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Saudi-Greek Map Establishes Effective Economic, Trade Partnership

Saudi Minister of Investment Khaled al-Falih speaking at the Saudi-Greek Investment (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Minister of Investment Khaled al-Falih speaking at the Saudi-Greek Investment (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi-Greek Map Establishes Effective Economic, Trade Partnership

Saudi Minister of Investment Khaled al-Falih speaking at the Saudi-Greek Investment (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Minister of Investment Khaled al-Falih speaking at the Saudi-Greek Investment (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia and Greece aim to increase their economic, investment, and trade cooperation.

The Saudi Ministry of Investment organized Sunday the Saudi-Greek Investment Forum in Riyadh, with top officials, executive directors of several large Saudi and Greek companies, and representatives of the private sector from both sides.

The event aims at introducing investment opportunities and reviewing aspects of the development of the business environment in the Kingdom.

Saudi Minister of Investment Khaled al-Falih confirmed to Asharq Al-Awsat that the Saudi economy is experiencing steady growth during the first five years of Vision 2030, coupled with fundamental reforms.

Falih said that the National Investment Strategy will allow local and foreign investors to take advantage of available opportunities through sectoral activities, noting that the volume of investments predicted in the following years, until 2030, is about $3.3 trillion, fully available for foreign investors.

Overcoming crises

The Minister pointed out that the Kingdom was able to overcome several crises that struck the whole world over the past few years, especially the health crisis triggered by the coronavirus pandemic with its impact on the economic situation in 2020.

The Saudi economy is moving towards more development and growth, said the Minister.

Greek cooperation

Falih addressed the Saudi-Greek cooperation, saying Athens' economy is based on tourism, energy, marine industries, and construction sectors which are the four most important sectors and the center of the Saudi-Greek Investment Forum.

The Forum was held Sunday over four sessions bringing together leaders from the private and public sectors.

The official expects the Forum to yield investment opportunities to benefit both countries.

Investment Incentives

The Greek Minister of Development and Investment Adonis Georgiadis and Greek deputy minister for economic diplomacy Kostas Fragogiannis affirmed that the political will in the two countries seeks to push bilateral relations to a broader economic and political scale, in light of incentives and guarantees to encourage and protect mutual investments.

The two officials stressed the partnership strategy between Riyadh and Athens given the available opportunities in the two countries, stressing that Greece is ready to move Saudi exports to European markets and nearby regions.

They noted that both governments launched several initiatives and reforms to attract investments, expecting trade growth during the coming period.

Framework for Cooperation

"We have reached a map that clearly and effectively frames our economic, investment, and trade cooperation with the Saudi side," said Greek Deputy Minister of Tourism, Sophia Zacharaki.

Zacharaki told Asharq Al-Awsat: "We look forward to working in the coming period to sustain development, develop tourism, and digitize the sector."

She noted that now is a suitable time for developing bilateral relations to broader horizons, especially in a post-coronavirus time.

The Deputy Minister announced a significant Saudi investment in the Greek tourism sector and other industries, with facilities that increase the number of tourists, exchanged visits, and direct flights between the two countries.

She stressed that the Kingdom had demonstrated great seriousness in implementing the Vision 2030 programs, noting that her country is already seeking to deepen and grow partnerships.

Targeted Sector

Zacharaki expects the tourism sector to recover and increase its growth to eight percent, which means the recovery of €15 billion in direct income following the development of the industry and the establishment of new hotels.

"In 2021, revenues increased by six percent compared to 2019, which means that €11 billion were obtained directly from those who chose Greece as their destination," said the official, adding that despite the geopolitical and geospatial conditions in the region, "the sector grew about 80 percent compared to before the [coronavirus] pandemic."

Real Partnership

For his part, Chairman of Saudi Chambers Ajlan al-Ajlan stressed that the size of investment, commercial, and economic opportunities in the Kingdom and Greece made the Investment Forum a real opportunity for a strong partnership.

In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Ajlan stated that the volume of trade exchange between the two countries grew by 61 percent to reach $1.8 billion, which means there is a great scope for increasing trade exchange, especially in vital sectors, topped by tourism, logistics, and agriculture.

The Chairman pointed out that Greece supports investment in light of the firm will of the leadership and the government in the two countries to advance bilateral cooperation to broader and more wide horizons.

The two leaderships also seek to support the private sector in both countries, which means strengthening their cooperation with an integrated and precise plan.

Investment Strategy

The Saudi Ministry of Investment disclosed at the Forum that 14 Greek companies are investing in the Saudi market in energy, renewable energy, and tourism.

The Forum included sessions to discuss the future of energy, renewable energy, transportation and services, logistics, the future of tourism, construction, and innovation sectors.

Saudi and Greek top investment officials held talks in the Saudi capital to discuss cooperation.

Several bilateral meetings between government agencies and the private sector from both sides were held on the sidelines of the Forum to discuss opportunities for cooperation, partnership, and the promising investment opportunities available in the two countries.

