Saudi Future Investment Initiative Institute Concludes Deal to Support Tourism

The signing ceremony between Saudi Tourism Development Fund and the Future Investment Initiative Institute (FII) (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The signing ceremony between Saudi Tourism Development Fund and the Future Investment Initiative Institute (FII) (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Future Investment Initiative Institute Concludes Deal to Support Tourism

The signing ceremony between Saudi Tourism Development Fund and the Future Investment Initiative Institute (FII) (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The signing ceremony between Saudi Tourism Development Fund and the Future Investment Initiative Institute (FII) (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Saudi Future Investment Initiative Institute (FII) announced it concluded an agreement to boost the tourism sector. It organized the "Priority Summit" in New York on the sidelines of the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly.

CEO Richard Attias presented the global survey results aimed at determining the most critical priority for each individual.

The results revealed the priority in terms of population and continental composition to build an innovative roadmap to help humanity transition to assist humanity in surviving and thriving in a new complex world.

- A different experience

Attias explained that the Foundation made this report in 13 countries to understand the recent trends, which can monitor the emerging economies of the countries that represent approximately 50 percent of the population and see them on the map shown for the nations.

"In the ten main findings of the report, we noticed that people are very positive about themselves, as 77% of normal people in countries were going in the right direction," the CEO was quoted by SPA.

He pointed out that another analysis was done that shows the relationship between optimism and GDP that can gradually improve the citizen's outlook by paying attention to his priorities.

He reported that 53 percent of high-income countries enjoy a nutritionally better life.

- Quality of life

Saudi Minister of Investment Khalid al-Falih addressed the priority sectors in investment after the economic transformation the world is witnessing, highlighting the Kingdom's efforts and plans to invest in industries that focus on improving the quality of life.

The minister stressed that technology has a significant and fundamental impact on investing, living, and the interaction mechanisms between companies.

"In light of the outbreak of the epidemic, it has been proven that the use of technology is important to deal with the challenges we face and provide opportunities for investors," Falih said.

- Companies and individuals

Speaking at the summit, the governor of the Public Investment Fund (PIF) and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Saudi Aramco, Yasir al-Rumayyan, discussed the role of companies and investors in supporting the most critical priorities of individuals.

During a plenary session with the Honorary President of the University of Pennsylvania, Judith Rodin, he disclosed the difference between a crisis management approach and a crisis management approach that causes other crises.

PIF plays a significant role in stimulating the Saudi economy, noted Rumayyan, noting that the Fund has an initiative dedicated to ensuring the achievement of the goals set in the Vision Realization Program.

- Tourism development

The Saudi Tourism Development Fund and the FII signed a strategic partnership agreement to work together in advancing projects and initiatives in line with the Institute's core focus areas.

It will also support the curation of the upcoming sixth edition of the FII forum, which will be held in Riyadh from October 25-27 under the theme of "Impact on Humanity: Enabling a New Global Order."

The CEO of the Fund, Qusai al-Fakhri, explained that the partnership with FII will enhance efforts between the two parties and seek jointly to encourage and support investment in the tourism sector in Saudi Arabia.

"We look forward to exploring together how the face of tourism is changing and how we can work with global efforts to make tourism growth sustainable," said Fakhri.

The Fund's partnership with FII is a testament to the Fund's enthusiasm to contribute to the Institute's work and its investment in the four essential pillars of Sustainability, Healthcare, Education, Artificial Intelligence, and Robotics, on which the Institute was founded.

The Tourism Development Fund was established to empower one of Saudi Arabia's most rapidly growing industries. It aims to facilitate local and international investors access to tourism investments across the Kingdom.

The Fund's efforts align with Saudi Arabia's bold ambition to bolster the country's reputation as a top tourist destination.

- Foreign Trade

Furthermore, the Minister of Commerce and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi General Authority for Foreign Trade, Majid al-Qasabi, held bilateral meetings in Bali on the sidelines of the G20 working group on commerce, investment, and industry.

Qasabi with ministers of trade of Türkiye, India, Argentina, South Africa, and Russia.

During the meetings, opportunities for cooperation on investment and industry and an increase in trade exchanges were reviewed.



China Passes Revised Foreign Trade Law to Bolster Trade War Capabilities

Containers are seen at the port in Shanghai, China, Oct. 13, 2025. (AFP)
Containers are seen at the port in Shanghai, China, Oct. 13, 2025. (AFP)
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China Passes Revised Foreign Trade Law to Bolster Trade War Capabilities

Containers are seen at the port in Shanghai, China, Oct. 13, 2025. (AFP)
Containers are seen at the port in Shanghai, China, Oct. 13, 2025. (AFP)

China on Saturday passed revisions to a key piece of legislation aimed at strengthening Beijing's ability to wage trade war, curb outbound shipments from strategic minerals, and further open its $19 trillion economy.

The latest revision to the Foreign Trade Law, approved by China's top legislative body, will take effect on March 1, 2026, state news agency Xinhua reported on Saturday.

The world's second-largest economy is overhauling its trade-related legal frameworks partly to convince members of a major trans-Pacific trade bloc created to counter China's growing influence that the manufacturing powerhouse ‌deserves a seat at ‌the table, as Beijing seeks to reduce ‌its ⁠reliance on the US.

Adopted ‌in 1994 and revised three times since China joined the World Trade Organization in 2001, most recently in 2022, the Foreign Trade Law empowers policymakers to hit back against trading partners that seek to curb its exports and to adopt mechanisms such as "negative lists" to open restricted sectors to foreign firms.

The revision also adds a provision that foreign trade should "serve national economic and social development" and help build China ⁠into a "strong trading nation", Xinhua said.

It further "expands and improves" the legal toolkit for countering external challenges, according ‌to the report.

The revision focuses on areas such ‍as digital and green trade, along ‍with intellectual property provisions, key improvements China needs to make to meet the ‍standards of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, rather than the trade defense tools the 2020 revamp honed in on following four years of tariff war with the first Trump administration.

Beijing is also sharpening the wording of its powers in anticipation of potential lawsuits from private firms, which are becoming increasingly prominent in China, according to trade diplomats.

"Ministries have become more concerned about private sector criticism," ⁠said one Western trade diplomat with decades' of experience working with China. "China is a rule-of-law country, so the government can stop a company's shipment, but it needs a reason."

"It's not totally lawless here. Better to have everything written out in black and white," they added, requesting anonymity, as they were not authorized to speak with media.

China's private exporting firms attracted global attention in November after the French government moved to suspend the Chinese e-commerce platform Shein.

The Chinese government increasingly could also find itself at odds with private enterprise when seeking to carry out sweeping bans, ‌such as Beijing's prohibition of all Japanese seafood imports, as Asia's top two economies continue to feud over Taiwan, trade diplomats say.


Lebanese Cabinet Approves Draft Law on Financial Crisis Losses

A photograph released by the Lebanese Government Press Office on December 26, 2025, show Prime Minister Nawaf Salam speaking during a press conference after a cabinet session in Beirut on December 26, 2025. (Photo by Handout / Lebanese Government Press Office / AFP)
A photograph released by the Lebanese Government Press Office on December 26, 2025, show Prime Minister Nawaf Salam speaking during a press conference after a cabinet session in Beirut on December 26, 2025. (Photo by Handout / Lebanese Government Press Office / AFP)
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Lebanese Cabinet Approves Draft Law on Financial Crisis Losses

A photograph released by the Lebanese Government Press Office on December 26, 2025, show Prime Minister Nawaf Salam speaking during a press conference after a cabinet session in Beirut on December 26, 2025. (Photo by Handout / Lebanese Government Press Office / AFP)
A photograph released by the Lebanese Government Press Office on December 26, 2025, show Prime Minister Nawaf Salam speaking during a press conference after a cabinet session in Beirut on December 26, 2025. (Photo by Handout / Lebanese Government Press Office / AFP)

Lebanon's government on Friday approved a draft law to distribute financial losses from the 2019 economic crisis that deprived many Lebanese of their deposits despite strong opposition to the legislation from political parties, depositors and banking officials.

