Public Pension Agency Merger Boosts Benefits for Workers in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan. (SPA)
Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan. (SPA)
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Public Pension Agency Merger Boosts Benefits for Workers in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan. (SPA)
Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan. (SPA)

Experts have predicted that the decision to merge Saudi Arabia’s Public Pension Agency (PPA) into the General Organization for Social Insurance (GOSI) will reinforce benefits and programs offered to workers in the Kingdom.

The move is set to boost investment returns, reduce costs and help with their diversification, said Finance Minister and GOSI Chairman Mohammed Al-Jadaan in a statement.

Al-Jadaan said that the Kingdom’s fiscal policy aims to strike a balance between maintaining fiscal sustainability and enhancing economic growth and development, while also supporting economic transformation in line with the national vision for transformation, Kingdom Vision 2030.

Saudi Arabia is moving ahead by striving to increase efficiency and effectiveness within the framework of fiscal discipline, improving the basic services provided to citizens, diversifying government revenue sources and empowering the private sector.

Moreover, Al-Jadaan reviewed the merger as an administrative-organizational process that works to unify the insurance protection umbrella for employees of both the public and private sectors.

It will also contribute to eliminating overlap in similar specializations, achieving optimal utilization of resources, increasing operational and financial efficiency and improving services provided to clients.

This confirms the Saudi leadership’s interest in developing the social insurance sector as one of the key pillars that play an important role in the life of individuals, families and society in general.

Social insurance in the Kingdom reflects a symbiotic system that primarily works to enhance social protection.

“The decision will have a significant positive impact on the economic and social level in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” Ibrahim Al-Omar, a Saudi academic and consultancy supervisor, told Asharq Al-Awsat.

“One of the immediate fruits of the merger will be building the largest investment portfolio, amounting to SAR 100 billion ($26.6 billion),” he said, explaining that it will positively impact financial markets in the Kingdom.



Gold Extends Gains as Trump Tariffs Fuel Safe Haven Flows

Gold bars from the vault of a bank are seen in this illustration picture taken in Zurich November 20, 2014. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann/File Photo
Gold bars from the vault of a bank are seen in this illustration picture taken in Zurich November 20, 2014. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann/File Photo
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Gold Extends Gains as Trump Tariffs Fuel Safe Haven Flows

Gold bars from the vault of a bank are seen in this illustration picture taken in Zurich November 20, 2014. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann/File Photo
Gold bars from the vault of a bank are seen in this illustration picture taken in Zurich November 20, 2014. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann/File Photo

Gold prices rose for a second straight session on Tuesday, but traded below the recent all-time highs, as uncertainty around US President Donald Trump's tariff plans continued to fuel economic growth concerns and safe haven flows into bullion.

Spot gold gained 0.6% at $2,913.79 an ounce as of 0714 GMT. It hit a record high of $2,942.70 last week.

US gold futures added 0.9% to $2,925.50.

"Trump's disruptive modus operandi, aggressive rhetoric and tariffs - whether actual or threatened - could unravel global trade and intricate supply chains," said Nikos Tzabouras, senior financial writer at trading platform Tradu, Reuters reported.

"With uncertainty surrounding the global economy and the broader geopolitical landscape in the Trump 2.0 era, gold is set to remain a natural beneficiary of risk-off flows and central bank buying."

Since taking office last month, Trump has swiftly redrawn the global trade battlefield with a series of tariffs, while plans are already in motion for sweeping reciprocal tariffs, aimed squarely at any nation that taxes US products.

"Gold continues to benefit from the uncertainty surrounding the US. government's tariff policy. Central bank buying should also continue to provide support, even if there is no new data on this," Commerzbank analysts said in a note.

The market's focus has now shifted to the US Federal Reserve's January meeting minutes due on Wednesday for clues into the central bank's interest rate trajectory.

"Price gains are also supported by growing expectations that the Fed will cut rates in 2025 - a sentiment that gained further traction among traders after last week's disappointing US retail sales figures," Ricardo Evangelista, senior analyst at brokerage firm ActivTrades, said.

Bullion benefits from geopolitical and economic uncertainties, as well as rising price pressures, but higher interest rates diminish the asset's allure.

Spot silver fell 0.9% to $32.50 an ounce. Platinum jumped 0.9% to $985.20 and palladium climbed 1.6% to $978.00.