Saudi-Omani Forum to Witness Signing of Economic MoUs

The forum is expected to witness the signing of memoranda of understanding with the aim to enhance economic, investment and trade cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Oman. Asharq Al-Awsat
The forum is expected to witness the signing of memoranda of understanding with the aim to enhance economic, investment and trade cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Oman. Asharq Al-Awsat
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Saudi-Omani Forum to Witness Signing of Economic MoUs

The forum is expected to witness the signing of memoranda of understanding with the aim to enhance economic, investment and trade cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Oman. Asharq Al-Awsat
The forum is expected to witness the signing of memoranda of understanding with the aim to enhance economic, investment and trade cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Oman. Asharq Al-Awsat

An economic forum is scheduled to be held in Muscat on Monday in the presence of Saudi and Omani ministers and representatives of the private sector during the visit of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to the Sultanate.

The forum is expected to witness the signing of memoranda of understanding to enhance economic, investment and trade cooperation between the two countries.

In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, the Chairman of the Saudi-Omani Business Council, Nasser bin Saeed Al-Hajri, said that the visit of the Crown Prince to Muscat will demonstrate “the unity of positions ... in the face of all challenges.”

A fundamental role will be played by the Saudi and Omani Business Owners Council in supporting the volume of business and joint projects between the two sides, according to Al-Hajri, who also noted that bilateral meetings between the business councils have made many achievements, in line with the Saudi Vision 2030 and the Omani Vision 2040, to diversify the economy and establish strong and joint economic entities.

According to Al-Hajri, the Muscat meetings will seek to exploit the available investment opportunities and achieve economic integration between the two sides, stressing that the political will has played a pivotal role in removing all obstacles facing the investors in the two countries.

He said that the business sectors in Saudi Arabia and Oman, shortly before and during the recent visit of Sultan Haitham bin Tariq to the Kingdom, signed several agreements for partnerships in industrial cities, logistics and renewable energy, while an Omani delegation had previously offered 150 investment opportunities to Saudis worth USD4 billion in various vital fields.

According to the National Center for Statistics and Information in Oman, the volume of trade exchange between the two countries amounted to 10 billion riyals (USD2.6 billion dollars) in 2020.



Taiwan Expects Small Impact from Trump Tariffs on Chip Exports

A chip is pictured at the Taiwan Semiconductor Research Institute (TSRI) at Hsinchu Science Park in Hsinchu, Taiwan, September 16, 2022. Reuters/Ann Wang/ File Photo
A chip is pictured at the Taiwan Semiconductor Research Institute (TSRI) at Hsinchu Science Park in Hsinchu, Taiwan, September 16, 2022. Reuters/Ann Wang/ File Photo
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Taiwan Expects Small Impact from Trump Tariffs on Chip Exports

A chip is pictured at the Taiwan Semiconductor Research Institute (TSRI) at Hsinchu Science Park in Hsinchu, Taiwan, September 16, 2022. Reuters/Ann Wang/ File Photo
A chip is pictured at the Taiwan Semiconductor Research Institute (TSRI) at Hsinchu Science Park in Hsinchu, Taiwan, September 16, 2022. Reuters/Ann Wang/ File Photo

Taiwan only expects a small impact from any tariffs imposed by the incoming government of US President-elect Donald Trump on semiconductor exports given their technological superiority, Economy Minister Kuo Jyh-huei said on Friday.
Home to the world's largest contract chipmaker, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., the island is a key link in the global technology supply chain for companies such as Apple and Nvidia, according to Reuters.
But Taiwanese policymakers have warned new US tariffs against all countries from the Trump administration could curb economic growth this year for the export-dependent economy.
Trump has pledged a blanket tariff of 10% on global imports into the United States and a far higher 60% tariff on Chinese goods.
In late November, he specifically pledged a 25% tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico when he takes office on Jan. 20.
Asked at a news conference about the impact on Taiwan's export orders of Trump's tariffs, Kuo said it would not much affect the chip sector.
“For our semiconductors and advanced processes, there is an advantage of technological leadership and that cannot be replaced, and so the impact will be small,” he added.
Taiwan will also help companies relocate supply chains to the United States as needed, away from where there might be high import tariffs, Kuo said.
“Now we see that we should be able to develop the aerospace supply chain industry in the United States, and do some joining up with the US aerospace companies, so that some of Taiwan's aerospace research and development centres can be moved there,” he added.