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Aramco Launches Taleed Program to Accelerate SME growth in Saudi Arabia

“Taleed” aims to accelerate the growth of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Saudi Arabia. (Aramco)
“Taleed” aims to accelerate the growth of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Saudi Arabia. (Aramco)
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Aramco Launches Taleed Program to Accelerate SME growth in Saudi Arabia

“Taleed” aims to accelerate the growth of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Saudi Arabia. (Aramco)
“Taleed” aims to accelerate the growth of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Saudi Arabia. (Aramco)

Aramco announced on Thursday the launch of a new program, “Taleed”, which aims to accelerate the growth of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Saudi Arabia — helping boost their contribution to economic development and support job creation.

The program targets sustainable SME growth across multiple sectors through a portfolio of 20 initiatives, providing a wide range of support from capability building and strategy development to training, market access, advisory services and business planning, read a press statement.

It also aims to deliver funding and financial solutions to existing and new businesses through five funds, with a combined capital exceeding SAR 3 billion ($800 million). The funds are being established in collaboration with partners to support SME development in the sustainability, digital, manufacturing, industrial and social innovation domains.

Aramco is partnering with a wide range of entities to deliver Taleed initiatives, and the Company has signed 30 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with leading public and private partners to enable development of the SME ecosystem.

Amin H. Nasser, Aramco President & CEO, said: “Aramco has long been committed to supporting the expansion of the Kingdom’s SME ecosystem, which has a critical role to play in Saudi Arabia’s economic development.”

“Through Taleed, we are working with the public sector, as well as private companies and institutions, to further develop the SME ecosystem and promote entrepreneurship. Our aim is to achieve high levels of excellence among SMEs, which in turn supports our own business and the national economy,” he added.

Ahmad A. Al-Sa’adi, Aramco Senior Vice President of Technical Services, said: “Our Taleed program is a catalyst for change that aims to elevate the contribution of both existing and new SMEs across multiple sectors, in turn promoting job creation and further enhancing the commercial operating environment.”

Taleed will provide SMEs with targeted initiatives, complementing Aramco’s other major programs designed to enhance the Company’s resilient supply chain and the domestic business landscape. These include the Company’s flagship localization program “iktva”, as well as its industrial investments program “Namaat”, advanced product development center LAB7, and entrepreneurship center Wa’ed. These interlinked programs aim to create a supportive environment in which businesses of all sizes can flourish.

The 20 initiatives being offered through Taleed are categorized into three groups:

The first focuses on job-matching upskilled local talent, including a National Vocational Apprenticeship Program and a National Freelancing Program, to provide manpower with relevant skills to companies across Saudi Arabia. The initiative aims to enable thousands of jobs across multiple new or growing industries, including steel plate manufacturing, casting and forging, offshore and subsea diving.

The second focuses on creating business opportunities for SMEs, including the establishment of world-class integrated parks in nine cities across Saudi Arabia targeting untapped fields such as agriculture, artisans and cloud kitchens.

Other components include the establishment of a National Artisans Company to address challenges faced by artisans; a Smart Shared Services initiative; a Carbon Utilization National SME Program; Sustainable City Development initiative; Value Chain Services in Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries initiative; Home Construction Inspection initiative; and Industrial E-Marketplace initiative.

The third focuses on supporting SMEs and enabling the ecosystem. This includes an SME Excellence Program to help SMEs sustain and grow their business, and 150 SMEs have already been enrolled to mark the launch of Taleed.

Ultimately, Taleed’s sustainable growth program is expected to benefit as many as 15,000 SMEs annually. Other components include an SME Mentorship program; SME Leadership Development Program; SME Net-Zero Carbon Program; National E-Commerce SME Support Platform; SME Digital Enterprise Solutions initiative; Customized Logistics Solutions for SMEs initiative; Regional SME Association; SME of the Year Awards; and SME Business Hackathon.

Coinciding with Taleed’s launch, a ceremony was held to recognize companies that have demonstrated a commitment to hiring trained Saudi employees and supporting SMEs, academies and institutions working to upskill Saudi talent, as well as outstanding graduates from these institutions.

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Saudi Arabia Raises $12 Billion in International Bonds Amid Strong Demand

Skyscrapers are seen in King Abdullah Financial District in the Saudi capital, Riyadh. (Reuters).
Skyscrapers are seen in King Abdullah Financial District in the Saudi capital, Riyadh. (Reuters).
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Saudi Arabia Raises $12 Billion in International Bonds Amid Strong Demand

Skyscrapers are seen in King Abdullah Financial District in the Saudi capital, Riyadh. (Reuters).
Skyscrapers are seen in King Abdullah Financial District in the Saudi capital, Riyadh. (Reuters).

