Joint Saudi-German Investment for the Manufacture of Large Data Centers

CEO and partner of Legacy Technologies, Sem Köksal. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
CEO and partner of Legacy Technologies, Sem Köksal. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Joint Saudi-German Investment for the Manufacture of Large Data Centers

CEO and partner of Legacy Technologies, Sem Köksal. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
CEO and partner of Legacy Technologies, Sem Köksal. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

German and Saudi investors signed partnerships to enhance critical security infrastructure with the aim to establish the first factory in the Middle East for the manufacture of technological equipment and supplies and the production of large data centers.

Sem Köksal, CEO and partner of Legacy Technologies, revealed his recent endeavors with the Saudi government and private institutions to establish a “next generation data center” company, in order to localize the manufacture data centers in Riyadh.

The project will make Saudi Arabia the first country in the Middle East to have this type of data centers and would allow it to export its products to countries around the world.

Legacy Technologies is a German company that specializes in highly secure modular data centers using unique cyber-security tools and highly advanced energy systems to build secure, energy-efficient and sustainable next-generation data centers.

Köksal told Asharq Al-Awsat that while partnerships have already been signed with Saudi investors, the company is looking to forge cooperation agreements with Saudi governmental and private agencies, to contribute to strengthening critical security infrastructure.

He revealed that the company has signed a contract worth $560 million with the Saudi Excellence Holding to establish a joint company in the Kingdom, which is expected to start operations in September 2022.

This will be “the nucleus of a global partnership to enter the global market from Saudi Arabia,” according to Köksal.

It will be the first company to manufacture data centers in the Kingdom by Saudi engineers, he added.

He also noted that Legal Technologies was working closely with Prince Sultan University to establish a center and academy for research and development, stressing the Saudi market was one of the most interesting markets in the region.

He remarked that several global companies are closely watching the development achieved by Saudi Arabia under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense.

These companies are eager to enter the Saudi market, Köksal revealed, saying the matter is not about “if” but rather “when” they will join.



Saudi Minister of Finance Approves 2025 Annual Borrowing Plan

A night view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
A night view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
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Saudi Minister of Finance Approves 2025 Annual Borrowing Plan

A night view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
A night view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (SPA)

Saudi Minister of Finance Mohammed Abdullah Al-Jadaan approved on Sunday the Annual Borrowing Plan for the fiscal year 2025, following its endorsement by the Board of Directors of the National Debt Management Center.

The plan highlights key developments in public debt for 2024, initiatives related to local debt markets, and the funding plan and its guiding principles for 2025, in addition to the 2025 issuances’ calendar for the Local Saudi Sukuk Issuance Program in Saudi Riyal.

According to the plan, the projected funding needs for 2025 are estimated at approximately SAR139 billion. The amount is intended to cover the anticipated budget deficit of SAR101 billion for the fiscal year 2025, as outlined in the Ministry of Finance’s Official Budget Statement, and the principals’ repayment of the debts maturing in the current year, 2025, amounting to approximately SAR38 billion.

To boost the sustainability of the Kingdom's access to various debt markets and broaden the investor base, Saudi Arabia aims in 2025 to continue diversifying local and international financing channels to efficiently meet funding needs.

This will be achieved through the issuance of sovereign debt instruments at fair pricing, guided by well-defined and robust risk management frameworks.

Additionally, the Kingdom plans to benefit from market opportunities by executing private transactions that can promote economic growth, such as export credit agency financing, infrastructure development project financing, capital expenditure (CAPEX) financing, and exploring tapping into new markets and currencies based on market conditions.