KSA: More than 3,000 Real Estate Developers to Benefit from Support Program

 The Saudi Minister of Housing conducts a visit to the National Housing Company to review the most important developments in achieving the goals of Vision 2023 (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The Saudi Minister of Housing conducts a visit to the National Housing Company to review the most important developments in achieving the goals of Vision 2023 (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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KSA: More than 3,000 Real Estate Developers to Benefit from Support Program

 The Saudi Minister of Housing conducts a visit to the National Housing Company to review the most important developments in achieving the goals of Vision 2023 (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The Saudi Minister of Housing conducts a visit to the National Housing Company to review the most important developments in achieving the goals of Vision 2023 (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Saudi Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing announced a program targeting more than 3,000 real estate developers through a number of agreements with business accelerators.

The agreements seek to develop programs and initiatives aimed at raising the capabilities of real estate developers, within the framework of the joint efforts of a number of government authorities and agencies working within the Coordinating Committee for the Development of the Contracting Sector.

The initiative includes providing various “administrative and operational” support through business accelerators, which enable developers to succeed in completing their projects, thus increase the housing supply and the number of establishments, as well as developing the capabilities of developers and raising the efficiency of the market at the local level.

The latest program comes within a series of initiatives by the Coordinating Committee for Contracting Development that aim to achieve the goals of Vision 2030 by increasing job opportunities and raising the sector’s participation in the GDP.

The Committee is formed of several ministries, including, the Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing, Trade, Finance, Human Resources and Social Development, Investment, Economy and Planning, in addition to the Government Expenditure and Projects Efficiency Authority, the Saudi Contractors Authority, and the Saudi Council of Engineers.

Meanwhile, Saudi real estate developer ROSHN signed SR6 billion ($1.6 billion) worth of credit facilities deals with three of the Kingdom’s leading banks.

ROSHN signed agreements with the Saudi British Bank, Bank Albilad, and Al Rajhi as part of its strategy to obtain external funding for its projects.

“Taken together, these deals are an important milestone for ROSHN. By working with the Kingdom’s dynamic financial sector, we can accelerate the ambitious development program that is bringing our new way of integrated, sustainable living to cities across the Kingdom,” said ROSHN Group CEO, David Grover.

The developer said the new financial agreements fall in line with the framework of its objective of building vital urban communities covering nine cities including Riyadh, Jeddah, Al-Kharj, Hofuf, Qatif, Makkah Al-Mukarramah, Abha, and others.



Oil Prices Headed for Rebound This Week as US-China Trade Talks Resume

FILE PHOTO: Pump jacks pump oil at an oil field on the shores of the Caspian Sea in Baku, Azerbaijan, October 5, 2017. Picture taken October 5, 2017. REUTERS/Grigory Dukor/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Pump jacks pump oil at an oil field on the shores of the Caspian Sea in Baku, Azerbaijan, October 5, 2017. Picture taken October 5, 2017. REUTERS/Grigory Dukor/File Photo
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Oil Prices Headed for Rebound This Week as US-China Trade Talks Resume

FILE PHOTO: Pump jacks pump oil at an oil field on the shores of the Caspian Sea in Baku, Azerbaijan, October 5, 2017. Picture taken October 5, 2017. REUTERS/Grigory Dukor/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Pump jacks pump oil at an oil field on the shores of the Caspian Sea in Baku, Azerbaijan, October 5, 2017. Picture taken October 5, 2017. REUTERS/Grigory Dukor/File Photo

Oil prices slipped on Friday but were on track for their first weekly gain in three weeks after US President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping resumed trade talks, raising hopes for growth and stronger demand in the world's two largest economies.

Brent crude futures fell 11 cents, or 0.2%, to $65.23 a barrel as of 0634 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate crude gave up 12 cents, also 0.2%, to $63.25, after gaining around 50 cents on Thursday, Reuters said.

On a weekly basis, both benchmarks were on track to settle higher after falling for two straight weeks. Brent has advanced 2.1% this week, while WTI is trading 4% higher.

China's official Xinhua news agency said trade talks between Xi and Trump took place at Washington's request. Trump said the call had led to a "very positive conclusion," adding the US was "in very good shape with China and the trade deal."

Canada also continued trade talks with the US, with Prime Minister Mark Carney in direct contact with Trump, according to Industry Minister Melanie Joly.

The oil market continued to swing with news on tariff negotiations and data showing how trade uncertainty and the impact of the US levies are flowing through into the global economy.

"The potential for increased US sanctions in Venezuela to limit crude exports and the potential for Israeli strike on Iranian infrastructure add to upside risks for prices," analysts at BMI, a Fitch affiliate, said in a note on Friday.

"But both weaker demand for oil and increased production from both OPEC+ and non-OPEC producers will add to downside price pressures in the coming quarters."