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Saudi Arabia Announces $6.4 Billion Investments in Future Tech

Participants at LEAP 2022 in Riyadh. (Bashir Saleh)
Participants at LEAP 2022 in Riyadh. (Bashir Saleh)
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Saudi Arabia Announces $6.4 Billion Investments in Future Tech

Participants at LEAP 2022 in Riyadh. (Bashir Saleh)
Participants at LEAP 2022 in Riyadh. (Bashir Saleh)

Saudi Arabia showcased its huge potential as a regional hub for technology and innovation, which is one of the goals of its Vision 2030.

Riyadh kicked off the LEAP Tech Event 2022 and announced several investment deals worth over $6.4 billion to support future technologies, startups, and tech entrepreneurship.

The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) and the Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming, and Drones organized the event.

The conference is in line with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's drive to seize opportunities in the digital economy and enhance the Kingdom's global leadership as the regional hub for technology, innovation, and digital entrepreneurship.

Saudi Minister of Communication and Information Technology, Abdullah al-Sawaha said that with the support of the Crown Prince, the Kingdom is the most significant and fast-growing in the digital economy, with the most prominent technology market and the highest concentration of digital capabilities and the fastest growing in venture capital investments.

"These investments and initiatives are a manifestation of the Kingdom's push towards the growth of the digital economy for the greater good of people," he added.

Deputy Governor for IT and Emerging Technologies at the CITC, Raed al-Fayez stated that smart cities reduce energy use by 50 percent and have many positive social and economic impacts.

The Kingdom has a solid digital infrastructure to enable the applications of these cities, he said.

Assistant Deputy Governor for Planning and Development at the CITC, Nayef Shesha explained that the ICT sector has a huge potential that contributes to enabling a sustainable future and the smart solutions provided by this sector.

LEAP's $6.4 billion deals

Aramco launched Prosperity7 Ventures, a $1 billion venture capital fund designed to develop next-generation technologies and business models and help entrepreneurs across the globe build transformative startups.

Aramco Chief Technology Officer Ahmed al-Khowaiter said: "Through the breadth of the Saudi Aramco ecosystem, its vast resources, and its far-reaching footprint across geographies and sectors, Prosperity7 can present unparalleled opportunities for scalability and impact."

Khowaiter noted that this potential would be instrumental in creating stronger foundations for success for its portfolio companies.

Meanwhile, Saudi Telecom (STC) announced the MENA Hub, a $1 billion investment in regional connectivity and infrastructure, which will support Saudi Arabia's rapidly expanding digital and cloud sector.

As part of its investment, NEOM announced the launch of the world's first cognitive metaverse, XVRS, that will serve residents and visitors of the smart giga-project. It also launched M3LD, a unique data management platform that gives back data control to the user.

J&T Express Group, one of the world's fastest-growing logistics companies, announced an investment of $2 billion with eWTP Arabia Capital and other partners.

The investment will see J&T establish its MENA headquarters in Riyadh and set up an extensive network of smart logistics and distribution facilities to extend Saudi Arabia's reach as the regional center for advanced logistics.

Joseph Bradley, CEO of NEOM, said that cognitive meta cities would define the future. It is a vision focused on experiences rather than scale.

"XVRS puts human needs at its core. It is designed to give people more time, space, and enhanced safety. M3LD, meanwhile, will place data ownership back in the hands of users and restore trust in the data economy."

Furthermore, the Public Investment Fund (PIF) signed a $2 billion joint venture with a subsidiary of the Chinese giant Alibaba.

Digital content

The King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) announced $1.4 billion in funds to support digital content, including an initiative known as The Garage, a space in the capital Riyadh that will host startups specialized in new technologies and supporting digital content.

On the sidelines of the conference, the Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO) launched the Startup Passport to make it quicker, easier, and less expensive for startups to do business across borders.

Meanwhile, several investments in digital entrepreneurship, venture capital, and startup funds, amounting to more than $300 million, were announced at LEAP.

With the government's support, the Kingdom has become the most significant technological and digital market using the applications of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

The investments and deals allow Saudi Arabia to be the fastest growing market in digital competitiveness among the G20, with the highest growth in digital content and digital payments.

International participation

Saudi Arabia launched LEAP, the global technology platform, to address future challenges such as healthcare technologies to improve the quality of life and increase life expectancy, empowering humans through robots and technologies.

Held under the theme "One Eye on the Stars," LEAP seeks to discuss the most prominent social and cultural challenges facing the world through modern technologies with the participation of more than 350 speakers from 80 countries and 700 innovators and startups from around the world.

