Saudi ‘Jada’ Plans Attractive Investment Funds in NEOM

Part of the ‘Catalyze Saudi’ initiative activities in Riyadh (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Part of the ‘Catalyze Saudi’ initiative activities in Riyadh (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi ‘Jada’ Plans Attractive Investment Funds in NEOM

Part of the ‘Catalyze Saudi’ initiative activities in Riyadh (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Part of the ‘Catalyze Saudi’ initiative activities in Riyadh (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia’s Jada Fund of Funds plans launching funds to attract investments in favor of NEOM, revealed Jada CEO Adel Al-Ateeq.

“We are looking to increase the volume of Jada’s investment by more than SAR 4 billion ($1.06 billion),” Al-Ateeq told Asharq Al-Awsat.

“Since the beginning of Jada’s launch, we have invested in more than 20 investment funds,” said Al-Ateeq.

“The volume of investment in these funds exceeded SAR2 billion ($533.3 million), distributed among a number of venture capital and private equity funds in the Kingdom,” revealed the CEO.

Al-Ateeq stressed that Jada will continue to invest in venture capital and private equity in the Kingdom. He reaffirmed that the fund would carry on with the momentum it started with three years ago.

He pointed out that Jada’s capital initially amounted to SAR 4 billion ($1.06 billion) but hoped to increase its value in the future.

“We invested SAR 2 billion in 3 years... and I expect to continue at the same level during the next three years... We invested in 20 funds in several companies,” said Al-Ateeq, adding that Jada has capitalized in 350 local and regional companies.

“NEOM is still in the process of being established, and it is working to establish many targeted projects... Therefore, we are looking forward to launching investment funds that will give NEOM a share of its investments when its projects are launched,” revealed Al-Ateeq.

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Investment (MISA) and Jada had formed a partnership to bolster the Kingdom’s start-up and innovation sector and support economic diversification under the ‘Catalyze Saudi’ initiative.

Jada, owned by the Public Investment fund (PIF), provides funding to start-ups in the Kingdom through commercially sustainable investments in venture capital and private equity funds.

MISA and Jada aim to connect leaders from government agencies, start-up entrepreneurs, investors and leading family business representatives from the Kingdom to participate in roundtable discussions and reinforce the private sector’s impact on the local economy.

The ‘Catalyze Saudi’ initiative is in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 which aims to raise small and medium sized enterprises’ (SMEs) contribution to GDP from 21% to 35% by 2030.



Peru’s FM: Negotiations Underway with Saudi Arabia to Sign Bilateral Agreements by Year-End

Peru’s Foreign Minister, Elmer Schialer Salcedo (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Peru’s Foreign Minister, Elmer Schialer Salcedo (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Peru’s FM: Negotiations Underway with Saudi Arabia to Sign Bilateral Agreements by Year-End

Peru’s Foreign Minister, Elmer Schialer Salcedo (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Peru’s Foreign Minister, Elmer Schialer Salcedo (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Peru’s Foreign Minister, Elmer Schialer Salcedo, revealed during his official visit to Riyadh that negotiations are progressing with Saudi Arabia to conclude several bilateral agreements before the end of 2025.

The agreements include among others a general cooperation accord and a civil aviation agreement.

In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Salcedo noted that his visit is part of a broader Gulf tour aimed at paving the way for a multilateral agreement with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

The Peruvian foreign minister emphasized that while relations between Peru and Saudi Arabia are strong on political, diplomatic, cultural, and tourism fronts, there is significant untapped potential in the commercial and economic realms. He expressed his intent to further deepen these ties by encouraging investment and trade between the public and private sectors of both countries.

The year 2026 will mark the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Peru and Saudi Arabia, a milestone the Peruvian minister said would underscore the importance of reinforcing the partnership.

Peru and Saudi Arabia maintain close coordination in political and diplomatic matters, as well as bilateral business, tourism, and cultural engagement.

Salcedo told Asharq Al-Awsat that he hopes to expand this cooperation into energy, investment, mining, technology, and digital governance. He highlighted sectors such as oil, gas, renewable energy, telecommunications, and water desalination as areas with strong investment potential. He also reaffirmed Peru’s commitment to providing equal treatment to foreign investors, a message aimed at encouraging greater Saudi involvement in the Peruvian economy.

On the private sector level, Salcedo stressed the need for direct links between Peruvian and Saudi businesses, noting that many Peruvian products currently reach the Saudi market through third countries. Eliminating intermediaries would reduce costs and create more competitive opportunities for producers and consumers in both countries.

The minister also commended Saudi Arabia’s recent reforms to its investment laws, particularly the provisions allowing full foreign ownership, and said they present important opportunities for Peruvian businesses.

Highlighting growing economic ties, Salcedo pointed to Saudi Aramco’s recent expansion into South America.

In March 2025, Aramco acquired Primax, a major fuel distributor operating in Peru, Colombia, and Ecuador, in a deal valued at $3.5 billion.

He also noted Aramco’s increased indirect stake of 17.2% in the Peru LNG project, further integrating the company into South America’s liquefied natural gas market.

Salcedo pointed to the strategic role of Peru’s newly built Chancay Port, which he said would revolutionize logistics between South America and Asia. With automated facilities and a projected total investment of $3.6 billion across three phases, the port is expected to enhance Peru’s connectivity with Asian markets and improve regional trade efficiency.

Looking ahead, the official said Peru could contribute significantly to Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 goals. He highlighted his country’s rich mineral resources, including copper, lithium, and rare earth elements, as key assets for Saudi investment.