Saudi Arabia, China Seek to Promote Cooperation in Green Housing Technology

Saudi Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing Majid Al-Hogail during his meetings in Beijing. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing Majid Al-Hogail during his meetings in Beijing. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia, China Seek to Promote Cooperation in Green Housing Technology

Saudi Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing Majid Al-Hogail during his meetings in Beijing. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing Majid Al-Hogail during his meetings in Beijing. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing Majid Al-Hogail discussed with top executives of Chinese CITIC Group and CITIC Construction, cooperation opportunities in the field of green and sustainable housing technology.

Al-Hogail is currently on an official visit to Beijing to discuss exchange of expertise with Chinese institutions and companies and participate in the Saudi-Chinese Forum.

The event aims at attracting top Chinese companies to invest in Saudi Arabia while consolidating the two countries’ partnerships.

The forum will review the investment opportunities and advantages the Kingdom offers in infrastructure and housing. It will be attended by Saudi officials and investors, along with representatives of Chinese companies.

During his meetings on Monday, the Saudi minister discussed opportunities for cooperation in the field of green and sustainable housing technology, praising the efforts of CITIC in introducing and integrating advanced technologies to promote the construction sector in the Kingdom.

The meeting, which was attended by Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Beijing, Abdul Rahman Al-Harbi, touched on the progress in the implementation of a project comprising 20,000 housing units, where CITIC is coordinating between the National Housing Company and the Saudi Real Estate Refinance Company on the one hand, and Chinese banks on the other.

Also on Monday, Al-Hogail met with representatives of the Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) to discuss cooperation opportunities and the proposed structure for financing housing projects.

The Saudi minister visited the “Beijing Stages of Development Exhibition” on Sunday, to learn about China’s experience and explore modern best practices in the development and improvement of cities.

During his meeting with a number of executives specialized in housing and real estate, the minister discussed means of cooperation, exchange of experiences, as well as the investment opportunities offered by the Kingdom in the municipal and housing sectors.



Pakistan Set to Receive $20 Billion Loan From World Bank

FILE PHOTO-People wait for their turn to buy low-priced bun-kabab from a shop in Karachi, Pakistan June 10, 2022. REUTERS/Akhtar Soomro
FILE PHOTO-People wait for their turn to buy low-priced bun-kabab from a shop in Karachi, Pakistan June 10, 2022. REUTERS/Akhtar Soomro
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Pakistan Set to Receive $20 Billion Loan From World Bank

FILE PHOTO-People wait for their turn to buy low-priced bun-kabab from a shop in Karachi, Pakistan June 10, 2022. REUTERS/Akhtar Soomro
FILE PHOTO-People wait for their turn to buy low-priced bun-kabab from a shop in Karachi, Pakistan June 10, 2022. REUTERS/Akhtar Soomro

Pakistan is set to receive a loan of $20 billion from the World Bank over the next 10 years, aimed at improving the country’s key sectors, sources told Geo News on Saturday.

According to sources in the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the loan will be part of the World Bank's support under the Country Partnership Framework 2025-35, which focuses on sustainable economic development.

The loan is expected to be approved by the WB's Board of Directors on January 14. Once approved, Martin Raiser, the lender's Vice President, is expected to visit Islamabad to discuss the loan program and its implementation.

In addition to the $20 billion, two subsidiary entities of the World Bank will assist Pakistan in securing another $20 billion in private loans.

This would bring the total financial package to $40 billion, which will be allocated towards infrastructure development, climate resilience projects, and improving social services.

Meanwhile, The News newspaper reported that the government, in its bid to achieve an economic revival, has launched the National Economic Transformation Plan which aims to achieve ambitious economic targets, including doubling GDP growth and halving poverty over a five-year period.

The plan envisages attracting $29 billion anticipated investment under the supervision of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) including $10 billion from the UAE, $5 billion from Saudi Arabia, $2 billion from Qatar, $2 billion from Azerbaijan, and $10 billion from Kuwait.

Meanwhile, the gross domestic product (GDP) target has been set at 6% of the GDP till the Fiscal Year 2028-29 whereas the per capita income in dollar terms is projected to go up to $2,405 from $1,680.