Red Sea Global CEO: We Look Forward to Implementing Int’l Projects

Part of the giant Red Sea tourism project in western Saudi Arabia, and in the framework, John Pagano, CEO of Red Sea Global (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Part of the giant Red Sea tourism project in western Saudi Arabia, and in the framework, John Pagano, CEO of Red Sea Global (Asharq Al-Awsat)
TT

Red Sea Global CEO: We Look Forward to Implementing Int’l Projects

Part of the giant Red Sea tourism project in western Saudi Arabia, and in the framework, John Pagano, CEO of Red Sea Global (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Part of the giant Red Sea tourism project in western Saudi Arabia, and in the framework, John Pagano, CEO of Red Sea Global (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Red Sea Development Co. CEO John Pagano has affirmed that his company has the capabilities and ambition needed to implement its vision on a global scale. He revealed that the new company’s strategy focuses on developments in Saudi Arabia and plans for projects in Europe and North America.

Over the past five years, the company’s strategy has concentrated on leading the narrative transition toward regenerative development to make the planet and people’s lives better, Pagano explained.

“Currently, we focus on tourism, hospitality, and housing. Still, nothing prevents us from taking on commercial development because we already have all the required skill sets and have built a large team of more than 2000 employees,” Pagano told Asharq Al-Awsat.

“We cover all the skills required to deliver real estate projects, whatever the asset class,” he affirmed, adding that his company intends to become a national pride and champion for Saudi Arabia.

Regarding projects outside Saudi Arabia, Pagano said: “We will look abroad. Our focus will always remain on Saudi Arabia and the Red Sea and Amaala projects, which receive 100% of our interest, but we are also looking to the future.”

“We want to make a difference and help revive the world,” Pagano asserted about the company’s approach on pushing the boundaries of development and doing things differently.

Taking pride in the support received from the Saudi leadership, government and people, Pagano said that this support had given the company a solid platform to implement its unique ideas.

When asked about the Red Sea and Amaala projects, Pagano said: “Both projects are under construction, and we will open the first three resorts next year in late spring.”

The resorts set to open are St. Regis and the Ritz Carlton Reserve and Six Senses.

“We will also open 21 resorts and 13 more resorts in the Red Sea and Amaala by the end of 2024,” revealed Pagano.

“There is a massive boost in the volume of hospitality. We focus on providing entertainment and will put Saudi Arabia on the global tourism map, a crucial aspect of Vision 2030,” he noted.

“We will create thousands of new jobs, many of which will go to Saudi youth eager to be part of this vision,” added Pagano.

Pagano stressed that the company is working to optimally implement the concept of sustainability through innovative development.

The Red Sea Development Co. has recently rebranded itself to “Red Sea Global.”



IMF Approves Third Review of Sri Lanka's $2.9 Bln Bailout

Peter Breuer, Senior Mission Chief for Sri Lanka at the IMF along with Katsiaryna Svirydzenka, Deputy Mission Chief for Sri Lanka at the IMF and Martha Tesfaye Woldemichael, Deputy Mission Chief for Sri Lanka at the IMF, attend a press conference organized by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Colombo, Sri Lanka, November 23, 2024. REUTERS/Thilina Kaluthotage
Peter Breuer, Senior Mission Chief for Sri Lanka at the IMF along with Katsiaryna Svirydzenka, Deputy Mission Chief for Sri Lanka at the IMF and Martha Tesfaye Woldemichael, Deputy Mission Chief for Sri Lanka at the IMF, attend a press conference organized by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Colombo, Sri Lanka, November 23, 2024. REUTERS/Thilina Kaluthotage
TT

IMF Approves Third Review of Sri Lanka's $2.9 Bln Bailout

Peter Breuer, Senior Mission Chief for Sri Lanka at the IMF along with Katsiaryna Svirydzenka, Deputy Mission Chief for Sri Lanka at the IMF and Martha Tesfaye Woldemichael, Deputy Mission Chief for Sri Lanka at the IMF, attend a press conference organized by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Colombo, Sri Lanka, November 23, 2024. REUTERS/Thilina Kaluthotage
Peter Breuer, Senior Mission Chief for Sri Lanka at the IMF along with Katsiaryna Svirydzenka, Deputy Mission Chief for Sri Lanka at the IMF and Martha Tesfaye Woldemichael, Deputy Mission Chief for Sri Lanka at the IMF, attend a press conference organized by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Colombo, Sri Lanka, November 23, 2024. REUTERS/Thilina Kaluthotage

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved the third review of Sri Lanka's $2.9 billion bailout on Saturday but warned that the economy remains vulnerable.
In a statement, the global lender said it would release about $333 million, bringing total funding to around $1.3 billion, to the crisis-hit South Asian nation. It said signs of an economic recovery were emerging, Reuters reported.
In a note of caution, it said "the critical next steps are to complete the commercial debt restructuring, finalize bilateral agreements with official creditors along the lines of the accord with the Official Creditor Committee and implement the terms of the other agreements. This will help restore Sri Lanka's debt sustainability."
Cash-strapped Sri Lanka plunged into its worst financial crisis in more than seven decades in 2022 with a severe dollar shortage sending inflation soaring to 70%, its currency to record lows and its economy contracting by 7.3% during the worst of the fallout and by 2.3% last year.
"Maintaining macroeconomic stability and restoring debt sustainability are key to securing Sri Lanka's prosperity and require persevering with responsible fiscal policy," the IMF said.
The IMF bailout secured in March last year helped stabilize economic conditions. The rupee has risen 11.3% in recent months and inflation disappeared, with prices falling 0.8% last month.
The island nation's economy is expected to grow 4.4% this year, the first increase in three years, according to the World Bank.
However, Sri Lanka still needs to complete a $12.5 billion debt restructuring with bondholders, which President Anura Kumara Dissanayake aims to finalize in December.
Sri Lanka will enter into individual agreements with bilateral creditors including Japan, China and India needed to complete a $10 billion debt restructuring, Dissanayake said.
He won the presidency in September, and his leftist coalition won a record 159 seats in the 225-member parliament in a general election last week.