Riyadh Seeks to Boost Food Security with Thai Partnerships

The Saudi delegation meets with Thai officials in Bangkok. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The Saudi delegation meets with Thai officials in Bangkok. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Riyadh Seeks to Boost Food Security with Thai Partnerships

The Saudi delegation meets with Thai officials in Bangkok. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The Saudi delegation meets with Thai officials in Bangkok. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

A Thai official revealed his country’s efforts to build bilateral partnerships with Saudi Arabia to enhance food security, stressing that his country would study and address challenges facing Saudi investors in exporting to Thailand.

He made his remarks during a meeting in Bangkok on Tuesday that brought together Thailand’s Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Cooperative Societies and a delegation from the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Riyadh.

The Thai official underlined the importance of the meeting, noting that the Saudi delegation, which boasted over 100 businessmen, was the first and largest to visit Thailand in 32 years.

Chairman of the Agriculture and Water Committee in the Riyadh Chamber Dr. Ibrahim Al-Turki said the Kingdom was interested in strengthening its capabilities and developing its investment and trade relations with countries across the globe to promote food security. He noted that Thailand’s huge agricultural wealth would have a major role in forging more partnerships with Saudi Arabia.

He added that Thailand’s advanced technologies in agriculture were a source of confidence and a great opportunity for the Saudis to build multiple partnerships in this particular field.

Trade and economic relations between Saudi Arabia and Thailand were recently revived after being suspended for three decades.

The Saudi-Thai Investment Forum was launched in May in the Saudi capital, where a number of MoUs were signed between the Ministry of Investment and an official Thai delegation.

The delegation of the Riyadh Chamber discussed in Thailand opportunities for cooperation in mining technologies, in addition to strengthening partnership in the field of research and industrial consultancy.



Saudi Aramco Announces New Agreements With Rongsheng and Hengli

Saudi Aramco Announces New Agreements With Rongsheng and Hengli
TT

Saudi Aramco Announces New Agreements With Rongsheng and Hengli

Saudi Aramco Announces New Agreements With Rongsheng and Hengli

Aramco, one of the world’s leading integrated energy and chemicals companies, has announced agreements with key Chinese partners during a visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia by a senior delegation led by Chinese Premier Li Qiang.
The agreements reinforce Aramco’s ongoing contribution to China’s long-term energy security and development, support China’s participation in Saudi Arabia’s economic growth, and foster collaboration in new technology development. They include preliminary documentation relating to a Development Framework Agreement with Rongsheng Petrochemical Co. Ltd. (Rongsheng) and a Strategic Cooperation Agreement with Hengli Group Co., Ltd.
According to SPA, Aramco Downstream President Mohammed Y. Al Qahtani said: “The signing of these agreements reaffirms our belief in the long-term, mutual benefits that can arise from Aramco’s close collaboration with our Chinese partners. China is an important country in our global downstream growth strategy, and we look forward to building on a relationship that spans more than three decades to unlock new opportunities in this crucial market. These agreements reflect our collective intention to elevate our relationships in vital sectors to advance our downstream objectives, contribute to both China’s and Saudi Arabia’s vibrant energy and petrochemicals sectors, and help develop future technology solutions.”

The preliminary documentation relating to a Development Framework Agreement with Rongsheng is connected to the potential joint development of an expansion of Saudi Aramco Jubail Refinery Company (SASREF) facilities. It follows an announcement in April that Aramco and Rongsheng had signed a Cooperation Framework Agreement relating to the planned formation of a joint venture in SASREF and significant investments in the Saudi and Chinese petrochemical sectors.
This agreement includes Rongsheng’s potential acquisition of a 50% stake in SASREF, the development of a liquids-to-chemicals expansion project at SASREF, Aramco’s potential acquisition of a 50% stake in Rongsheng affiliate Ningbo Zhongjin Petrochemical Co. Ltd. (ZJPC), and participation in ZJPC’s expansion project.
The agreement with Hengli Group Co., Ltd. advances talks relating to Aramco’s potential acquisition of a 10% stake in Hengli Petrochemical Co., Ltd., subject to due diligence and required regulatory clearances. It follows the signing of a memorandum of understanding in April 2024 regarding the proposed transaction.