Saudi Arabia Completes E-Link Procedures to Automate Business Acceleration

Riyadh's strategy aims to make the city capital one of the ten largest city economies in the world (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Riyadh's strategy aims to make the city capital one of the ten largest city economies in the world (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia Completes E-Link Procedures to Automate Business Acceleration

Riyadh's strategy aims to make the city capital one of the ten largest city economies in the world (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Riyadh's strategy aims to make the city capital one of the ten largest city economies in the world (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) completed the electronic linking procedures with the Saudi Center for Economic Business through the Tanfeeth program to directly link the technical systems of government agencies and banks operating in the Kingdom and integrate them. This step would contribute to automating and accelerating business processing to achieve Vision 2030.

The Saudi Center for Economic Business is concerned with facilitating the procedures for launching and conducting businesses and providing all related services under international best practices.

SAMA stated that it aims, through Tanfeeth, to improve and develop joint business with government agencies, understand the needs of those agencies, and overcome obstacles and difficulties.

It seeks to achieve the objectives of the Central Bank, enhance the technical infrastructure, and increase the level of services aiming to reduce administrative procedures and improve their quality in integration with financial institutions operating in the Kingdom.

Meanwhile, Riyadh Municipality inaugurated Remat al-Riyadh Development Company, the strategic arm, to enable the private sector to implement and develop municipal projects.

The development arm will also help provide services to improve the quality of life and provide direct value to residents and visitors of the region.

Its activities will focus on three main sectors: urban development, asset management, and municipal services.

Remat al-Riyadh will contribute to empowering the strategic role of the Municipality by supporting its operations and enabling the private sector to implement and develop municipal projects.

The mayor and chairman of the Riyadh region, Prince Faisal bin Ayyaf, confirmed that the company would contribute to accelerating the developmental plans for the area and improving residents' lifestyles.

Given that Riyadh is deemed full of tremendous and promising opportunities, the firm will promote this growth by involving the private sector in the municipal sector, as it aspires to be one of the top development companies in the municipal sector.

He indicated that the company's activities are based on three main sectors: urban development, municipal asset management, and municipal services, to improve the quality of services and municipal projects, improve customer experience and achieve satisfaction.

Prince Faisal added that the company aims to boost the level of municipal services and contribute to creating a vibrant society that enables economic and social development for the Riyadh region.

Remat al-Riyadh CEO Abdullah Abu Daoud said that the company aspires to contribute to making Riyadh an ideal and successful model by developing and shaping the future of the municipal sector based on strategic priorities aimed at providing quality projects and services that contribute to the prosperity and improvement of the region and the progress of the area.

It also aims to improve quality of life, achieve financial sustainability, and develop attractive and innovative business models in partnership with the private sector.

During the past year, Saudi Arabia launched the Riyadh city strategy to make the capital one of the ten largest city economies in the world.



Oil Prices Stable on Monday as Data Offsets Surplus Concerns

FILE - Pump jacks extract oil from beneath the ground in North Dakota, May 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown, File)
FILE - Pump jacks extract oil from beneath the ground in North Dakota, May 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown, File)
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Oil Prices Stable on Monday as Data Offsets Surplus Concerns

FILE - Pump jacks extract oil from beneath the ground in North Dakota, May 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown, File)
FILE - Pump jacks extract oil from beneath the ground in North Dakota, May 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown, File)

Oil prices stabilized on Monday after losses last week as lower-than-expected US inflation data offset investors' concerns about a supply surplus next year.

Brent crude futures were down by 38 cents, or 0.52%, to $72.56 a barrel by 1300 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate crude futures were down 34 cents, or 0.49%, to $69.12 per barrel.

Oil prices rose in early trading after data on Friday that showed cooling US inflation helped alleviate investors' concerns after the Federal Reserve interest rate cut last week, IG markets analyst Tony Sycamore said, Reuters reported.

"I think the US Senate passing legislation to end the brief shutdown over the weekend has helped," he added.

But gains were reversed by a stronger US dollar, UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo told Reuters.

"With the US dollar changing from weaker to stronger, oil prices have given up earlier gains," he said.

The dollar was hovering around two-year highs on Monday morning, after hitting that milestone on Friday.

Brent futures fell by around 2.1% last week, while WTI futures lost 2.6%, on concerns about global economic growth and oil demand after the US central bank signalled caution over further easing of monetary policy. Research from Asia's top refiner Sinopec pointing to China's oil consumption peaking in 2027 also weighed on prices.

Macquarie analysts projected a growing supply surplus for next year, which will hold Brent prices to an average of $70.50 a barrel, down from this year's average of $79.64, they said in a December report.

Concerns about European supply eased on reports the Druzhba pipeline, which sends Russian and Kazakh oil to Hungary, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Germany, has restarted after halting on Thursday due to technical problems at a Russian pumping station.

US President-elect Donald Trump on Friday urged the European Union to increase US oil and gas imports or face tariffs on the bloc's exports.

Trump also threatened to reassert US control over the Panama Canal on Sunday, accusing Panama of charging excessive rates to use the Central American passage and drawing a sharp rebuke from Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino.