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Saudi, Egyptian Private Sectors Linked to Revitalize Business

The Saudi-Egyptian Joint Committee had recently held its 17th session in Cairo, SPA
The Saudi-Egyptian Joint Committee had recently held its 17th session in Cairo, SPA
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Saudi, Egyptian Private Sectors Linked to Revitalize Business

The Saudi-Egyptian Joint Committee had recently held its 17th session in Cairo, SPA
The Saudi-Egyptian Joint Committee had recently held its 17th session in Cairo, SPA

Official information revealed a new directive issued by the Federation of Saudi Chambers called on the private sector to view an e-guide for members of the Egyptian Businessmen Association in a step to facilitate communication between the two parties.

Saudi Commerce Minister Majid Al-Qasabi had confirmed that Saudi Arabia aims to be the first trading partner for Egypt during the next five years.

He noted that there are 6,200 Saudi companies in Egypt with investments exceeding $30 billion, in addition to the presence of 274 Egyptian brands and more than 574 companies in Saudi markets.

According to the information, the latest step comes within the framework of the continuous cooperation between the two countries to enhance trade relations and revitalize business between Egyptian companies and their Saudi counterparts.

Therefore, the Egyptian Businessmen Association, a “non-governmental and non-profit entity,” launched an e-directory that includes detailed data for its members.

The Saudi-Egyptian Joint Committee in Cairo had recently held its 17th session, co-chaired by Al-Qasabi and Egyptian Minister of Trade and Industry Neveen Gamea in the presence of government officials representing various sectors in the two countries.

During his speech at the inauguration ceremony, Al-Qasabi conveyed the greetings of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and HPrince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, commending deep-rooted relations between the two countries that are based on the bonds of religions, fraternity, dialogue, history and joint interests of both countries.

Minister Al-Qasabi said that the committee is an extension of the directives of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi on the importance of joint action to further enhance brotherly ties, boost cooperation, and move to a higher level, noting that the Saudi-Egyptian Joint Committee is one of the active committees between the two countries that has been held annually, except in 2020 due to the outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

He also expressed aspiration for these meetings to enhance trade between the two countries, where the total trade volume in 2020 amounted to $8 billion, down by 15% when compared to 2019 due to the repercussions of the pandemic on global economies, reiterating that what matters now is to enhance the post-pandemic bilateral cooperation to boost economic cooperation and benefit from opportunities generated from the pandemic, as well as protecting investments in the two countries.

Al-Qasabi also expressed appreciation to Gamea and members of the technical teams for their efforts and their keenness to discuss all that can enhance cooperation between the two countries in all fields in a bid to push forward this cooperation until reaching fruitful outcomes to serve joint interests.

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Business

Saudi Arabia, Switzerland Sign Agreement on Reciprocal Protection of Investments

The agreement aims to strengthen and stabilize the investment environment, protect investors’ rights, and support the flow of mutual investments between the two countries. SPA
The agreement aims to strengthen and stabilize the investment environment, protect investors’ rights, and support the flow of mutual investments between the two countries. SPA
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Saudi Arabia, Switzerland Sign Agreement on Reciprocal Protection of Investments

The agreement aims to strengthen and stabilize the investment environment, protect investors’ rights, and support the flow of mutual investments between the two countries. SPA
The agreement aims to strengthen and stabilize the investment environment, protect investors’ rights, and support the flow of mutual investments between the two countries. SPA

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and Minister of Investment Fahad Al-Saif have participated in the Saudi-Swiss Investment Roundtable Meeting in Jeddah, which was followed by the signing of an investment agreement between the two countries.

The meeting took place in the presence of Swiss President Guy Parmelin, with the participation of State Secretary for Economic Affairs Helene Budliger Artieda, along with a large number of officials and business leaders from both sides.

During the meeting, the conferees reviewed joint investment opportunities, discussed ways to strengthen economic cooperation between the two countries, and explored the development of partnerships in priority sectors in a manner that supports economic growth and enhances relations.

The meeting was held on the sidelines of the Swiss President’s official visit to the Kingdom, as the two countries mark 70 years of diplomatic relations that have, from the outset, helped lay the foundations of cooperation and build a partnership based on mutual respect and the development of shared interests between the two states.

After the meeting, an agreement was signed between the Saudi government and the Swiss Federal Council on the promotion and reciprocal protection of investments.

It was signed on the Saudi side by Al-Saif, and on the Swiss side by Parmelin.

The agreement aims to strengthen and stabilize the investment environment, protect investors’ rights, and support the flow of mutual investments between the two countries.

The meeting was attended by Saudi Ambassador to Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein Abdulrahman Aldawood.