Lord Stephen Carter CBE, former Minister of Communications UK and Group CEO Informa PLC, stressed the importance of enhancing cooperation in developing digital transformation tools.

Carter called for boosting collaboration between Riyadh and London in digital transformation, cybersecurity, and next-generation technologies.

The official stated that Saudi Arabia has made rapid and great strides in automation and environmentally friendly energy, noting that collaboration in this field boosts the economy and strengthens public and private sectors.

Finnish Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade, Ville Skinnari, and UAE Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications Omar al-Olama addressed innovation and digital transformation legislation.

They emphasized the need to legitimize data protection law, referring to the diverse Saudi capabilities in Information Technology and Communication.

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Russia Extends Ban on Gasoline Exports Until February

Gasoline tank trucks are seen outside the Rosneft Achinsk oil refinery plant, one of the biggest Siberian fuel suppliers, near the town of Achinsk, some 188 km (117 miles) west of Krasnoyarsk, April 28, 2011. REUTERS/Ilya Naymushin
Gasoline tank trucks are seen outside the Rosneft Achinsk oil refinery plant, one of the biggest Siberian fuel suppliers, near the town of Achinsk, some 188 km (117 miles) west of Krasnoyarsk, April 28, 2011. REUTERS/Ilya Naymushin
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Russia Extends Ban on Gasoline Exports Until February

Gasoline tank trucks are seen outside the Rosneft Achinsk oil refinery plant, one of the biggest Siberian fuel suppliers, near the town of Achinsk, some 188 km (117 miles) west of Krasnoyarsk, April 28, 2011. REUTERS/Ilya Naymushin
Gasoline tank trucks are seen outside the Rosneft Achinsk oil refinery plant, one of the biggest Siberian fuel suppliers, near the town of Achinsk, some 188 km (117 miles) west of Krasnoyarsk, April 28, 2011. REUTERS/Ilya Naymushin

Russia has extended the temporary ban on gasoline and fuel exports, including producers and intermediaries, until the end of next February, the Russian news agency Interfax said, citing a government website.

“The new decree extended the temporary ban on the export of gasoline outside the country until February 28, 2026, inclusive. It will be valid for all exporters, including direct producers,” the website wrote.

The decree also extends the ban on the export of marine fuel, vacuum gas oil and other types of gas oils, including volumes purchased at exchange auctions, until 28 February 2026. In this case, the restriction will not apply to direct producers of petroleum products.

Russia introduced the measures at the end of August due to the exacerbation of the fuel crisis.

Several major refineries were attacked by drones in August and September, including Surgutneftegaz's Kirishinefteorgsintez refinery, Lukoil's Volgograd refinery and Rosneft's Samara group of refineries.

Prices for gasoline, which are tightly monitored by authorities, were up 10.2%, above general inflation, since the start of the year, with the spike in part attributed to a step up in Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries.

Last October, US President Donald Trump mentioned “long lines waiting for gasoline” and said the Russian “economy is going to collapse.”

Trump said his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin should settle the war in Ukraine which was making Russia look bad.

Asked about Trump's remarks at an energy conference in Moscow, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, who oversees energy and the economy for the government, said that Russia had a stable supply of gasoline.

“We have a stable domestic market supply, we see no problems in this regard,” Novak said.

“The balance is maintained between production and consumption, and we, on the part of the government and the relevant ministries, are doing everything to ensure that this remains the case.”

Russia's seaborne oil product exports fell 17.1% in September from August to 7.58 million metric tons due to less fuel production as various refineries were impacted by drone attacks, data from industry sources and Reuters calculations showed.

The economy is slowing sharply this year and the government forecasts gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 1.0% after 4.3% growth in 2024 and 4.1% growth in 2023, though the International Monetary Fund has downgraded its 2025 forecast to 0.6% from 0.9%.

Business

Hong Kong Expects 3.2% Growth this Year, Seeks to Maintain Momentum

FILE PHOTO: Tourists relax on the waterfront in front of Victoria Harbour, with the iconic skyline buildings as a backdrop, in Hong Kong, China June 28, 2023. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Tourists relax on the waterfront in front of Victoria Harbour, with the iconic skyline buildings as a backdrop, in Hong Kong, China June 28, 2023. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu/File Photo
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Hong Kong Expects 3.2% Growth this Year, Seeks to Maintain Momentum

FILE PHOTO: Tourists relax on the waterfront in front of Victoria Harbour, with the iconic skyline buildings as a backdrop, in Hong Kong, China June 28, 2023. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Tourists relax on the waterfront in front of Victoria Harbour, with the iconic skyline buildings as a backdrop, in Hong Kong, China June 28, 2023. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu/File Photo

Hong Kong Financial Secretary Paul Chan raised his 2025 economic growth forecast to 3.2% on Sunday, saying the city would bolster its role as a financial center, innovation hub and trade center to maintain the momentum.

