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)
TT

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.



Trump Uncertainties Push Safe-haven Gold to Near all-time Highs

FILE PHOTO: An employee places ingots of 99.99 percent pure gold in a workroom at the Novosibirsk precious metals refining and manufacturing plant in the Siberian city of Novosibirsk, Russia, September 15, 2023. REUTERS/Alexander Manzyuk/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: An employee places ingots of 99.99 percent pure gold in a workroom at the Novosibirsk precious metals refining and manufacturing plant in the Siberian city of Novosibirsk, Russia, September 15, 2023. REUTERS/Alexander Manzyuk/File Photo
TT

Trump Uncertainties Push Safe-haven Gold to Near all-time Highs

FILE PHOTO: An employee places ingots of 99.99 percent pure gold in a workroom at the Novosibirsk precious metals refining and manufacturing plant in the Siberian city of Novosibirsk, Russia, September 15, 2023. REUTERS/Alexander Manzyuk/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: An employee places ingots of 99.99 percent pure gold in a workroom at the Novosibirsk precious metals refining and manufacturing plant in the Siberian city of Novosibirsk, Russia, September 15, 2023. REUTERS/Alexander Manzyuk/File Photo

Gold prices soared to near three-month highs on Wednesday, trading below its record peak, fuelled by a soft dollar and lack of clarity around US President Donald Trump's policy plans, which investors fear could trigger trade wars and elevate market volatility.

Spot gold added 0.3% to $2,753.79 per ounce as of 9:45 a.m. ET (1445 GMT). Prices were at their highest since Oct. 31 when they hit their all-time-high of $2,790.15.

US gold futures gained 0.2% to $2,764.80.

The dollar index dipped to a more-than-three-week low, making greenback-priced bullion less expensive for holders of other currencies, Reuters reported.

"There are uncertainties with proposed tariffs and other things, and gold typically does well when there's a large or even a moderate amount of uncertainty in the market, it's a natural place where people gravitate to," said Ryan McIntyre, Senior Portfolio Manager at Sprott Asset Management.

Trump said his administration was discussing imposing a 10% tariff on goods imported from China on Feb. 1, the same day that he previously said Mexico and Canada could face levies of around 25%.

Gold is often viewed as a haven during times of economic and geopolitical turmoil, but Trump's proposed policies are broadly regarded as inflationary, potentially compelling the US Federal Reserve to sustain elevated interest rates for an extended period to rein in rising price pressures.

Trump has not provided many details about his proposed tariffs, making investors question the aggressiveness of the move, and the depth of its potential impacts.

"(Trump) has been perhaps just a shade less hawkish on tariffs as feared which helps - less/lower tariffs is taken to indicate lower inflation hence potential for more rate cuts," said Tai Wong, an independent metals trader.

Spot silver fell 0.6% to $30.68, but hovered near a one-month high hit on Jan. 16.

Platinum rose 0.3% to $946.50 and palladium gained 1.9% to $975.27.