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.



Saudi Arabia Sees Highest Level of Non-oil Private Sector Activity in 4 Months

The 1.5-point increase in the PMI reflects a larger expansion in both output and new orders. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The 1.5-point increase in the PMI reflects a larger expansion in both output and new orders. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia Sees Highest Level of Non-oil Private Sector Activity in 4 Months

The 1.5-point increase in the PMI reflects a larger expansion in both output and new orders. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The 1.5-point increase in the PMI reflects a larger expansion in both output and new orders. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Business activity in Saudi Arabia's non-oil sector accelerated to a four-month high in September, driven by strong demand, which led to faster growth in new orders. The Riyad Bank Saudi Arabia Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI), adjusted for seasonal factors, rose to 56.3 points from 54.8 in August, marking the highest reading since May and further distancing itself from the 50.0 level that indicates growth.

The 1.5-point increase in the PMI reflects a larger expansion in both output and new orders, alongside challenges in supply. The improvement in business conditions contributed to a significant rise in employment opportunities, although difficulties in finding skilled workers led to a shortage in production capacity.

At the same time, concerns over increasing competition caused a decline in future output expectations. According to the PMI statement, inventories of production inputs remained in good condition, which encouraged some companies to reduce their purchasing efforts.

Growth was strong overall and widespread across all non-oil sectors under study. Dr. Naif Al-Ghaith, Senior Economist at Riyad Bank, said that the rise in Saudi Arabia's PMI points to a notable acceleration in the growth of the non-oil private sector, primarily driven by increased production and new orders, reflecting the sector’s expansionary activity.

Al-Ghaith added that companies responded to the rise in domestic demand, which plays a crucial role in reducing the Kingdom's reliance on oil revenues. The upward trend also indicates improved business confidence, pointing to a healthy environment for increased investment, job creation, and overall economic stability.

He emphasized that this growth in the non-oil sector is particularly important given the current context of reduced oil production and falling global oil prices. With oil revenues under pressure, the strong performance of the non-oil private sector acts as a buffer, helping mitigate the potential impact on the country's economic conditions.

Al-Ghaith continued, noting that diversifying income sources is essential to maintaining growth amid the volatility of oil markets. He explained that increased production levels not only enhance the competitiveness of Saudi companies but also encourage developments aimed at expanding the private sector's participation in the economy.

This shift, he said, provides a more stable foundation for long-term growth, making the economy less susceptible to oil price fluctuations.