Oshkosh Defense Delivered 7,000 Military Vehicles in the Region

Saudi Arabia’s World Defense Show is witnessing wide international participation. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Arabia’s World Defense Show is witnessing wide international participation. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Oshkosh Defense Delivered 7,000 Military Vehicles in the Region

Saudi Arabia’s World Defense Show is witnessing wide international participation. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Arabia’s World Defense Show is witnessing wide international participation. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

John Lazar, vice president and general manager of international programs at US-based Oshkosh Defense, underlined the company’s commitment to localizing Saudi Arabia’s defense and security industries, noting that the Kingdom constituted an attractive investment environment for the transfer of technologies and industries in the sector.

In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, Lazar pointed to agreements concluded by Oshkosh Defense to implement a number of Saudi programs in accordance with Vision 2030, in terms of knowledge transfer and localization of industries.

“The Kingdom has hosted our regional office since 1991, and we are ready to cooperate with the Saudi government in providing its needs for the defense sector equipment industries, just as we do with the US government,” Lazar said, emphasizing that the defense industry presented attractive investment opportunities with high economic returns.

His comments came on the sidelines of the World Defense Show, which is being held in Riyadh from March 6 - 9.

Oshkosh Defense is looking to strengthen its partnerships in the region through its presence in the Kingdom, Lazar said, revealing that the past years have witnessed the delivery of more than 7,500 military vehicles in the region, including a large number of vehicles to customers in Saudi Arabia.

The company will display its 4-door Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) at the exhibition, he said, highlighting Saudi Arabia’s position as an attractive market for global investments in the defense industries sector.

Moreover, Lazar noted that Oshkosh would also be participating in the World Defense Show’s Customer Experience Demonstration Program, which allows the company to provide demonstration rides in the JLTV to select military and security services.



Saudi PIF Invests $200 Million in ETF Bond Fund

The fund is the first of its kind in Saudi Arabia to focus on fixed-income exchange-traded funds (ETFs). (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The fund is the first of its kind in Saudi Arabia to focus on fixed-income exchange-traded funds (ETFs). (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi PIF Invests $200 Million in ETF Bond Fund

The fund is the first of its kind in Saudi Arabia to focus on fixed-income exchange-traded funds (ETFs). (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The fund is the first of its kind in Saudi Arabia to focus on fixed-income exchange-traded funds (ETFs). (Asharq Al-Awsat)

State Street Global Advisors, a subsidiary of State Street Corporation, announced that Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) has invested SAR 750 million ($200 million) in the newly launched SPDR J.P. Morgan Saudi Aggregate Bond ETF.

According to a statement released by the company on Wednesday, this fund is the first of its kind in Saudi Arabia to focus on fixed-income exchange-traded funds (ETFs). It is listed in both the London Stock Exchange and Germany’s Xetra, offering investors the opportunity to track government and quasi-government bonds denominated in either the Saudi Riyal or the US Dollar, including sukuk (Islamic bonds).

This investment aligns with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, representing a significant step toward enhancing the international presence of Saudi Arabia’s financial markets and attracting foreign investments. The fund is available to investors across several European countries, including Austria, Denmark, France, Germany, and Italy.

Commenting on the investment, Yazid Al-Humaid, Deputy Governor and Head of MENA Investments at PIF, said: “The fund continues to create opportunities and enable access to diverse capital markets in the Kingdom. Investing in the first internationally listed Saudi fixed-income ETF underscores PIF’s commitment to deepening Saudi capital markets, attracting investors, and fostering partnerships across global financial centers.”

CEO of State Street Global Advisors Yi-Hsin Hung emphasized that the launch of the fund is a significant milestone in providing innovative opportunities for investors while contributing to Saudi Arabia’s economic growth.