Saudi Arabia Seeks to Monitor Projects in Iraq, Expand Private Sector Businesses

Saudi Arabia to expand the export of its national products and services abroad (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Arabia to expand the export of its national products and services abroad (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia Seeks to Monitor Projects in Iraq, Expand Private Sector Businesses

Saudi Arabia to expand the export of its national products and services abroad (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Arabia to expand the export of its national products and services abroad (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia is intensifying its efforts to expand the scope of private sector businesses and open wider horizons for national products and services, through a number of programs, initiatives, and services.

The Saudi Export Development Authority (SEDA) called on the private sector to review the latest reports on projects in Iraq through the “International Tenders” service, in a step towards providing continuous support to exporters and identifying the best investments that contribute to expanding their business.

The International Tenders service aims to open new opportunities for national companies to expand in international markets and increase their competitiveness by allowing them to export services and products via international tenders in several targeted sectors.

Saudi Exports called on all companies interested in receiving the service to register, which is a condition for any company to get the service.

Last year, SEDA launched the "International Tenders" service to support exporters, increase their competitiveness, and boost the export rate of Saudi services, products, and re-exportation.

The Authority will identify over 120 international tender opportunities in a number of target countries, mainly covering construction and industrial supplies and infrastructure projects.

The service includes eight targeted sectors and 24 sub-branches, where Saudi Exports will provide periodic reports with data and analyses for the most important projects in targeted countries.

Saudi Exports will also provide periodic reports on data and analysis of the most important projects in the targeted countries.

Last month, SEDA launched Institutional Transformation Strategy to boost non-oil exports, in line with the objectives of Vision 2030.

The Strategy aims to move to a new stage that aligns with the objectives of Vision 2030 in integration with a number of relevant government agencies to diversify the local economy by promoting Saudi non-oil exports.

Saudi Exports announced that over 220 exporting companies benefited from the 'Saudi Export Stimulus' Program, while the 'Made in Saudi Arabia' Program attracted over 1,200 local companies and introduced their products to global markets.

The authority's new strategy aims to boost the participation of non-oil exports from 16 percent to at least 50 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) by 2030, in line with Vision 2030.

The Saudi government is focused on boosting non-oil exports by providing programs and initiatives aligned with Vision 2030, including “Made in Saudi Arabia,” under the National Industrial Development and Logistics Program (NIDLP).

The Program aims to support national products through an effective economy and unify production services. It combines the identity of Saudi products and services to promote them locally and internationally.



Oil Heads for Weekly Gains on Anxiety over Intensifying Ukraine War

Pump jacks operate in front of a drilling rig in an oilfield in Midland, Texas US August 22, 2018. Picture taken August 22, 2018. REUTERS/Nick Oxford/File Photo
Pump jacks operate in front of a drilling rig in an oilfield in Midland, Texas US August 22, 2018. Picture taken August 22, 2018. REUTERS/Nick Oxford/File Photo
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Oil Heads for Weekly Gains on Anxiety over Intensifying Ukraine War

Pump jacks operate in front of a drilling rig in an oilfield in Midland, Texas US August 22, 2018. Picture taken August 22, 2018. REUTERS/Nick Oxford/File Photo
Pump jacks operate in front of a drilling rig in an oilfield in Midland, Texas US August 22, 2018. Picture taken August 22, 2018. REUTERS/Nick Oxford/File Photo

Oil prices extended gains on Friday, heading for a weekly uptick of more than 4%, as the Ukraine war intensified with Russian President Vladimir Putin warning of a global conflict.
Brent crude futures gained 10 cents, or 0.1%, to $74.33 a barrel by 0448 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate crude futures rose 13 cents, or 0.2%, to $70.23 per barrel.
Both contracts jumped 2% on Thursday and are set to cap gains of more than 4% this week, the strongest weekly performance since late September, as Moscow stepped up its offensive against Ukraine after the US and Britain allowed Kyiv to strike Russia with their weapons.
Putin said on Thursday it had fired a ballistic missile at Ukraine and warned of a global conflict, raising the risk of oil supply disruption from one of the world's largest producers.
Russia this month said it produced about 9 million barrels of oil a day, even with output declines following import bans tied to its invasion of Ukraine and supply curbs by producer group OPEC+.
Ukraine has used drones to target Russian oil infrastructure, including in June, when it used long-range attack drones to strike four Russian refineries.
Swelling US crude and gasoline stocks and forecasts of surplus supply next year limited price gains.
"Our base case is that Brent stays in a $70-85 range, with high spare capacity limiting price upside, and the price elasticity of OPEC and shale supply limiting price downside," Goldman Sachs analysts led by Daan Struyven said in a note.
"However, the risks of breaking out are growing," they said, adding that Brent could rise to about $85 a barrel in the first half of 2025 if Iran supply drops by 1 million barrels per day on tighter sanctions enforcement under US President-elect Donald Trump's administration.
Some analysts forecast another jump in US oil inventories in next week's data.
"We will be expecting a rebound in production as well as US refinery activity next week that will carry negative implications for both crude and key products," said Jim Ritterbusch of Ritterbusch and Associates in Florida.
The world's top crude importer, China, meanwhile on Thursday announced policy measures to boost trade, including support for energy product imports, amid worries over Trump's threats to impose tariffs.