Saudi Arabia, Kazakhstan Sign 13 Agreements to Boost Investments

 The Saudi-Kazakh forum saw the signing of 13 investment agreements in several sectors of common interest. (Photo: Ghazi Mehdi)
The Saudi-Kazakh forum saw the signing of 13 investment agreements in several sectors of common interest. (Photo: Ghazi Mehdi)
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Saudi Arabia, Kazakhstan Sign 13 Agreements to Boost Investments

 The Saudi-Kazakh forum saw the signing of 13 investment agreements in several sectors of common interest. (Photo: Ghazi Mehdi)
The Saudi-Kazakh forum saw the signing of 13 investment agreements in several sectors of common interest. (Photo: Ghazi Mehdi)

The Saudi-Kazakhstan forum, which kicked off on Sunday, saw the signing of 13 investment agreements in several sectors of common interest, including sports, media, health and medicine and agriculture.

The deals were signed in presence of Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Saudi Minister of Investment Khaled Al-Falih, and representatives of the public and private sectors in the two countries.

The agreements seek to strengthen efforts to promote investments and increase joint projects between Saudi and Kazakh companies.

Tokayev said that during his meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the Royal Court at Al Salam Palace in Jeddah, the two sides agreed to adopt major measures to boost bilateral investments, pointing to the signing of 13 agreements in several fields, which will further advance bilateral trade and technological cooperation.

In his speech, Al-Falih said that the 2050 plan for sustainable development in Kazakhstan was in line with the Saudi Vision 2030, noting that the opening of airlines would increase opportunities for cooperation in trade between the two countries.

Meanwhile, the Saudi Food and Drug Authority and the Veterinary Control and Supervision Committee of the Ministry of Agriculture in the Republic of Kazakhstan signed a cooperation agreement in the field of importing beef and sheep meat.

Similarly, the Saudi Stock Exchange (Tadawul) and Astana International Exchange signed an agreement of cooperation between the financial market in the two countries.

The forum also witnessed the signing of an investment agreement to support the sports sector, and a cooperation agreement in the media sector, while the Saudi News Agency (SPA) and the Television and Radio Complex of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan signed a cooperation agreement in the field of media and news.

For its part, the Ajlan & Brothers Holding Group signed four agreements in the sectors of food, radiochemistry and the transfer of innovative technologies, as well as in the field of exchanging information and experience on trade issues and export promotion, in addition to an investment agreement to establish a sugar syrup production plant in the Almaty region of Kazakhstan.

Al-Rajhi International Investment Company signed an agreement with the National Investment Company of Kazakhstan to boost cooperation between the two parties.

The Saudi ACWA Power Company also signed an investment cooperation agreement with the Kazakh ministry of Energy to boost cooperation in the field of renewable energy.



Eni Confirms US Will No Longer Allow Oil Payments from Venezuela

A view of buildings in the dark due to a power outage, in a neighborhood in Maracaibo, Venezuela, March 16, 2025. REUTERS/Jose Issac Bula Urrutia
A view of buildings in the dark due to a power outage, in a neighborhood in Maracaibo, Venezuela, March 16, 2025. REUTERS/Jose Issac Bula Urrutia
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Eni Confirms US Will No Longer Allow Oil Payments from Venezuela

A view of buildings in the dark due to a power outage, in a neighborhood in Maracaibo, Venezuela, March 16, 2025. REUTERS/Jose Issac Bula Urrutia
A view of buildings in the dark due to a power outage, in a neighborhood in Maracaibo, Venezuela, March 16, 2025. REUTERS/Jose Issac Bula Urrutia

Italy's Eni confirmed on Sunday it was notified by US authorities it would no longer be allowed to be repaid for gas production in Venezuela through oil supplies given by Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA.

Reuters had reported on Saturday that the US government had notified foreign partners of PDVSA, which include Eni, of the imminent cancellation of authorizations that allow them to export Venezuelan oil and byproducts.

“Eni continues its transparent engagement with US authorities on the matter to identify options for ensuring that non-sanctioned gas supplies, essential to the population, can be remunerated by PDVSA,” the Italian energy company said in a statement.

“Eni always operates in full compliance with the international sanctions framework,” it added.

Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro has criticized the sanctions, saying they amount to an “economic war.”

The companies that had received licenses and comfort letters from Washington also include Spain's Repsol, France's Maurel & Prom, India's Reliance Industries and US Global Oil Terminals.

Venezuela's Vice President Delcy Rodriguez confirmed on Sunday on social media that the government had been informed about the decision to cancel these authorizations.

“We were prepared for this juncture and we're ready to continue to comply with the contracts of these companies,” she wrote, adding that foreign companies do not need a license or authorization from another government in Venezuela.

“We are a trustworthy partner and will continue to comply with the agreements reached with these companies.”

Most companies had already suspended imports of Venezuelan oil following Trump's imposition this week of secondary tariffs on buyers of Venezuelan oil and gas, according to sources and vessel tracking data.