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Saudi Arabia, Germany Look to Expand Qualitative Investments

Minister of Investment Eng. Khalid Al-Falih Friday outlined the unparalleled Saudi investment opportunities that are available to German businesses (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Minister of Investment Eng. Khalid Al-Falih Friday outlined the unparalleled Saudi investment opportunities that are available to German businesses (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia, Germany Look to Expand Qualitative Investments

Minister of Investment Eng. Khalid Al-Falih Friday outlined the unparalleled Saudi investment opportunities that are available to German businesses (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Minister of Investment Eng. Khalid Al-Falih Friday outlined the unparalleled Saudi investment opportunities that are available to German businesses (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Presenting the mega investment opportunities available in Saudi Arabia, Investment Minister Khalid Al-Falih on Friday stressed that investment prospects in the Kingdom are characterized by quality and match the potentials of prominent German companies.

According to Al-Falih, this will expand the investment and trade partnerships between both Saudi Arabia and Germany.

Saudi Arabia has been mobilizing to strengthen mutual investment relations with strategic partners for more than a month.

In late August, Al-Falih went on an official visit to the UK to discuss major opportunities and benefits from opening the prospects for economic relations to the private sector in the two countries.

In an event hosted by the Ministry of Investment of Saudi Arabia (MISA), the North Africa Middle East Initiative of German Business (NMI), and the German-Saudi Arabian Liaison Office for Economic Affairs (GESALO), the minister outlined how Vision 2030 is driving the Kingdom’s economic transformation and unlocking investment opportunities.

Al-Falih explained that German, international and Saudi companies operating in the Kingdom benefit from the Kingdom’s strategic geographical location, which is not limited to being in the heart of the Middle East, but in a linking location between three continents, Asia, Europe, and Africa.

Saudi Arabia’s location enables companies to reach and serve more than 50% of the world’s population within five hours of travel only.

Germany is a key trade and investment partner for Saudi Arabia. It was the 4th largest source of imports to the Kingdom in 2020, and Saudi Arabia is home to several leading German companies — including Siemens and Bosch.

Al-Falih also pointed out that Vision 2030 leads the economic transformation in the Kingdom and works to provide new investment opportunities for a wide range of international and Saudi investors.

Key sectors open for investment highlighted by Al-Falih included renewable energy, green finance, automotive, petrochemicals, healthcare, life science, supply-chain, information communication technology, and digitization.

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Business

OPEC Secretary General: Oil Demand to Remain Robust, No Change to Estimates

OPEC Secretary General Haitham Al Ghais attends the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) in Saint Petersburg on June 4, 2026. (Photo by Olga MALTSEVA / AFP)
OPEC Secretary General Haitham Al Ghais attends the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) in Saint Petersburg on June 4, 2026. (Photo by Olga MALTSEVA / AFP)
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OPEC Secretary General: Oil Demand to Remain Robust, No Change to Estimates

OPEC Secretary General Haitham Al Ghais attends the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) in Saint Petersburg on June 4, 2026. (Photo by Olga MALTSEVA / AFP)
OPEC Secretary General Haitham Al Ghais attends the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) in Saint Petersburg on June 4, 2026. (Photo by Olga MALTSEVA / AFP)

OPEC expects robust oil demand growth and is not changing its estimates, Secretary General Haitham Al Ghais said on Thursday at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, despite the Middle East conflict and closure of the ⁠Strait of Hormuz.

"Despite ⁠all the commentary out there that oil demand is declining, we have not registered signs of that yet," ⁠Reuters quoted Al Ghais as saying.

"We still see robust demand growth at 1.2 million barrels a day for this year," he said.

He also said that investments in the oil industry should not be affected by "one-off events" that happen ⁠anywhere ⁠in the world.

"We need to invest well ahead of time to be prepared for the demand that we see in the future," he said.