Saudi Arabia has raised $12 billion from global debt markets in its first international bond issuance of the year, attracting bids worth nearly $37 billion. This demonstrates strong investor appetite for Saudi debt instruments.

The issuance comes just two days after the approval of the 2025 annual borrowing plan by Minister of Finance Mohammed Al-Jadaan. The plan estimates financing needs for the fiscal year at SAR 139 billion ($37 billion). The funds will be used to cover the projected SAR 101 billion ($26.8 billion) budget deficit for 2025, as well as repay SAR 38 billion ($10 billion) in principal debt obligations due this year.

The National Debt Management Center (NDMC) announced on Tuesday that the issuance includes three tranches: $5 billion in three-year bonds, $3 billion in six-year bonds, and $4 billion in ten-year bonds. Total demand for the bonds reached $37 billion, exceeding the issuance size by three times and reflecting robust investor interest.

The NDMC emphasized that this issuance aligns with its strategy to broaden the investor base and efficiently meet Saudi Arabia’s financing needs in global debt markets.

According to IFR, a fixed-income news service, the initial price guidance for the three-year bonds was set at 120 basis points above US Treasury yields. The six-year and ten-year bonds were priced at 130 and 140 basis points above the same benchmark, respectively.

Strong demand allowed Saudi Arabia to lower yields on the shorter-term bonds, further demonstrating investor confidence. Economists noted that the pricing above US Treasuries is attractive in the current market, showcasing trust in Saudi Arabia’s economic stability and financial strategies.

International confidence

Economic experts view this successful bond issuance as a testament to international confidence in Saudi Arabia’s robust economy and financial reforms. Dr. Mohammed Al-Qahtani, an economics professor at King Faisal University, said the move underscores Saudi Arabia’s commitment to diversifying financing tools both domestically and internationally. He added that the funds would support Vision 2030 projects, reduce pressure on domestic resources, and attract strong international investor interest.

The issuance strengthens Saudi Arabia’s ability to meet financial needs, expand its investor base, and establish a global financing network, he said, noting that it also facilitates entry into new markets, enabling the Kingdom to accelerate infrastructure projects and capital expenditures.

Dr. Ihsan Buhulaiga, founder of Joatha Business Development Consultants, described the 2025 budget as expansionary, aimed at meeting the financing needs of economic diversification programs. He stressed that the budget deficit is an “optional” one, reflecting a deliberate choice to prioritize Vision 2030 initiatives over immediate fiscal balance.

Buhulaiga explained that the Kingdom’s approach balances two options: limiting spending to available revenues, which would avoid deficits but delay Vision 2030 initiatives, or borrowing strategically to fund Vision 2030 goals. He said that the annual budget is just a component of the larger vision, which requires sustained funding until 2030.

He continued that Saudi Arabia’s fiscal space and creditworthiness allow it to borrow internationally at competitive rates, explaining that this flexibility ensures financial sustainability without compromising stability, even during challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic.

Saudi Arabia’s debt portfolio remains balanced, with two-thirds of its debt domestic and one-third external. As of Q3 2024, public debt stood at approximately SAR 1.2 trillion, below the 30% GDP ceiling. According to the Ministry of Finance, the budget deficit is expected to persist through 2027 but remain below 3% of GDP.

Buhulaiga highlighted the importance of capital expenditure, which reached SAR 186 billion in 2023 and is projected to rise to SAR 198 billion in 2024, a 6.5% increase.

He emphasized the government’s pivotal role in economic diversification, supported by investments from the Public Investment Fund (PIF), the National Development Fund, and its subsidiaries, including the Infrastructure Fund.

The PIF recently announced a $7 billion Murabaha credit facility, facilitated by Citigroup, Goldman Sachs International, and JPMorgan. Meanwhile, the NDMC arranged a $2.5 billion revolving credit facility earlier in January, compliant with Islamic principles, to address budgetary needs.

In November, Moody’s upgraded Saudi Arabia’s credit rating to Aa3, aligning with Fitch’s A+ rating, both with a stable outlook. S&P Global assigns the Kingdom an AA-1 rating with a positive outlook, reflecting a high ability to meet financial obligations with low credit risk.

The IMF estimates Saudi Arabia’s public debt-to-GDP ratio at 26.2% in 2024, describing it as low and sustainable. This is projected to rise to 35% by 2029 as foreign borrowing continues to play a key role in financing deficits.