnerships in the Qiddiya and NEOM projects, the Red Sea, Green Riyadh, the Middle East Green Initiative and other new Saudi projects.

In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, Co-chairman of the Saudi-French Business Council Laurent Germain said: “We seek to strengthen cooperation in various fields, and we have full confidence in the Saudi investment environment,” pointing to the Kingdom’s ability to develop its economy and increase investments and trade in the region despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

He added that the French side was looking forward to drawing a road map in order to translate bilateral agreements into tangible reality and explore investment opportunities offered by the Kingdom.

“During the coming period, we expect an influx of investments in areas that have been explored, in addition to our work in the fields of roads, aviation, transportation, infrastructure, airports, the Red Sea project, the Green Middle East project, Diriyah, Qiddiya and others,” Germain stated.

Dr. Khaled Al-Yahya, Secretary-General of the Council of Saudi Chambers, expected that the French-Saudi talks would result in plans and projects that work on exchanging information and visits, building trust and forging real partnerships to generate jobs, transfer knowledge and technology and develop strategic sectors.

In this regard, Yahya pointed to the great Saudi economic transformation and major reforms in legislation and regulations, which all seek to encourage foreign companies to access the Saudi market and invest in energy, health, education, hospitality and tourism.

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Oil Rises as Investors Return From Holidays, Eye China Recovery

FILE - Pump jacks extract oil from beneath the ground in North Dakota, May 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown, File)
FILE - Pump jacks extract oil from beneath the ground in North Dakota, May 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown, File)
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Oil Rises as Investors Return From Holidays, Eye China Recovery

FILE - Pump jacks extract oil from beneath the ground in North Dakota, May 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown, File)
FILE - Pump jacks extract oil from beneath the ground in North Dakota, May 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown, File)

Oil prices nudged higher on Thursday, the first day of trade for 2025, as investors returning from holidays cautiously eyed a recovery in China's economy and fuel demand following a pledge by President Xi Jinping to promote growth.
Brent crude futures rose 17 cents, or 0.06%, to $74.82 a barrel by 0547 GMT after settling up 65 cents on Tuesday, the last trading day for 2024. US West Texas Intermediate crude futures gained 19 cents, or 0.26%, to $71.91 a barrel after closing 73 cents higher in the previous session, Reuters reported.
China's Xi said on Tuesday in his New Year's address that the country would implement more proactive policies to promote growth in 2025.
China's factory activity grew in December, according to the private-sector Caixin/S&P Global survey on Thursday, but at a slower than expected pace amid concerns over the trade outlook and risks from tariffs proposed by US President-elect Donald Trump.
The data echoed an official survey released on Tuesday that showed China's manufacturing activity barely grew in December, though services and construction recovered. The data suggested policy stimulus is trickling into some sectors as China braces for new trade risks.
Traders are returning to their desks and probably weighing higher geopolitical risks and also the impact of Trump running the US economy red hot versus the impact of tariffs, IG market analyst Tony Sycamore said.
"Tomorrow's US ISM manufacturing release will be key to crude oil's next move," Sycamore added.
Sycamore said WTI's weekly chart is winding itself into a tighter range, which suggests a big move is coming.
"Rather than trying to predict in which way the break will occur, we would be inclined to wait for the break and then go with it," he added.
Investors are also awaiting weekly US oil stocks data from the Energy Information Administration that has been delayed until Thursday due to the New Year holiday.
US crude oil and distillate stockpiles are expected to have fallen last week while gasoline inventories likely rose, an extended Reuters poll showed on Tuesday.
US oil demand surged to the highest levels since the pandemic in October at 21.01 million barrels per day (bpd), up about 700,000 bpd from September, EIA data showed on Tuesday.
Crude output from the world's top producer rose to a record 13.46 million bpd in October, up 260,000 bpd from September, the report showed.
In 2025, oil prices are likely to be constrained near $70 a barrel, down for a third year after a 3% decline in 2024, as weak Chinese demand and rising global supplies offset efforts by OPEC+ to shore up the market, a Reuters monthly poll showed.
In Europe, Russia halted gas exports via Soviet-era pipelines running through Ukraine on New Year's Day. The widely expected stoppage will not impact prices for consumers in the European Union as some buyers have arranged alternative supply, while Hungary will keep receiving Russian gas via the TurkStream pipeline under the Black Sea.