Iraq: OPEC Members Committed to Agreed Production Rates

An OPEC flag is seen on the day of OPEC+ meeting in Vienna in Vienna, Austria October 5, 2022. (Reuters)
An OPEC flag is seen on the day of OPEC+ meeting in Vienna in Vienna, Austria October 5, 2022. (Reuters)
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Iraq: OPEC Members Committed to Agreed Production Rates

An OPEC flag is seen on the day of OPEC+ meeting in Vienna in Vienna, Austria October 5, 2022. (Reuters)
An OPEC flag is seen on the day of OPEC+ meeting in Vienna in Vienna, Austria October 5, 2022. (Reuters)

Iraqi oil minister Hayan Abdel-Ghani stressed OPEC members are committed to the agreed production rates until the end of 2023, a ministry statement said on Saturday.   

Abdel-Ghani made these remarks during a ministerial meeting of the member states of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) via video conference.   

OPEC+ members are expected to hold a virtual meeting that would conduct "a review of developments in the oil market and challenges facing producers, and an emphasis on the decisions of OPEC+ regarding reducing production to the prescribed quantities, to achieve more stability and balance for the market,” added the minister.   

OPEC+ will likely stick to its oil output targets when it meets on Sunday, five OPEC+ sources said on Saturday, a day after the Group of Seven (G7) nations agreed a price cap on Russian oil.  

Many analysts and OPEC ministers have said the price cap was confusing and probably inefficient as Moscow has been selling most of its oil to countries like China and India, which have refused to condemn the war in Ukraine.   

OPEC virtually met on Saturday without allies such as Russia and discussed mostly administrative matters, sources said. The ministers did not discuss the Russian price cap.  

Five OPEC+ delegates said on Saturday the OPEC+ meeting on Sunday would likely approve a policy rollover.   

On Friday, two separate OPEC+ sources said a further output cut was not entirely off the table given concern about economic growth and demand. 



Saudi Arabia Unveils $2.6 Bln in Real Estate Supply Chain Investment Opportunities

A panel discussion on the sidelines of the Real Estate Supply Chain Forum in Riyadh (Asharq Al-Awsat)
A panel discussion on the sidelines of the Real Estate Supply Chain Forum in Riyadh (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia Unveils $2.6 Bln in Real Estate Supply Chain Investment Opportunities

A panel discussion on the sidelines of the Real Estate Supply Chain Forum in Riyadh (Asharq Al-Awsat)
A panel discussion on the sidelines of the Real Estate Supply Chain Forum in Riyadh (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Saudi government is expanding its targets for “Supply Pro,” a digital platform that connects contractors and building materials manufacturers under the National Housing Company.

The plan includes a 30% increase in the number of registered local and international suppliers, a 7% localization of building materials used in housing units, and the creation of new investment opportunities valued at over 10 billion riyals ($2.6 billion) in manufacturing, supply, and logistics services.

These initiatives are expected to generate more than 5,000 jobs.

This was revealed by Mohammad Al-Bati, CEO of the National Housing Company, during his speech at the “Real Estate Supply Chain Forum” in Riyadh on Tuesday, which was sponsored by Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing Majed Al-Hogail.

The event, attended by a group of consultants, contractors, and manufacturers, aimed to explore collaboration opportunities, learn about the latest technologies in the building materials industry, and facilitate knowledge exchange between local and international companies to strengthen supply chain networks.

Al-Bati also disclosed several agreements recently signed by the National Housing Company to support the real estate supply chain, with a total value exceeding 21 billion riyals ($5.6 billion).

These agreements have notably boosted local content, increasing from 54% to 63% by the end of 2024, while generating thousands of direct and indirect job opportunities in this vital sector.