The draft law will be submitted to the country's divided parliament for approval before it can become effective.

The legislation, known as the "financial gap" law, is part of a series of reform measures required by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in order to access funding from the lender.

The cabinet passed the draft bill with 13 ministers in favor and nine against. It stipulates that each of the state, the central bank, commercial banks and depositors will share the losses accrued as a result of the financial crisis.

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam defended the bill, saying it "is not ideal... and may not meet everyone's aspirations" but is "a realistic and fair step on the path to restoring rights, stopping the collapse... and healing the banking sector.”

According to government estimates, the losses resulting from the financial crisis amounted to about $70 billion, a figure that is expected to have increased over the six years that the crisis was left unaddressed.

Depositors who have less than $100,000 in the banks, and who constitute 85 percent of total accounts, will be able to recover them in full over a period of four years, Salam said.

Larger depositors will be able to obtain $100,000 while the remaining part of their funds will be compensated through tradable bonds, which will be backed by the assets of the central bank.

The central bank's portfolio includes approximately $50 billion, according to Salam.

The premier told journalists that the bill includes "accountability and oversight for the first time.”

"Everyone who transferred their money before the financial collapse in 2019 by exploiting their position or influence... and everyone who benefited from excessive profits or bonuses will be held accountable and required to pay compensation of up to 30 percent of these amounts," he said.

Responding to objections from banking officials, who claim components of the bill place a major burden on the banks, Salam said the law "also aims to revive the banking sector by assessing bank assets and recapitalizing them.”

The IMF, which closely monitored the drafting of the bill, previously insisted on the need to "restore the viability of the banking sector consistent with international standards" and protect small depositors.

Parliament passed a banking secrecy reform law in April, followed by a banking sector restructuring law in June, one of several key pieces of legislation aimed at reforming the financial system.

However, observers believe it is unlikely that parliament will pass the current bill before the next legislative elections in May.

Financial reforms in Lebanon have been repeatedly derailed by political and private interests over the last six years, but Salam and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun have pledged to prioritize them.


Türkiye Says Russia Gave It $9 Billion in New Financing for Akkuyu Nuclear Plant

Türkiye’s Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar talks during a meeting in Ankara, Türkiye, September 14, 2023. (Reuters)
Türkiye’s Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar talks during a meeting in Ankara, Türkiye, September 14, 2023. (Reuters)
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Türkiye Says Russia Gave It $9 Billion in New Financing for Akkuyu Nuclear Plant

Türkiye’s Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar talks during a meeting in Ankara, Türkiye, September 14, 2023. (Reuters)
Türkiye’s Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar talks during a meeting in Ankara, Türkiye, September 14, 2023. (Reuters)

Türkiye's energy minister said Russia had provided new financing worth $9 billion for the Akkuyu nuclear power plant being built by ​Moscow's state nuclear energy company Rosatom, adding Ankara expected the power plant to be operational in 2026.

Rosatom is building Türkiye's first nuclear power station at Akkuyu in the Mediterranean province of Mersin per a 2010 accord worth $20 billion. The plant was expected ‌to be operational ‌this year, but has been ‌delayed.

"This (financing) ⁠will ​most ‌likely be used in 2026-2027. There will be at least $4-5 billion from there for 2026 in terms of foreign financing," Alparslan Bayraktar told some local reporters at a briefing in Istanbul, according to a readout from his ministry.

He said ⁠Türkiye was in talks with South Korea, China, Russia, and ‌the United States on ‍nuclear projects in ‍the Sinop province and Thrace region, and added ‍Ankara wanted to receive "the most competitive offer".

Bayraktar said Türkiye wanted to generate nuclear power at home and aimed to provide clear figures on targets.