Saudi-Emirati Business Forum Held During Saudi Crown Prince’s Visit

Participants in the Saudi-Emirati Business Forum included business owners and representatives of government and private agencies in Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Asharq Al-Awsat
Participants in the Saudi-Emirati Business Forum included business owners and representatives of government and private agencies in Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Asharq Al-Awsat
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Saudi-Emirati Business Forum Held During Saudi Crown Prince’s Visit

Participants in the Saudi-Emirati Business Forum included business owners and representatives of government and private agencies in Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Asharq Al-Awsat
Participants in the Saudi-Emirati Business Forum included business owners and representatives of government and private agencies in Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Asharq Al-Awsat

The Council of Saudi Chambers, the Federation of UAE Chambers of Commerce and Industry, and the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry hosted a Saudi-Emirati Business Forum in the UAE capital in conjunction with the Saudi Crown Prince’s visit.

The participants included business owners and government and private agencies representatives in both countries.

They discussed ways to develop trade cooperation and new investment opportunities, especially related to development sectors, and how to pursue innovative solutions for optimal utilization of available resources in light of the promising opportunities in various sectors created by the future economic visions of the two countries.

Ajlan Al-Ajlan, the chairman of the Council of Saudi Chambers, highlighted the strength of the relationships between the two countries in various fields, particularly their economic ties.

The Saudi-UAE volume of trade exchange amounted to about 24 billion riyals ($6.4 billion) in the third quarter of 2021, an increase of 16 %, compared to the same quarter last year.

Al-Ajlan stressed the importance of the timing of the forum and the need to invest in its outcomes to enhance economic cooperation and conclude commercial and investment partnerships to face the challenges imposed by the coronavirus pandemic.

He noted that optimistic international economic reports had indicated a recovery in the Saudi and Emirati economies.

Al-Ajlan drew attention to the economic developments that the Kingdom is experiencing, including the real GDP growth of 6.8% in the third quarter of 2021 and the growth of tourism by 14%.

For his part, the Chairman of UAE Chambers of Commerce and Industry and President of the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce, Abdullah Al Mazrouei, said that the economic relations between Saudi Arabia and the UAE are the largest among their peers.

He noted that the two countries believe in the importance of economic and trade cooperation between them as well as increasing and enhancing trade exchange in various fields.



Oil Prices Held Down by Trump Tariff Uncertainty

FILE - Pump jacks extract oil from beneath the ground in North Dakota, May 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown)
FILE - Pump jacks extract oil from beneath the ground in North Dakota, May 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown)
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Oil Prices Held Down by Trump Tariff Uncertainty

FILE - Pump jacks extract oil from beneath the ground in North Dakota, May 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown)
FILE - Pump jacks extract oil from beneath the ground in North Dakota, May 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown)

Oil prices were little changed on Thursday, maintaining almost all of the previous session's losses on uncertainty over how US President Donald Trump's proposed tariffs and energy policies would affect global economic growth and energy demand.

Brent crude futures were up 18 cents at $79.18 a barrel by 1315 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate crude (WTI) rose 14 cents to $75.58.

"Oil markets have given back some recent gains due to mixed drivers," said Priyanka Sachdeva, senior market analyst at brokerage Phillip Nova.

"Key factors include expectations of increased US production under President Trump's pro-drilling policies and easing geopolitical stress in Gaza, lifting fears of further escalation in supply disruption from key producing regions."

The broader economic implications of US tariffs could further dampen global oil demand growth, she added, Reuters reported.

Trump has said he would add new tariffs to his sanctions threat against Russia if the country does not make a deal to end its war in Ukraine.

He also vowed to hit the European Union with tariffs and impose 25% tariffs against Canada and Mexico. On China, Trump said his administration was discussing a 10% punitive duty because fentanyl is being sent from there to the United States.

On Monday he declared a national energy emergency intended to provide him with the authority to reduce environmental restrictions on energy infrastructure and projects and ease permitting for new transmission and pipeline infrastructure.

There will be "more potential downward choppy movement in the oil market in the near term due to the Trump administration's lack of clarity on trade tariffs policy and impending higher oil supplies from the US", OANDA senior market analyst Kelvin Wong said in an email.

On the US oil inventory front, crude stocks rose by 958,000 barrels in the week ended Jan. 17, according to sources citing American Petroleum Institute figures on Wednesday.

Gasoline inventories rose by 3.23 million barrels and distillate stocks climbed by 1.88 million barrels, they said.