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Saudi Arabia Eyes $420b Foreign Investments in Infrastructure, Transportation

Saudi Investment Minister Khalid al-Falih speaking at the US-Saudi Arabia Business Leaders 2021 Virtual Forum, Asharq Al-Awsat
Saudi Investment Minister Khalid al-Falih speaking at the US-Saudi Arabia Business Leaders 2021 Virtual Forum, Asharq Al-Awsat
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Saudi Arabia Eyes $420b Foreign Investments in Infrastructure, Transportation

Saudi Investment Minister Khalid al-Falih speaking at the US-Saudi Arabia Business Leaders 2021 Virtual Forum, Asharq Al-Awsat
Saudi Investment Minister Khalid al-Falih speaking at the US-Saudi Arabia Business Leaders 2021 Virtual Forum, Asharq Al-Awsat

Saudi Investment Minister Khalid al-Falih revealed that the Kingdom’s infrastructure and transportation sectors are seeking to attract around $420 billion in foreign investments over the next decade.

Speaking at the US-Saudi Arabia Business Leaders 2021 Virtual Forum, a two-day event organized by the US Chamber of Commerce in Washington, Falih said his country offers a variety of opportunities across different sectors that are attractive for US investors.

According to Saudi Arabia’s national plan for transformation and economic diversification, dubbed “Kingdom Vision 2030,” foreign investments in the Gulf state are projected to reach $3 trillion.

Reaffirming that the Saudi economy enjoys a great resistance ability against challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic, Falih said that authorities in the Kingdom have taken effective measures that increased foreign investments by 40%.

The minister confirmed that work in the Kingdom is underway to achieve social and economic transformation outlined by Kingdom Vision 2030.

He highlighted that Saudi Arabia is committed to becoming carbon neutral and that it wants to derive 50% of its electricity from renewables by 2030.

Falih revealed that the Kingdom is looking to establish and develop partnerships with green energy companies in the US.

He also stressed that great investment opportunities are present in the Kingdom’s mining field. Saudi Arabia aims to attract investments worth $1.3 trillion to its mining sector after it completes implementing new regulations designed to boost transparency.

In the field of logistics, Falih pointed out that the Kingdom seeks becoming a major player in the field of investment in infrastructure and the development of ports and railways.

He reaffirmed the Kingdom has a goal of attracting $420 billion worth of investments in its infrastructure development sector over the next decade.

As for tourism and entertainment, Falih highlighted the vast opportunities offered by the Kingdom’s future smart cities, which aim to raise $200 billion in investments.

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OPEC Again Cuts 2024, 2025 Oil Demand Growth Forecasts

The OPEC logo. Reuters
The OPEC logo. Reuters
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OPEC Again Cuts 2024, 2025 Oil Demand Growth Forecasts

The OPEC logo. Reuters
The OPEC logo. Reuters

OPEC cut its forecast for global oil demand growth this year and next on Tuesday, highlighting weakness in China, India and other regions, marking the producer group's fourth consecutive downward revision in the 2024 outlook.

The weaker outlook highlights the challenge facing OPEC+, which comprises the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies such as Russia, which earlier this month postponed a plan to start raising output in December against a backdrop of falling prices.

In a monthly report on Tuesday, OPEC said world oil demand would rise by 1.82 million barrels per day in 2024, down from growth of 1.93 million bpd forecast last month. Until August, OPEC had kept the outlook unchanged since its first forecast in July 2023.

In the report, OPEC also cut its 2025 global demand growth estimate to 1.54 million bpd from 1.64 million bpd, Reuters.

China accounted for the bulk of the 2024 downgrade. OPEC trimmed its Chinese growth forecast to 450,000 bpd from 580,000 bpd and said diesel use in September fell year-on-year for a seventh consecutive month.

"Diesel has been under pressure from a slowdown in construction amid weak manufacturing activity, combined with the ongoing deployment of LNG-fuelled trucks," OPEC said with reference to China.

Oil pared gains after the report was issued, with Brent crude trading below $73 a barrel.

Forecasts on the strength of demand growth in 2024 vary widely, partly due to differences over demand from China and the pace of the world's switch to cleaner fuels.

OPEC is still at the top of industry estimates and has a long way to go to match the International Energy Agency's far lower view.

The IEA, which represents industrialised countries, sees demand growth of 860,000 bpd in 2024. The agency is scheduled to update its figures on Thursday.

- OUTPUT RISES

OPEC+ has implemented a series of output cuts since late 2022 to support prices, most of which are in place until the end of 2025.

The group was to start unwinding the most recent layer of cuts of 2.2 million bpd from December but said on Nov. 3 it will delay the plan for a month, as weak demand and rising supply outside the group maintain downward pressure on the market.

OPEC's output is also rising, the report showed, with Libyan production rebounding after being cut by unrest. OPEC+ pumped 40.34 million bpd in October, up 215,000 bpd from September. Iraq cut output to 4.07 million bpd, closer to its 4 million bpd quota.

As well as Iraq, OPEC has named Russia and Kazakhstan as among the OPEC+ countries which pumped above quotas.

Russia's output edged up in October by 9,000 bpd to about 9.01 million bpd, OPEC said, slightly above its quota.