عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Business

ABIC Reiterates Importance of Keeping up with Economic Boom

Gatherers at ABIC 2019. (BNA)
Gatherers at ABIC 2019. (BNA)
TT
TT

ABIC Reiterates Importance of Keeping up with Economic Boom

Gatherers at ABIC 2019. (BNA)
Gatherers at ABIC 2019. (BNA)

The Arab Businessmen and Investors Conference (ABIC) held in Bahrain called for practical action to catch up with the new wave of technology-based economic boom, rather than just trying to follow it.

Bahrain’s Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister, inaugurated the 18th ABIC on behalf of King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.

ABIC speakers all admitted that Arab countries did not benefit from previous economic opportunities, warning against ignoring the current ones, namely artificial intelligence and the fourth industrial revolution.

The Crown Prince stressed that Bahrain will continue to implement initiatives and reforms that strengthen the business environment, enhance the Kingdom’s global competitiveness and support the development of innovative business models.

Prince Salman noted that innovation and creativity safeguard the resilience of the national economy while supporting sustainable economic development.

He pointed out that Bahrain continues to keep pace with the rapid development in the field of digital technology through innovative ways, adding that it is moving steadily towards creating advanced business models through devising policies and strategies for economic development.

Chairman of the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI), Sameer Nass, stated that BCCI has accomplished many strides, stressing the importance of establishing a legislative, educational, commercial and industrial infrastructure to cope with the transformation of the digital economy.

He also pointed to the importance of establishing a specialized research and studies center that can transform the region into one capable of competing and creating effective partnerships that ensure qualitative opportunities for entrepreneurs.

Finance and National Economy Minister Sheikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa reiterated the importance of enhancing investment opportunities while ensuring a competitive framework to complement the economic sectors in Bahrain.

Minister Al Khalifa pointed to the complementary relationship between the GCC countries at various levels and their contributions in enhancing the competitiveness of the region on the global map.

During the conference’s second session, Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications Kamal bin Ahmed reiterated that Bahrain’s Economic Vision 2030 has enabled the Kingdom to increase investment flows and drive sustainable economic growth.

“We have to engage as a government and private sector in developing and maximizing the benefits of the fourth industrial revolution.”

The Minister also discussed IOT, AI and other technologies in Bahrain, noting that they require digital infrastructure to cover the entire country.

Most Viewed

 
 
Business

IEA: The Age of Electricity is Coming, We Will Still Use Oil and Natural Gas

FILE PHOTO: A view of the logo of the International Energy Agency in Paris, France, December 15, 2023. REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A view of the logo of the International Energy Agency in Paris, France, December 15, 2023. REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier/File Photo
TT
TT

IEA: The Age of Electricity is Coming, We Will Still Use Oil and Natural Gas

FILE PHOTO: A view of the logo of the International Energy Agency in Paris, France, December 15, 2023. REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A view of the logo of the International Energy Agency in Paris, France, December 15, 2023. REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier/File Photo

The concentration of a small number of countries in clean energy supply chains is an emerging challenge for Southeast Asian countries, International Energy Agency Executive Director Fatih Birol said on Tuesday, amid fast-rising power demand in the region.

"The age of electricity is coming. We will still use oil, still use natural gas including LNG, but electricity demand is growing very strongly," Birol told delegates at the Singapore International Energy Week conference.

Birol did not identify the countries dominating clean energy supplies, but China is by far the largest global supplier of renewable energy equipment, from solar panels ⁠to wind turbines, electric ⁠vehicles and batteries.

Electricity demand in ASEAN countries is rising at twice the pace of overall energy consumption, driven by industrial electrification, air-conditioning needs, electric vehicles and data centers, he said.

Southeast Asian nations have emerged as key drivers of China's clean-energy export boom, splashing out over $20 billion on Chinese-made clean-tech products so far in 2026, according ⁠to energy think tank Ember.

Birol also warned that geopolitical tensions have become an increasingly dominant force in global energy markets.

"In my professional life, I have never, never ever seen the dark and long shadow of geopolitics dominating the energy sector in such a way," Reuters quoted him as saying. "I can only imagine that the role of geopolitics will be much more pronounced, and this means energy security is going to become even more important than it is today."

Birol said the Middle East war has triggered fundamental changes in global energy consumption patterns, ⁠spurring growth in ⁠solar, coal and nuclear power as well as electric vehicle adoption.

"I see in the last eight months very strong growth of electric car sales," he said, adding that global electric vehicle sales outside China had risen 60% above previous trends over the period because of the conflict.

Consumption of alternative energy sources has increased as diesel prices have jumped about 200% and LNG prices have risen 250% from pre-war levels, according to Birol.

He said on Monday at the same conference that he does not expect energy markets in 2027 to return to where they were before the US-Israeli war on Iran began.

Business

Cyprus Seals $1.8 Bn Deal to Develop First Commercial Gas Project

The Cypriot Cronos field in the Mediterranean is being developed by a joint venture between operator Eni and TotalEnergies (X)
The Cypriot Cronos field in the Mediterranean is being developed by a joint venture between operator Eni and TotalEnergies (X)
TT
TT

Cyprus Seals $1.8 Bn Deal to Develop First Commercial Gas Project

The Cypriot Cronos field in the Mediterranean is being developed by a joint venture between operator Eni and TotalEnergies (X)
The Cypriot Cronos field in the Mediterranean is being developed by a joint venture between operator Eni and TotalEnergies (X)

Cyprus signed contracts worth $1.8 billion with Italian energy provider Eni on Monday to develop the Mediterranean island nation's first commercial gas project, with production slated for 2028 on the project in partnership with France's TotalEnergies.

