Saudi Arabia Finances $319 Million Infrastructure Project in Oman

The Saudi-Omani Investment Forum kicked off in Riyadh on Wednesday. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The Saudi-Omani Investment Forum kicked off in Riyadh on Wednesday. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia Finances $319 Million Infrastructure Project in Oman

The Saudi-Omani Investment Forum kicked off in Riyadh on Wednesday. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The Saudi-Omani Investment Forum kicked off in Riyadh on Wednesday. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia and Oman announced on Wednesday that they signed 13 investment MoUs between the their private and public sectors with a value exceeding one billion riyals ($266.6 million).

Fields covered by the agreements include oil and petrochemical storage, renewable energy and green hydrogen, mining investment, logistics and transportation, entrepreneurship, automation of research, development and innovation, fisheries, support for marine industries, tourism and travel, in addition to solar energy projects.

The signing of the MoUs came on the sidelines of the Saudi-Omani Investment Forum held in Riyadh on Feb.1-4.

In this context, the Saudi Fund for Development signed a memorandum of understanding for an infrastructure development project worth $319 million (SAR 1.2 billion) in Oman. The project aims to fund the infrastructure of the special economic zone in the governorate of ad-Dhahirah.

The MoU, which was signed in the presence of Saudi Minister of Investment Khalid al-Falih and Omani Minister of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion Qais bin Mohammed al-Youssef, aims to enhance cooperation by establishing the special economic zone that would increase commercial trade, encourage partnerships between the various sectors and reduce the cost of production and export between the two countries.

CEO of the Saudi Fund for Development Sultan al-Murshed said that the MoU “comes to strengthen the long-established historical relations and close partnership between Saudi Arabia and Oman, as these development projects and programs contribute to achieving the ambitious visions of the two countries.”

Addressing the opening session of the forum, Eng. Khalid Al-Falih, the Saudi Minister of Investment, underlined Riyadh’s keenness to strengthen and develop investment and economic relations with Oman.

Al-Falih emphasized the importance and vitality of the private sector and its active role in advancing development in the two countries and activating the Saudi and Omani partnership, as well as its great contribution to the success of the forum.

Omani Minister of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion Qais Al-Youssef said that the forum reflected the strength of the Saudi-Omani relations, pointing to the two countries’ keenness to activate partnership in priority sectors to advance economic sustainability, keep pace with economic changes, and create links between the industries.



Gold Steady as Inflation Data Sparks Caution over Fed Rate Outlook

Gold bullions are displayed at GoldSilver Central's office in Singapore June 19, 2017. REUTERS/Edgar Su/File Photo
Gold bullions are displayed at GoldSilver Central's office in Singapore June 19, 2017. REUTERS/Edgar Su/File Photo
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Gold Steady as Inflation Data Sparks Caution over Fed Rate Outlook

Gold bullions are displayed at GoldSilver Central's office in Singapore June 19, 2017. REUTERS/Edgar Su/File Photo
Gold bullions are displayed at GoldSilver Central's office in Singapore June 19, 2017. REUTERS/Edgar Su/File Photo

Gold prices held steady on Thursday as investors assessed a wave of economic data indicating persistent US inflation, hinting that the Federal Reserve may proceed cautiously with further interest rate cuts.
Spot gold held its ground at $2,637.78 per ounce, as of 0739 GMT.
US gold futures edged 0.1% lower to $2,637.30.
The market is focusing on the Fed's rate cuts, with the latest core Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) data suggesting slowing inflation, leading to expectations that the Fed's policy next year might be less dovish than previously projected, said Kelvin Wong, OANDA's senior market analyst for Asia Pacific.
The Fed's struggle to bring inflation back to its 2% target, combined with the possibility of higher tariffs under the upcoming Trump administration may constrain the central bank's ability to implement rate cuts next year.
Markets now see a 68.2% chance of a quarter-point rate cut in December, as per the CME group's FedWatch tool.
Elsewhere, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum warned of retaliation if Trump enforces a 25% tariff, citing potential US job losses and higher consumer prices.
Gold is regarded as a safe-haven investment during periods of economic or geopolitical instability, including trade wars.
Trading is expected to be thin with US markets closed on Thursday for the Thanksgiving holiday.
In the short term, particularly over the next few days to two weeks, gold could come under further pressure, Wong said, adding the longer-term bullish trend for gold, however, remains intact.
SPDR Gold Trust, the world's largest gold-backed exchange-traded fund, said its holdings fell 0.10% to 878.55 metric tons on Wednesday.
Spot silver fell 0.8% to $29.84 per ounce, platinum edged 0.1% higher to $928.10 and palladium added 0.6% to $978.05.