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Business

Global Unemployment ‘Stable’ in 2026, but Decent Jobs Lacking

A Palestinian employee inspects sweet locally known as "al-Shatwi" (Winter) Crimbo sweets, as the Al-Arees factory gradually resumes operations after a hiatus caused by the Gaza war which led to shortages of raw materials used in their products, in Deir al-Balah, in the central Gaza Strip on January 12, 2026, following a US-brokered truce that halted the two-year war. (AFP)
A Palestinian employee inspects sweet locally known as "al-Shatwi" (Winter) Crimbo sweets, as the Al-Arees factory gradually resumes operations after a hiatus caused by the Gaza war which led to shortages of raw materials used in their products, in Deir al-Balah, in the central Gaza Strip on January 12, 2026, following a US-brokered truce that halted the two-year war. (AFP)
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Global Unemployment ‘Stable’ in 2026, but Decent Jobs Lacking

A Palestinian employee inspects sweet locally known as "al-Shatwi" (Winter) Crimbo sweets, as the Al-Arees factory gradually resumes operations after a hiatus caused by the Gaza war which led to shortages of raw materials used in their products, in Deir al-Balah, in the central Gaza Strip on January 12, 2026, following a US-brokered truce that halted the two-year war. (AFP)
A Palestinian employee inspects sweet locally known as "al-Shatwi" (Winter) Crimbo sweets, as the Al-Arees factory gradually resumes operations after a hiatus caused by the Gaza war which led to shortages of raw materials used in their products, in Deir al-Balah, in the central Gaza Strip on January 12, 2026, following a US-brokered truce that halted the two-year war. (AFP)

The global unemployment rate is expected to hold steady in 2026, the United Nations said Wednesday, but cautioned the labor market's seeming stability belies a dire shortage of decent jobs.

The UN's International Labor Organization said the global economy and labor market appeared to have weathered recent economic shocks better than expected.

But the ILO warned that efforts to improve global job quality had stagnated, leaving hundreds of millions of workers wallowing in poverty, even as trade uncertainty risked cutting into workers wages.

The global unemployment rate was estimated at 4.9 percent last year and the year before, and is now projected to remain at a similar level until 2027, a report from the UN labor agency said.

That amounts to 186 million people out of work this year, it said.

"Global labor markets look stable, but that stability is quite fragile," Caroline Fredrickson, head of the ILO's research department, told reporters, cautioning that the "apparent calm masks deeper and unresolved problems".

At a time when US President Donald Trump has slapped towering tariffs on friends and foes alike, the report cautioned that "disruptions caused by trade uncertainty, combined with ongoing long-term transformations in global trade, could significantly affect labor market outcomes".

Going forward, the ILO said its modelling suggested that a moderate increase in trade policy uncertainty "may reduce returns to labor and, as a consequence, real wages for both skilled and unskilled workers across all sectors", especially in Southeast Asia, Southern Asia and Europe.

The potential of trade to generate new employment opportunities was also being challenged by the ongoing disruptions, the report said, pointing out that 465 million jobs globally depended on foreign demand through exports of goods and services and related supply chains in 2024.

- Extreme poverty -

Another major concern highlighted by the ILO was the quality of jobs available.

"Resilient growth and stable unemployment figures should not distract us from the deeper reality: hundreds of millions of workers remain trapped in poverty, informality, and exclusion," ILO chief Gilbert Houngbo said in a statement.

Nearly 300 million workers continue to live in extreme poverty, earning less than $3 a day, Wednesday's report found.

At the same time, some 2.1 billion workers are expected to hold informal jobs this year, with limited access to social protection, labor rights and job security.

Young people remain particularly vulnerable, with unemployment among 15- to 24-year-olds projected to reach 12.4 percent for 2025, with around 260 million young people not engaged in education, employment or training, ILO said.

It warned that artificial intelligence and automation could exacerbate challenges, particularly for educated young people in wealthier countries seeking their first high-skill jobs.

"While the full impact of AI on youth employment remains uncertain, its potential magnitude warrants close monitoring," the report said.

The ILO also highlighted "entrenched gender inequalities", pointing out that women still account for just two-fifths of global employment.

"Stable labor markets are not necessarily healthy," Fredrickson said, stressing the growing need for "domestic policy choices to strengthen decent work outcomes".

"Without decisive action, today's stability risks giving way to deeper inequalities."

Business

China Had a Record $1.2 Trillion Trade Surplus in 2025, as Exports Rose 6.6% in December

Women dressed in traditional Chinese-style attire cross a street in Beijing, China, Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026. (AP)
Women dressed in traditional Chinese-style attire cross a street in Beijing, China, Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026. (AP)
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China Had a Record $1.2 Trillion Trade Surplus in 2025, as Exports Rose 6.6% in December

Women dressed in traditional Chinese-style attire cross a street in Beijing, China, Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026. (AP)
Women dressed in traditional Chinese-style attire cross a street in Beijing, China, Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026. (AP)

China’s trade surplus surged to a record of almost $1.2 trillion in 2025, the government said Wednesday, as exports to other countries made up for slowing shipments to the United States.