European countries have stepped up efforts to use domestic energy resources with the Ukraine and Iran wars roiling global energy markets and supply in recent years.

The agreements to develop the field in Cyprus' exclusive economic zone cover engineering, construction, installation and drilling work, allowing natural gas to be transported to Egypt for processing and liquefaction before delivery mainly to European markets.

"Eni has signed the main engineering, procurement, construction and drilling contracts for the development of the Cronos Project, marking the start of the project's execution phase and a key milestone towards the monetization of Cyprus' first gas development," AFP quoted the Italian firm as saying in a statement.

"As Eni's first development project in Cyprus and the country's first hydrocarbon development, Cronos represents a strategic milestone."

Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides in a statement hailed the agreement as a "decisive step towards exploiting our country's natural wealth.”

He said the contracts for the "first commercial exploitation of Cypriot natural gas" were worth up to $1.8 bn.

"It represents a strong vote of confidence in our country's energy prospects with significant geopolitical and economic implications," he added.

Cypriot Energy Minister Michalis Damianos said the project marked Cyprus' transition from offshore exploration and discoveries to developing and producing its gas reserves.

Kronos is estimated to contain more than three trillion cubic feet of natural gas.

Existing Egyptian infrastructure will be used, including facilities linked to the large Zohr gas field, with the gas to be liquefied at the Damietta terminal for export.

Using existing infrastructure is expected to reduce costs and accelerate the route to market, while deepening energy cooperation between Cyprus and Egypt.

"A regional value chain is being created that connects Cyprus's resources, Egypt's infrastructure and European demand," said Damianos.

Cyprus has discovered offshore gas but has not yet brought a field into commercial production.

Kronos is seen as a key test of its ability to turn those discoveries into exports.

Eni and Total hold the majority of exploration blocks -- seven of 13 south of the island -- licensed by the Cyprus government.

The eastern Mediterranean has become an energy hot spot, with significant natural gas finds off Israel and Egypt.

Business

HSBC Shares Tumble 6% after Third-quarter Revenue Disappoints, Wealth Growth Slows

People alight from a tram outside the HSBC bank headquarters in Hong Kong on October 27, 2026, ahead of the bank's third quarter results announcement. (Photo by Peter PARKS / AFP)
People alight from a tram outside the HSBC bank headquarters in Hong Kong on October 27, 2026, ahead of the bank's third quarter results announcement. (Photo by Peter PARKS / AFP)
TT
TT

HSBC Shares Tumble 6% after Third-quarter Revenue Disappoints, Wealth Growth Slows

People alight from a tram outside the HSBC bank headquarters in Hong Kong on October 27, 2026, ahead of the bank's third quarter results announcement. (Photo by Peter PARKS / AFP)
People alight from a tram outside the HSBC bank headquarters in Hong Kong on October 27, 2026, ahead of the bank's third quarter results announcement. (Photo by Peter PARKS / AFP)

HSBC's shares slid 6% on Tuesday after revenue undershot estimates and growth at its wealth business slowed, highlighting the challenge big banks face to sustain recent record profits.

Europe's largest bank reported a 32% surge in pretax profit to $9.6 billion for the July-September quarter, in line with estimates. But investors and analysts focused on the lack of upgrades to the bank's performance guidance and underwhelming third-quarter revenue of $18.6 billion against forecasts for $19 billion.

The drop in the bank's shares underscores how recent strong results from European lenders have increased investor expectations for performance, even as the impact of the Iran war on inflation and interest rates has created a tough environment for banks. The shares remain up 9% for the year to ⁠date.

HSBC also launched ⁠a share buyback of up to $1 billion, the same amount as the previous quarter and a move that had boosted shares in previous reporting periods but is now largely expected by investors.

"There is sometimes a market expectation that we upgrade guidance or targets," CFO Pam Kaur told reporters on a conference call when asked about the share drop.

According to Reuters, analysts noted that the bank's net interest income slightly missed expectations, while fee income from its key wealth growth pillar was steady but ⁠unspectacular.

Escalating deposit competition in Hong Kong and the UK, HSBC's two core markets, are expected to push up interest expenses, they said. Time deposits in the bank's Hong Kong portfolio rose two percentage points quarter-on-quarter to 38%, but Jefferies analysts noted that the shift to chase higher deposits by offering higher interest rates is expected to erode margins.

Revenue for HSBC's wealth division was flat at $2.7 billion. That compared with 15% and 23% year-on-year revenue growth in the first two quarters.

The performance of HSBC's wealth business is under particular scrutiny because the British bank, like its peers, is focusing growth on fee-generating businesses such as wealth management as lending comes under pressure from falling interest rates.

Analysts warned that Asia-focused banks are bracing for a slowdown in wealth momentum ⁠following robust gains driven ⁠by Chinese capital inflows.

Kaur said on the call that China's tightening of wealth flows has prompted clients to shift from other banks in Hong Kong to HSBC.

"We picked up more business."

HSBC benefited from the absence of legal provisions booked in the same quarter a year earlier. It also said expected credit losses tumbled 17% to $800 million, thanks to a reduction in charges linked to Hong Kong's real estate sector as well as its UK and Mexican wealth businesses.

British banks' strong recent results have prompted calls from trade unions and activist groups for tax hikes on the sector in finance minister John Healey's first budget, due on Wednesday.

Bank bosses have lobbied hard to avoid such an increase in sector levies, arguing it would curb lending and make Britain less competitive.

HSBC announced an interim dividend of $0.1 per share, the same as the previous quarter.