Future Investment Initiative Invests in Humanity

The Future Investment Initiative (FII) logo
The Future Investment Initiative (FII) logo
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Future Investment Initiative Invests in Humanity

The Future Investment Initiative (FII) logo
The Future Investment Initiative (FII) logo

The Future Investment Initiative (FII), the largest global forum of its kind in the Middle East, organized by Saudi Arabia, announced its fifth edition in Riyadh on October 26-28 under the theme "Invest in Humanity."

According to a statement issued by the organizers, the event brings together world leaders, experts, innovators, and media in a global forum to explore pioneering solutions addressing society's challenges and propel action towards their realization.

Yasir al-Rumayyan, chairman of the FII Institute board of trustees, indicated that the success of FII to date is a testament to the eagerness of the private and public sectors to play an active role in addressing the issues we face as a global community.

“By leveraging the enormous economic opportunities that will lie ahead in the post-Covid era, we will also catalyze the changes needed to achieve an equitable, prosperous future for all," said Rumayyan, who is also the Governor of the Public Investment Fund (PIF).

FII Institute CEO Richard Attias said: "As the world acknowledges the need for sustainable change, investors and leaders are looking for the right avenues to contribute in a way that creates both value and impact.”

The “Neo-Renaissance” of the global economy exploring in January during the fourth edition of FII, is now emerging, and the FII fifth anniversary edition will be a unique call to action, asserted Attias.

The most recent edition of FII, which took place in a hybrid format in January 2021, across global hubs, assembled over 200 speakers, 15,000 attendees from 130 nations, and the on-ground participation of a group of government and industry leaders, at the headquarters in Riyadh.



SABIC Expects Capital Expenditure of $4 Bn in 2025

One of the Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) plants... (SPA)
One of the Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) plants... (SPA)
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SABIC Expects Capital Expenditure of $4 Bn in 2025

One of the Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) plants... (SPA)
One of the Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) plants... (SPA)

Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC), one of the world’s largest petrochemical companies, reported a net loss of 1.21 billion riyals ($322.6 million) for the first quarter of 2025, reflecting continued pressure on the global petrochemical sector.

Despite this, the company is maintaining disciplined capital investment management, with capital expenditure expected to range between $3.5 billion and $4 billion in 2025.

The loss was primarily attributed to a 1.05 billion riyal decline in gross profit, driven by rising feedstock prices, along with non-recurring costs of 1.07 billion riyals linked to a strategic restructuring initiative aimed at streamlining annual costs by approximately 345 million riyals and improving long-term operational efficiency.

SABIC CEO Abdulrahman Al-Fageeh, speaking at a press conference following the release of the company’s results, highlighted ongoing challenges in the global economy, including a slowdown in global GDP growth.

 

 

“The first quarter business environment was marked by uncertainty, with global economic growth at just 2.97%, along with a slowdown in the manufacturing PMI, which intensified challenges for the sector,” he said.

Despite the losses, Al-Fageeh noted SABIC's remarkable resilience, supported by what he described as “stable demand” for petrochemicals. He emphasized the company’s continued focus on operational excellence and its transformation efforts throughout the year.

SABIC projects its capital expenditure to range between $3.5 billion and $4 billion in 2025, reaffirming its commitment to creating long-term value through operational excellence, transformation, and systematic growth as part of its future vision.

Mohammed Al-Farraj, Head of Asset Management at Arbah Capital, commented to Asharq Al-Awsat that initial forecasts from various research firms prior to the results announcement were mixed. While some expected a significant year-on-year drop in net profit, others predicted revenue growth.

“Looking at the reported results, we see that revenue aligned with expectations, indicating slight year-on-year growth, while the reported net loss was smaller than some estimates, which had anticipated larger losses,” Al-Farraj said.

“However, the results still fall short of profits from the same period last year. It is important to consider the impact of one-time restructuring costs when making comparisons,” he explained.