Saudi Arabia Boosts its Food Security

Saudi Arabia enhances its food security by attracting the largest global meat company (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Arabia enhances its food security by attracting the largest global meat company (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia Boosts its Food Security

Saudi Arabia enhances its food security by attracting the largest global meat company (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Arabia enhances its food security by attracting the largest global meat company (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia is boosting its food security by allocating industrial land of ​​more than 25,000 square meters in the second industrial city in Jeddah to the largest international meat company.

The Saudi Authority for Industrial Cities and Technology Zones (Modon) signed a privatization contract with Seara Arabian for Food Industries, the investment arm in the Middle East and North Africa region of the Brazilian JBS group.

JBS is a global leader in protein-based food production and contributes to boosting the export of national products and meeting the local market's needs for various meat products, with a total of 50,000 tons annually.

Deputy Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Osama al-Zamil announced that MODON is ready and capable of attracting and localizing quality industries with added value to the national economy.

Zamil explained that it will help achieve the objectives of the national strategy for industries under Vision 2030.

He added that the project would support the integration of food industry supply chains by facilitating and attracting investors to the targeted areas.

It will also provide support and joint logistical services that boost the efficiency of food factories within these clusters and enhance their contribution to the national export system.

Zamil said that MODON has succeeded since its inception in increasing the number of food and beverage factories in its industrial cities by 200 percent, from 318 to nearly 1,000 factories.



Gold Gains as Dollar Slips on Trump Tariff Uncertainty

Gold bullion displayed in a store in the German city of Pforzheim (dpa)
Gold bullion displayed in a store in the German city of Pforzheim (dpa)
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Gold Gains as Dollar Slips on Trump Tariff Uncertainty

Gold bullion displayed in a store in the German city of Pforzheim (dpa)
Gold bullion displayed in a store in the German city of Pforzheim (dpa)

Gold prices rose on Tuesday as the US dollar eased due to uncertainty around President-elect Donald Trump's tariff plans, with further support coming from top consumer China's central bank adding to its gold reserves for a second straight month.

Spot gold was up 0.5% at $2,648.75 per ounce, as of 1218 GMT. US gold futures also rose 0.5% to $2,660.20.

"The main factor is the softening of the US dollar over the last two sessions, which has provided some relief for the precious metal," said Ricardo Evangelista, senior analyst at ActivTrades.

The dollar index eased towards a one-week low versus major peers as traders considered whether President-elect Donald Trump's tariffs would be less aggressive than promised following a report in the Washington Post, Reuters reported.

Trump however denied the report, deepening uncertainty about future US trade policies.

A stronger dollar makes bullion more expensive for other currency holders.

Traders are setting their sights on Friday's US jobs report for Fed policy clues, along with job openings data due later in the day, ADP employment and the minutes from the Fed's December meeting on Wednesday.

Fed Governor Lisa Cook on Monday said that the Fed can be cautious about any further rate cuts given a solid economy and inflation proving stickier than previously expected.

Bullion is considered a hedge against inflation, but high rates reduce the non-yielding asset's appeal.

Meanwhile, China's gold reserves stood at 73.29 million fine troy ounces at the end of December as the central bank kept buying gold for a second straight month, official data showed.

"By re-entering the market in December, Beijing signaled that its gold acquisition program remains active—a development likely to lend continued support to the precious metal's price," Evangelista added.

Gold prices gained about 27% in 2024, mainly boosted by robust central bank purchases and Fed rate cuts.

Spot silver gained 0.8% to $30.19 per ounce, platinum added 1.2% to $944.39 and palladium rose 0.9% to $928.38.