China's exports rose 5.5% for the whole of last year to $3.77 trillion, customs data showed, while imports flatlined at $2.58 trillion. The 2024 trade surplus was over $992 billion.

In December, China’s exports climbed 6.6% from the year before in dollar terms, better than economists’ estimates and higher than November’s 5.9% year-on-year increase. Imports in December were up 5.7% year-on-year, compared to November’s 1.9%.

China’s trade surplus surpassed the $1 trillion mark for the first time in November, when the trade surplus reached $1.08 trillion in the first 11 months of last year.

Economists expect exports will continue to support China’s economy this year, despite trade friction and geopolitical tensions.

“We continue to expect exports to act as a big growth driver in 2026,” said Jacqueline Rong, chief China economist at BNP Paribas.

While China’s exports to the US have fallen sharply for most of last year since President Donald Trump returned to office and escalated his trade war with the world’s second-largest economy, that decline has been largely offset by shipments to other markets in South America, Southeast Asia, Africa and Europe.

For the whole of 2025, China’s exports to the US fell 20%. In contrast, exports to Africa surged 26%. Those to Southeast Asian countries jumped 13%; to the European Union 8%, and to Latin America, 7%.

Strong global demand for computer chips and other devices and the materials needed to make them were among categories that supported China’s exports, analysts said. Car exports also grew last year.

China's strong exports have helped keep its economy growing at an annual rate close to its official target of about 5%. But that has triggered alarm in countries that fear a flood of cheap imports are damaging local industries.

China faces a “severe and complex” external trade environment in 2026, Wang Jun, vice minister of China’s customs administration, told reporters in Beijing. But he said China’s “foreign trade fundamentals remain solid.”

The head of the International Monetary Fund last month called for China to fix its economic imbalances and speed up its shift from reliance on exports by boosting domestic demand and investment.

A prolonged property downturn in China after the authorities cracked down on excessive borrowing, triggering defaults by many developers, is still weighing on consumer confidence and domestic demand.

China’s leaders have made increasing spending by consumers and businesses a focus of economic policy, but actions taken so far have had a limited impact. That included government trade-in subsidies over the past months that encouraged consumers to buy newer, more energy efficient items, such as home appliances and vehicles, and replace older models.

“We expect domestic demand growth to stay tepid,” said Rong of BNP Paribas. “In fact, the policy boost to domestic demand looks weaker than last year -- in particular the fiscal subsidy program for consumer goods.”

Gary Ng, a senior economist at French investment bank Natixis, forecasts that China’s exports will grow about 3% in 2026, less than the 5.5% growth in 2025. With slow import growth, he expects China's trade surplus to remain above $1 trillion this year.

Business

Saudi Arabia Signs Mineral Cooperation Deals with Chile, Canada, Brazil

The MoUs were signed on the sidelines of the Ministerial Roundtable of ministers concerned with mining affairs, held as part of the fifth annual Future Minerals Forum (FMF) in Riyadh. (SPA)
The MoUs were signed on the sidelines of the Ministerial Roundtable of ministers concerned with mining affairs, held as part of the fifth annual Future Minerals Forum (FMF) in Riyadh. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia Signs Mineral Cooperation Deals with Chile, Canada, Brazil

The MoUs were signed on the sidelines of the Ministerial Roundtable of ministers concerned with mining affairs, held as part of the fifth annual Future Minerals Forum (FMF) in Riyadh. (SPA)
The MoUs were signed on the sidelines of the Ministerial Roundtable of ministers concerned with mining affairs, held as part of the fifth annual Future Minerals Forum (FMF) in Riyadh. (SPA)

Saudi Arabia, represented by the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources, signed on Tuesday three international memoranda of understanding (MoUs) on mineral resources cooperation with the Chile, Canada, and Brazil.

The MoUs were signed on the sidelines of the Ministerial Roundtable of ministers concerned with mining affairs, held as part of the fifth annual Future Minerals Forum (FMF), hosted by Riyadh from January 13 to 15.

The deals reflect the Kingdom’s efforts to expand its international partnerships and strengthen technical and investment cooperation in the mining and minerals sector in a manner that serves mutual interests and supports the sustainable development of mineral resources.

The signing ceremony included MoUs on cooperation in the mineral resources field with the Chilean Ministry of Mining, the Canadian Department of Natural Resources, and the Brazilian Ministry of Mines and Energy.

The Ministerial Roundtable recorded the largest level of international representation of its kind globally, with participation from more than 100 countries, including all G20 members in addition to the European Union, as well as 59 multilateral organizations, industry associations, and non-governmental organizations.

The attendance reflects the standing the ministerial meeting has attained as a leading international platform for aligning perspectives, building partnerships, and developing practical solutions to global challenges in the mining and minerals sector.