UAE’s Mubadala Acquires 1.9% Stake in Russia’s Sibur

WAM file photo: Mubadala Investment Company, established after the merger of Mubadala Development Company and International Petroleum Investment Company.
WAM file photo: Mubadala Investment Company, established after the merger of Mubadala Development Company and International Petroleum Investment Company.
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UAE’s Mubadala Acquires 1.9% Stake in Russia’s Sibur

WAM file photo: Mubadala Investment Company, established after the merger of Mubadala Development Company and International Petroleum Investment Company.
WAM file photo: Mubadala Investment Company, established after the merger of Mubadala Development Company and International Petroleum Investment Company.

Mubadala Investment Company, the Abu Dhabi-based sovereign investor managing a global portfolio of assets valued at $243 billion, has announced its largest investment in Russia, the acquisition of a 1.9% stake in Sibur, Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported.

Founded in 1995, Sibur is the leader in the Russian petrochemicals industry, operating a balanced and integrated business model and servicing over 1,800 customers in 100 countries worldwide, WAM said.

The company is currently transitioning to an ESG-driven strategy and governance framework, which is expected to enable Sibur to develop into one of the most sustainable industry market participants, it added.

The acquisition terms were agreed prior to the recent merger with TAIF, which is bound to further enhance the company’s position in the polyolefins and rubbers markets, contribute to the pipeline of growth capex projects and unlock additional operational synergies.

"Mubadala and Sibur have had a long-standing partnership since 2015 and now we are excited to become shareholders in the company. Sibur’s track record of delivering complex large-scale projects and creating shareholder value is a testament to its first-class management team,” WAM quoted Faris Sohail Al Mazrui, Head of Mubadala’s Russia and CIS Investment Program, as saying.

“Sibur’s merger with TAIF creates an even better-positioned player in the market that can capitalize on synergies and development opportunities,” he said.

The transaction between Mubadala and Sibur builds on the established working relationship between the two companies. In 2015, Mubadala invested in Sibur’s transshipment terminal in Ust-Luga.

Mubadala’s global portfolio spans six continents with interests in multiple sectors and asset classes, including shareholding in Borealis, a global leader in polyolefin production, and in Nova Chemicals, a plastics and chemicals producer in North America.

Mubadala is a long-term investor in the Russian economy, with an office in Moscow run by a team of more than 22 experienced regional specialists. Since entering the market in 2010, Mubadala has deployed over $3 billion, and built up a portfolio of about 50 investments in Russia in sectors as wide-ranging as infrastructure, real estate, commodities, banking, logistics and technology, resulting in strong financial returns.



Saudi Transport Minister Inaugurates Global Logistics Forum 2024

Saudi Minister of Transport and Logistic Services Saleh Al-Jasser inaugurated in Riyadh on Sunday the Global Logistics Forum 2024. (SPA)
Saudi Minister of Transport and Logistic Services Saleh Al-Jasser inaugurated in Riyadh on Sunday the Global Logistics Forum 2024. (SPA)
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Saudi Transport Minister Inaugurates Global Logistics Forum 2024

Saudi Minister of Transport and Logistic Services Saleh Al-Jasser inaugurated in Riyadh on Sunday the Global Logistics Forum 2024. (SPA)
Saudi Minister of Transport and Logistic Services Saleh Al-Jasser inaugurated in Riyadh on Sunday the Global Logistics Forum 2024. (SPA)

Under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Minister of Transport and Logistic Services Saleh Al-Jasser inaugurated in Riyadh on Sunday the Global Logistics Forum 2024.

Held under the theme "Reshaping the Global Map of Logistics," the event was attended by several ministers, senior officials, leaders of international organizations and industrial unions, experts, academics, and analysts.

The inaugural forum, running on October 12 and 14, includes the participation of 130 speakers and 80 exhibitors from 30 countries.

Al-Jasser expressed his gratitude to King Salman for his esteemed patronage of this forum. He thanked Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, who has given an "inspiring character to the logistics sector, turning it into a comprehensive, strong, and ambitious vision."

"The present moment is ideal for convening this forum, as the global logistics sector is at a pivotal juncture." he added. "Current global challenges underscore the need for safeguarding supply chains and maintaining the operational continuity of logistics services, which are fundamental to global trade."

"The Global Logistics Forum presents an opportunity to enhance, innovate, and secure the global logistics networks that unite us, fostering economic prosperity and ensuring the timely delivery of goods," he stressed.

Al-Jasser emphasized the need to expedite the transformation of the transport and logistics sector and to establish it as a global hub for trade and logistics. The Kingdom is persistently advancing its logistics infrastructure in line with Vision 2030, bolstered by substantial government investments aimed at improving supply chain efficiency and linking global markets.

The minister explained that the National Transport and Logistics Strategy, launched by the Crown Prince in mid-2021, aims to invest more than SAR1 trillion by 2030. He added that SAR200 billion of this amount has already been allocated, enabling the Saudi logistics sector to advance significantly and contributing to improving the Kingdom's global rankings.

Al-Jasser pointed out that Saudi Arabia — which for centuries has been at the crossroads of some of the most important trade routes in history, such as the Incense and Spice Routes and the maritime route of the Silk Road — now seeks to shape its logistic future.

This is being achieved through advanced infrastructure like King Salman International Airport, modern seaports, and an expanded railway network, he said, noting that these facilities are crucial to achieving the Saudi Vision 2030, as they continue to drive the Kingdom towards becoming a global logistics powerhouse.

Moreover, Al-Jasser highlighted the achievements of the transport and logistics system, which have resulted in the Kingdom advancing 17 ranks in the World Bank's Logistics Performance Index and 14 in the International Air Transport Association's global connectivity index.

He also pointed out that last year, the Saudi railway network helped reduce the equivalent of one million truck trips in the country, significantly contributing to reducing carbon emissions.

He stressed the importance of joint efforts over the next two days to address the challenges "we face and strive to shape a sustainable future that fosters prosperity for all."

The forum includes broad participation representing leaders in the logistics sector from the public and private sectors, along with experts, top executives, and industry pioneers from various countries. It is holding panel discussions aimed at boosting international cooperation and stimulating joint efforts to advance logistics services and enhance their development role in the global economy.

The forum is also discussing key topics in the transport and logistics sector, such as empowering global markets, investing in logistics infrastructure, and the resilience of logistics services in the face of disruptions in the Red Sea area, in addition to discussions on the new era of energy ports and empowering talents to transform the future industries.