Saudi Legislation Promotes Competitiveness of Local Products to Access Global Markets

The Local Content and Government Procurement Authority met with Saudi businessmen at the headquarters of the Federation of Saudi Chambers on Monday. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The Local Content and Government Procurement Authority met with Saudi businessmen at the headquarters of the Federation of Saudi Chambers on Monday. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Legislation Promotes Competitiveness of Local Products to Access Global Markets

The Local Content and Government Procurement Authority met with Saudi businessmen at the headquarters of the Federation of Saudi Chambers on Monday. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The Local Content and Government Procurement Authority met with Saudi businessmen at the headquarters of the Federation of Saudi Chambers on Monday. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Abdul Rahman Al-Samari, head of the Saudi Local Content and Government Procurement Authority, said that Saudi Arabia was issuing legislation to enhance the competitiveness of the domestic product and enable it to access regional and international markets.

He stressed in this regard that the authority has made great efforts in activating local content legislation in government procurement and huge quality projects.

During an expanded meeting on Monday with members of the National Committee for Local Content and the committees of the Chamber of Commerce, Al-Samari underlined the importance of communication with the private sector to come up with possible products and legislation that enhance the sector’s activity.

For his part, Eng. Tariq Al-Haidari, First Vice President of the Federation of Saudi Chambers, praised the role of the Local Content Authority in strengthening local capabilities and maximizing the benefit of purchasing power to build a strong and sustainable economy, following up policies and regulations, launching opportunities, and enhancing transparency to develop local content.

Al-Haidari emphasized the need to increase cooperation and coordination between the authority and the business sector, in order to support the development of local content and to prioritize national products in contracts concluded by state agencies.

Ayman Al Hazmi, general manager of Wahaj (Saudi Specialized Products Company), pointed to the working teams and joint mechanisms to address challenges pertaining to the implementation of the state’s regulation in supporting local content.

He said that the efforts made have contributed to the adoption of legislation and laws that achieve a set of objectives.



OPEC: Global Oil Demand Forecasts Unchanged

A model of oil rigs in front of the OPEC logo (Reuters) 
A model of oil rigs in front of the OPEC logo (Reuters) 
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OPEC: Global Oil Demand Forecasts Unchanged

A model of oil rigs in front of the OPEC logo (Reuters) 
A model of oil rigs in front of the OPEC logo (Reuters) 

OPEC said the global economy may perform better than expected in the second half of the year despite trade conflicts and refineries' crude intake would remain elevated to meet the uptick in summer travel, helping to support the demand outlook.

In a monthly report on Tuesday, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries left its forecasts for global oil demand growth unchanged in 2025 and 2026 after reductions in April, saying the economic outlook was robust, Reuters reported.

“Refinery intakes globally, and particularly in the US, are expected to keep throughputs elevated to meet the seasonal uptick in transport fuel demand, especially that of gasoline, jet/kerosene and residual fuel,” OPEC said.

Global refinery crude intake posted a sharp increase of 2.1 million bpd in June from May as refiners returned from maintenance, a sign of a stronger oil market, OPEC said in the report, adding that throughput was likely to stay high.

“India, China, and Brazil are outperforming expectations so far, while the United States and the Eurozone are experiencing a continued rebound from last year,” OPEC said in the report.

“With this, the second-half 2025 economic growth may turn out better than currently expected,” it added.

A solid economy shrugging off trade conflicts would make it easier for OPEC+, which groups OPEC plus Russia and other allies, to proceed with its plan to pump more barrels to regain market share after years of cuts aimed at supporting the market.

Brent crude was steady after OPEC published the report, trading close to $70 a barrel.

OPEC's report also showed that in June OPEC+ pumped 41.56 million bpd, up 349,000 bpd from May. This is slightly less than the 411,000 bpd hike called for by the group's increase in its June quotas.

The actual hike was smaller than the headline increase in quotas partly because some nations, such as Iraq, cut output as part of a pledge to make further reductions for earlier pumping above targets.

Still, output in Kazakhstan, which is under pressure to comply with OPEC+ quotas, rose last month after slightly falling in May and remained above the country's quota.

According to OPEC, Kazakhstan's oil production rose by 64,000 bpd in June to 1.847 million bpd.