In February, Chan had forecast growth of between 2% and 3%.

Hong Kong, the world's biggest venue for initial public offerings this year, will lure more listings from companies in areas such as Southeast Asia and the Middle East and will actively promote internationalization ⁠of China's yuan currency, Chan said in a blog post.

The city will also focus on developing artificial intelligence and biotech to lead the global race in technology and will strengthen its role as a trade hub by helping more Chinese companies expand overseas, Reuters quoted him as saying.

"Looking into ⁠next year, Hong Kong's economy is expected to keep the good trend of growth," Chan said. "Finance, tech innovation and trade will be Hong Kong's key engines of growth as the city actively embraces China's development strategy."

Hong Kong has one of the world's best-performing stock markets this year, with the Hang Seng Index up 30%.

Resilient exports, brisk fixed-asset investment and recovering consumption have helped Hong Kong's growth beat forecast, Chan said.

To ⁠bolster its status as a financial center, Hong Kong will strengthen the competitiveness of its stock market and develop areas including bonds, money market, fintech, commodities and gold trading, he said.

In terms of innovation, Hong Kong will develop AI into a "core industry,” as the technology will define economies' competitiveness and reshape the global economic landscape, he said.

The city is also establishing a center for cross-border supply chain management and trade finance, to better help Chinese companies expand offshore, Chan said.

Business

China Passes Revised Foreign Trade Law to Bolster Trade War Capabilities

Containers are seen at the port in Shanghai, China, Oct. 13, 2025. (AFP)
Containers are seen at the port in Shanghai, China, Oct. 13, 2025. (AFP)
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China Passes Revised Foreign Trade Law to Bolster Trade War Capabilities

Containers are seen at the port in Shanghai, China, Oct. 13, 2025. (AFP)
Containers are seen at the port in Shanghai, China, Oct. 13, 2025. (AFP)

China on Saturday passed revisions to a key piece of legislation aimed at strengthening Beijing's ability to wage trade war, curb outbound shipments from strategic minerals, and further open its $19 trillion economy.

The latest revision to the Foreign Trade Law, approved by China's top legislative body, will take effect on March 1, 2026, state news agency Xinhua reported on Saturday.

The world's second-largest economy is overhauling its trade-related legal frameworks partly to convince members of a major trans-Pacific trade bloc created to counter China's growing influence that the manufacturing powerhouse ‌deserves a seat at ‌the table, as Beijing seeks to reduce ‌its ⁠reliance on the US.

Adopted ‌in 1994 and revised three times since China joined the World Trade Organization in 2001, most recently in 2022, the Foreign Trade Law empowers policymakers to hit back against trading partners that seek to curb its exports and to adopt mechanisms such as "negative lists" to open restricted sectors to foreign firms.

The revision also adds a provision that foreign trade should "serve national economic and social development" and help build China ⁠into a "strong trading nation", Xinhua said.

It further "expands and improves" the legal toolkit for countering external challenges, according ‌to the report.

The revision focuses on areas such ‍as digital and green trade, along ‍with intellectual property provisions, key improvements China needs to make to meet the ‍standards of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, rather than the trade defense tools the 2020 revamp honed in on following four years of tariff war with the first Trump administration.

Beijing is also sharpening the wording of its powers in anticipation of potential lawsuits from private firms, which are becoming increasingly prominent in China, according to trade diplomats.

"Ministries have become more concerned about private sector criticism," ⁠said one Western trade diplomat with decades' of experience working with China. "China is a rule-of-law country, so the government can stop a company's shipment, but it needs a reason."

"It's not totally lawless here. Better to have everything written out in black and white," they added, requesting anonymity, as they were not authorized to speak with media.

China's private exporting firms attracted global attention in November after the French government moved to suspend the Chinese e-commerce platform Shein.

The Chinese government increasingly could also find itself at odds with private enterprise when seeking to carry out sweeping bans, ‌such as Beijing's prohibition of all Japanese seafood imports, as Asia's top two economies continue to feud over Taiwan, trade diplomats say.