SME Bank Allocates 10.5 Billion Riyals to SME Funding Solutions

SME Bank Allocates 10.5 Billion Riyals to SME Funding Solutions
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SME Bank Allocates 10.5 Billion Riyals to SME Funding Solutions

SME Bank Allocates 10.5 Billion Riyals to SME Funding Solutions

The Small and Medium Enterprises Bank (SME Bank), a development bank under the National Development Fund, announced allocating an amount of 10.5 billion riyals to support the small and medium enterprises sector, through existing and new financing programs offered by the Bank, including direct and indirect lending programs, financing guarantee, and investment solutions during the next three years.

This falls in line with the continuous support provided by the Saudi leadership and the efforts of SME Bank to provide innovative and scalable funding solutions to achieve the goals of the Kingdom's Vision 2030 and raise the sector’s contribution to the GDP to 35%.

SME Bank Acting Chief Executive Officer Abdurrahman bin Mohammed bin Mansour said that “SME Bank” seeks to increase the financing provided to small and medium enterprises,
and enhance the contribution of financial institutions in providing innovative financing solutions, which contributes to the growth and prosperity of this vital sector.

He also confirmed that the bank's business started recently by introducing 6 main financing products that were developed based on the needs of small and medium enterprises. SMEs can now apply for financing through the website of the SME Bank, which provides access to more than 48 financing institutions in the Kingdom.



Saudi Aramco Signs Development Deal with China’s EV Giant BYD

The Saudi Aramco logo is pictured at Hyvolution exhibition in Paris, France, February 1, 2024. (Reuters)
The Saudi Aramco logo is pictured at Hyvolution exhibition in Paris, France, February 1, 2024. (Reuters)
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Saudi Aramco Signs Development Deal with China’s EV Giant BYD

The Saudi Aramco logo is pictured at Hyvolution exhibition in Paris, France, February 1, 2024. (Reuters)
The Saudi Aramco logo is pictured at Hyvolution exhibition in Paris, France, February 1, 2024. (Reuters)

Saudi oil giant Aramco signed a joint development agreement with Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer BYD to explore collaboration in the development of new energy vehicle technologies, Aramco said on Monday.

The agreement, signed by Aramco unit Saudi Aramco Technologies Company (SATC), aims to enhance vehicle efficiency and environmental performance, as the Kingdom steps up efforts to transition toward cleaner mobility.

The deal comes after US EV maker Tesla launched its presence in Saudi Arabia with an event in Riyadh on April 10. The company is looking to revive global sales, which fell 13% in the first quarter of 2025 amid intensifying competition and ongoing political controversy surrounding CEO Elon Musk.

"Aramco is exploring a number of ways to potentially optimize transport efficiency, from innovative lower-carbon fuels to advanced powertrain concepts", Ali A. Al-Meshari, Aramco Senior Vice President of Technology Oversight and Coordination said.

Saudi Arabia has set an ambitious target to increase electric vehicle adoption from 1% to 30% within five years.

Tesla has announced plans to roll out online sales, pop-up stores, and Supercharger stations in key Saudi cities to support its expansion.

Tesla and BYD, the world’s two largest EV makers, are increasingly vying for global market dominance, as BYD’s rapid growth and lower-cost models pressure Tesla’s share in key regions.