Business

Egypt Plans to List More State-owned Companies, Replace In-kind Subsidies with Cash

Headquarters of the Central Bank of Egypt in downtown Cairo (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Headquarters of the Central Bank of Egypt in downtown Cairo (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Egypt Plans to List More State-owned Companies, Replace In-kind Subsidies with Cash

Headquarters of the Central Bank of Egypt in downtown Cairo (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Headquarters of the Central Bank of Egypt in downtown Cairo (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Egypt aims to list four to five state-owned companies on the Cairo stock exchange before the end of the year as part of its state asset sales strategy, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said on Thursday.

The government also plans to shift from in-kind subsidies to cash subsidies during the coming financial year, as part of efforts to improve the targeting of social support, Madbouly said at a press conference, Reuters reported.

It does not aim to reduce the monetary value of subsidies but rather ensure they reach those entitled to receive them, he added.

More than 60 million people receive subsidised essential commodities through state-run outlets, while at least 10 million others benefit from subsidised bread.

Business

St. Petersburg Forum Brings Together Energy Leaders to Discuss Hormuz Security, Future of Global Markets

Venue of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (the Forum)
Venue of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (the Forum)
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St. Petersburg Forum Brings Together Energy Leaders to Discuss Hormuz Security, Future of Global Markets

Venue of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (the Forum)
Venue of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (the Forum)

Global energy markets will turn their attention on Friday to the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, where a high-level panel discussion titled “Global Energy Systems: How Is the World’s Energy Sector Responding to Challenges and Risks?” will take place.

The 29th edition of the forum, being held this year under the theme “Shared Values: The Foundation of Growth in a Multipolar World,” opened on Wednesday. Saudi Arabia is participating as the forum’s principal guest of honor as the two countries mark 100 years of diplomatic relations.

Saudi government entities, national institutions and leading companies are taking part in the forum, including the ministries of energy, industry, transport, environment and investment, with the aim of strengthening cooperation and showcasing the goals and achievements of Vision 2030 in economic diversification and attracting high-quality investment.

The St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, established in 1997, is Russia’s leading economic conference and attracts more than 10,000 participants annually.

The energy session carries exceptional significance given its timing, coming after five months of escalating disruptions to supply routes and rising oil prices. It also falls within the main theme of the forum’s 2026 edition, “The Global Economy: Between Confrontation and Cooperation.”

The session will bring together senior decision-makers from across the global energy industry, led by Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, Secretary General of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) Haitham Al Ghais, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, and Chief Executive Officer of the Russian Direct Investment Fund Kirill Dmitriev. Also participating are Egyptian Petroleum Minister Karim Badawi, Serbian Energy Minister Dubravka Djedovic, and Secretary General of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum Philip Mshelbila.

According to the session agenda, discussions will focus on a series of strategic questions arising from the new reality facing global energy markets. Foremost among them is the impact of the current Middle East conflict on global oil and gas markets, and what current and future measures could reduce reliance on transporting energy resources through the Strait of Hormuz amid security tensions that have caused tangible shifts in traditional maritime shipping routes.

The session will also examine the strategy that major oil and gas producers should adopt under these circumstances and how the economic impact of OPEC+ measures should be assessed.

Participants will discuss the strategies that major oil and gas producers should pursue amid a complex environment shaped by six years of overlapping crises, beginning with the COVID-19 pandemic, continuing through Western sanctions imposed on Moscow, and extending to current military conflicts and their direct impact on international trade and the global economy. Discussions will also include an assessment of the economic impact of OPEC+ decisions and consideration of the alliance’s future plans.

The strategic dialogue comes ahead of a crucial oil-policy marathon on Sunday, when a series of meetings will begin with the OPEC’s conference, followed by the 66th meeting of the Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee, which oversees compliance levels, coordination and current compensation plans for countries that previously exceeded their production quotas. The 41st ministerial meeting of OPEC and OPEC+ will also be held.

Sources familiar with the oil sector said OPEC+ is likely to approve an additional gradual increase in its production targets for July, in a move aimed at demonstrating the group’s ability to return to a “normal production path.”

The alliance has already increased production quotas by about 600,000 barrels per day between April and June.