Business

US Stocks Dip on Mixed Earnings as Markets Monitor Iran

A trader works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) at the opening bell in New York on March 24, 2026. (Photo by ANGELA WEISS / AFP)
A trader works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) at the opening bell in New York on March 24, 2026. (Photo by ANGELA WEISS / AFP)
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US Stocks Dip on Mixed Earnings as Markets Monitor Iran

A trader works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) at the opening bell in New York on March 24, 2026. (Photo by ANGELA WEISS / AFP)
A trader works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) at the opening bell in New York on March 24, 2026. (Photo by ANGELA WEISS / AFP)

Wall Street stocks retreated from records early Thursday as markets digested a trove of mixed earnings reports and monitored the latest dynamics between the United States and Iran.

Analysts cited profit-taking after both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq shrugged off a jump in oil prices to finish at records on Wednesday.

About 10 minutes into trading, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 0.4 percent at 49,311.39, AFP reported.

The broad-based S&P 500 dipped 0.2 percent to 7,126.19, while the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index declined 0.3 percent to 24,588.07.

David Morrison, senior market analyst at FCA, called Thursday's early trading action "a mild bout of profit-taking triggered by some worrying reports of hostile action between the US and Iran," according to a note.

The US Defense Department said its forces boarded a vessel in the Indian Ocean that was transporting oil from Iran, while President Donald Trump announced on social media that he ordered the Navy to "shoot and kill" boats placing mines in the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran vowed it would keep the strait closed to all but a trickle of approved vessels for as long as the United States blockaded its ports.

Among companies reporting results, Tesla fell 1.7 percent and Lockheed Martin dropped 3.7 percent, while American Airlines jumped 4.9 percent.

Business

What Does the Inclusion of Saudi Bonds in the J.P. Morgan Index Mean?

Saudi woman walks at the Saudi stock market in Riyadh - Reuters
Saudi woman walks at the Saudi stock market in Riyadh - Reuters
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What Does the Inclusion of Saudi Bonds in the J.P. Morgan Index Mean?

Saudi woman walks at the Saudi stock market in Riyadh - Reuters
Saudi woman walks at the Saudi stock market in Riyadh - Reuters

Saudi Arabia’s debt market is set for a strategic shift in early 2027, following J.P. Morgan’s announcement that local-currency bonds will be included in its global emerging markets bond index. The move represents a vote of confidence in the Kingdom’s structural reforms and is expected to open the door to substantial capital inflows that will help finance major economic transformation projects.

In a note, J.P. Morgan said the move follows a series of reforms to improve foreign investor access and enhance local market capabilities.

The bank added that Saudi sukuk, Shariah-compliant debt instruments that function similarly to bonds, with a remaining maturity of up to 15 years, will be eligible for inclusion in the Government Bond Index-Emerging Markets (GBI-EM), the most widely tracked benchmark of its kind, with $233 billion in assets tracking it.

J.P. Morgan said eight sukuk issues would be eligible for inclusion, with a total value of $69 billion.

The Kingdom’s inclusion in the index is expected to boost liquidity and demand for sovereign debt, contributing to lower borrowing costs.

In September, J.P. Morgan had placed Saudi Arabia on “Positive Index Watch,” paving the way for its eventual inclusion in the GBI-EM.

Commenting on the decision, Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan told Bloomberg that the move reflects continued confidence in the Kingdom’s economic transformation trajectory. He said the inclusion marks a new milestone in Saudi Arabia’s integration into global financial markets, adding that its immediate impact will be seen in broadening and diversifying the investor base and supporting long-term capital inflows into the domestic debt market, thereby strengthening the resilience and stability of the national economy.

The Significance of the Index

The importance of J.P. Morgan’s index lies in its role as a benchmark guiding major global fund allocations, particularly passive funds that track indices automatically. With an expected weighting of around 2.52 percent, Saudi bonds will become a core component of international investor portfolios, increasing government bond liquidity and reducing borrowing costs over the long term, a critical factor for the Kingdom’s economy.

Passive funds play a key role in ensuring steady inflows. Trillions of dollars globally are managed through such funds. Once Saudi Arabia is included in the index, these funds will purchase Saudi bonds to remain aligned with it. Unlike active investors, they do not rapidly buy or sell based on daily news or market sentiment, but continue to hold bonds as long as they remain in the index, providing significant stability to the Saudi debt market. Their participation also ensures a constant base of large-scale buyers, facilitating bond trading at any time.

Reforms That Paved the Way

This inclusion is the result of a series of regulatory reforms highlighted by the bank in its note. Saudi Arabia has improved international investor access by linking to the global Euroclear system, expanding its network of primary dealers to include international banks, and facilitating cross-border settlement and trading. These measures have enhanced legal certainty and transparency, making the Saudi debt market an attractive and secure destination for foreign capital.

Financial Stability Amid Regional Challenges

Beyond its economic dimensions, the move carries strategic significance amid ongoing geopolitical tensions in the region. Increased inflows into local bonds are expected to strengthen the government’s ability to manage any economic fallout from regional instability. It underscores the resilience and attractiveness of the Saudi economy, demonstrating its capacity to attract quality investment and secure the financing needed for its development plans regardless of external challenges.