Saudi Commitment to Building a Green Future

The Governor of the Public Investment Fund (PIF) and Chairman of Saudi Aramco, Yasir Al Rumayyan, speaking to an audience during the Saudi Green Initiative Forum in Sharm El-Sheikh (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The Governor of the Public Investment Fund (PIF) and Chairman of Saudi Aramco, Yasir Al Rumayyan, speaking to an audience during the Saudi Green Initiative Forum in Sharm El-Sheikh (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Commitment to Building a Green Future

The Governor of the Public Investment Fund (PIF) and Chairman of Saudi Aramco, Yasir Al Rumayyan, speaking to an audience during the Saudi Green Initiative Forum in Sharm El-Sheikh (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The Governor of the Public Investment Fund (PIF) and Chairman of Saudi Aramco, Yasir Al Rumayyan, speaking to an audience during the Saudi Green Initiative Forum in Sharm El-Sheikh (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Governor of the Public Investment Fund (PIF) and Chairman of Saudi Aramco Yasir Al Rumayyan said the Middle East Green Initiative (MGI) is a turning point in the environmental efforts, which aim to transition national ambitions into practical steps that affect the entire world.

Al Rumayyan underlined the great efforts being made by the Kingdom to build a green future, as part of its ambitions for carbon neutrality by 2060.

The Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM) Initiative was the first of its kind in the MENA region, Al Rumayyan added during the Saudi Green Initiative Forum on the sidelines of the COP27 climate summit in Sharm El Sheikh.

The world’s largest-ever carbon credit auction took place last month, when 1.4 million tons of carbon credits were sold to 15 Saudi and regional entities.

The PIF was also the first sovereign wealth fund to issue a 100-year tranche green bond, Al Rumayyan added.

The success of this issue reflects investor confidence in Saudi Arabia and the PIF, as well as the Kingdom’s ability to establish a sustainable economy for the next 100 years.

No entity can achieve these goals alone, the PIF Governor said, stressing the significance of cooperation between the governments and private sector to drive innovation.

“I hope you are as inspired as I am about investing and partnering in the green transition. I see a world, in which we can seek both economic growth and environmental stewardship,” Al Rumayyan added.

“Here, the Saudi Green Initiative is creating a whole society movement, where we will pursue these goals. And if we act in a spirit of partnership, we will arrive at where we need to be in Saudi Arabia, the Middle East and around the world,” he concluded.



Fitch Revises Italy's Outlook to 'Positive' on Stronger Fiscal Performance

Porta Nuova's financial district is seen in downtown Milan, Italy, May 16, 2018. REUTERS/Stefano Rellandini/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights
Porta Nuova's financial district is seen in downtown Milan, Italy, May 16, 2018. REUTERS/Stefano Rellandini/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights
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Fitch Revises Italy's Outlook to 'Positive' on Stronger Fiscal Performance

Porta Nuova's financial district is seen in downtown Milan, Italy, May 16, 2018. REUTERS/Stefano Rellandini/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights
Porta Nuova's financial district is seen in downtown Milan, Italy, May 16, 2018. REUTERS/Stefano Rellandini/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights

Global credit ratings agency Fitch on Friday revised its outlook on Italy to 'positive' from 'stable', citing recent improvements in the fiscal performance of the euro zone's third largest economy and its commitment to EU budget regulations.
The upgrade to the outlook is a boost to Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's government and comes shortly after Rome reached an agreement with the European Commission on a seven-year budget adjustment, said Reuters.
"Italy's fiscal credibility has increased, and the 2025 budget underscores the government's commitment to EU fiscal rules," Fitch said in a statement.
The agency confirmed Italy's rating at 'BBB'.
In June, the Commission placed Italy and six other countries under a disciplinary procedure due to high budget deficits. Italy's 2023 shortfall came in at 7.2% of gross domestic product, the highest in the 20-nation euro zone.
However, last month the Italian government revised down its targets for the deficit this year and next, to 3.8% and 3.3% of GDP respectively, and said the deficit would fall below the EU’s 3% limit in 2026.
"The judgments of the ratings agencies are the result of the responsible actions of this government and they underscore Italy's credibility," Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti said in a statement after Fitch's announcement.
Earlier on Friday, S&P Global confirmed its rating on Italy at 'BBB' and left the outlook at 'stable'.
RISING DEBT
Despite the narrowing annual budget deficits, Italy's debt, proportionally the second highest in the euro zone, is forecast by the government to climb from 134.8% of gross domestic product last year to 137.8% in 2026, before gradually declining.
The Treasury says the projected increase is due to costly home renovation incentives adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic, known as the Superbonus scheme.
The premium investors pay to hold Italian government bonds over top-rated German ones narrowed on Friday to around 116 basis points, the lowest level since end-2021.
Analysts said earlier this week that positive news from any of the ratings agencies due to review Italy could trigger a further narrowing of the yield spread against Germany.
Fitch said its revision to Italy's outlook was also driven by "signs of stronger potential growth and a more stable political context."
The Italian economy expanded by 0.7% in 2023, and most analysts expect a similar modest growth rate this year, slightly below the government's official 1% target.
Meloni, who took office two years ago, retains high approval ratings and opinion polls show her right-wing Brothers of Italy party is comfortably the largest in Italy, with popular support of almost 30%, up from the 26% it won at the 2022 election.
Italy faces further credit rating reviews by Moody's, DBRS and Scope Ratings over the next few weeks up to No. 29.