PIF Establishes ‘Tasaru Mobility Investments’ in Saudi Arabia

Logo of Tasaru Mobility Investments (PIF)
Logo of Tasaru Mobility Investments (PIF)
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PIF Establishes ‘Tasaru Mobility Investments’ in Saudi Arabia

Logo of Tasaru Mobility Investments (PIF)
Logo of Tasaru Mobility Investments (PIF)

Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) has launched the National Automotive and Mobility Investment Company (Tasaru Mobility Investments), an investment company focused on developing local supply chain capabilities for the automotive and mobility industry.

Tasaru Mobility Investments will lead strategic investments and partnerships with local and international private sector companies in Saudi Arabia.

It aims to support the sector's growth and achieve long-term returns by localizing manufacturing expertise and advanced technologies that will empower the electric car and autonomous mobility ecosystem in the Kingdom.

The new company will support the Kingdom's efforts to become a global leader in this vital sector by boosting local capabilities.

The establishment of Tasaru Mobility Investments is in line with the Fund's strategy to stimulate the capabilities of the automotive sector in the Kingdom, thus enhancing the Kingdom's global competitiveness and ultimately positioning it as a global leader in the industry.

The Fund's portfolio includes many specialized investments in the future mobility sector, including investment in Ceer company, the first Saudi national brand for manufacturing electric cars, in partnership with Foxconn.

On September 27, US-based Lucid Motors opened its first global factory to produce electric cars in King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC), with plans to reach its capacity of 155,000 vehicles annually.

Michael Mueller was appointed CEO of Tasaru Mobility Investment. He brings over 25 years of experience in the automotive industry, having previously held many senior management positions in several major companies, such as the Porsche AG and the Volkswagen Group in the Kingdom and Europe.

Tasaru Mobility Investment will launch its first investment through a joint project with Zamil Group Real Estate Company, Abdullah Ibrahim al-Khorayef Sons, and Dar al-Himma Projects Limited.

The project aims to develop a logistics center in King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC), serving the aftermarket parts industry.

Tasaru Mobility Investments will be a majority shareholder in the new venture, leveraging special economic zone advantages and playing a pivotal role in attracting global suppliers and enhancing trade.

The investment complements KAEC's ambition to become an automotive manufacturing and logistics hub.

Co-head of MENA Direct Investments at PIF and Chairman of Tasaru Mobility Investments Omar al-Madhi announced that Tasaru Mobility Investments aims to enhance the local supply chain and manufacturing capabilities.

Omar noted it would strengthen the end-to-end ecosystem for Saudi Arabia's electric vehicle and autonomous mobility industries.

"The company's establishment demonstrates PIF's commitments to diversify the economy, improve sustainability, and localize technology and sector-specific knowledge."

Tasaru will support research and development, increase the adoption of advanced technologies, and pursue sustainable opportunities in the sector.

By accelerating the transition to electric vehicles and future mobility solutions, the company will make an essential contribution towards Saudi Arabia's environmental objectives, including its net zero 2060 target and PIF's net zero 2050 target.



IMF and Arab Monetary Fund Sign MoU to Enhance Cooperation

The MoU was signed by IMF Managing Director Dr. Kristalina Georgieva and AMF Director General Dr. Fahad Alturki - SPA
The MoU was signed by IMF Managing Director Dr. Kristalina Georgieva and AMF Director General Dr. Fahad Alturki - SPA
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IMF and Arab Monetary Fund Sign MoU to Enhance Cooperation

The MoU was signed by IMF Managing Director Dr. Kristalina Georgieva and AMF Director General Dr. Fahad Alturki - SPA
The MoU was signed by IMF Managing Director Dr. Kristalina Georgieva and AMF Director General Dr. Fahad Alturki - SPA

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Arab Monetary Fund (AMF) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the sidelines of the AlUla Conference on Emerging Market Economies (EME) to enhance cooperation between the two institutions.

The MoU was signed by IMF Managing Director Dr. Kristalina Georgieva and AMF Director General Dr. Fahad Alturki, SPA reported.

The agreement aims to strengthen coordination in economic and financial policy areas, including surveillance and lending activities, data and analytical exchange, capacity building, and the provision of technical assistance, in support of regional financial and economic stability.

Both sides affirmed that the MoU represents an important step toward deepening their strategic partnership and strengthening the regional financial safety net, serving member countries and enhancing their ability to address economic challenges.


Saudi Chambers Federation Announces First Saudi-Kuwaiti Business Council

File photo of the Saudi flag/AAWSAT
File photo of the Saudi flag/AAWSAT
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Saudi Chambers Federation Announces First Saudi-Kuwaiti Business Council

File photo of the Saudi flag/AAWSAT
File photo of the Saudi flag/AAWSAT

The Federation of Saudi Chambers announced the formation of the first joint Saudi-Kuwaiti Business Council for its inaugural term (1447–1451 AH) and the election of Salman bin Hassan Al-Oqayel as its chairman.

Al-Oqayel said the council’s formation marks a pivotal milestone in economic relations between Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, reflecting a practical approach to enabling the business sectors in both countries to capitalize on promising investment opportunities and strengthen bilateral trade and investment partnerships, SPA reported.

He noted that trade between Saudi Arabia and Kuwait reached approximately SAR9.5 billion by the end of November 2025, including SAR8 billion in Saudi exports and SAR1.5 billion in Kuwaiti imports.


Leading Harvard Trade Economist Says Saudi Arabia Holds Key to Success in Fragmented Global Economy

Professor Pol Antràs speaks during a panel discussion at the AlUla Conference for Emerging Market Economies (Asharq Al-Awsat).
Professor Pol Antràs speaks during a panel discussion at the AlUla Conference for Emerging Market Economies (Asharq Al-Awsat).
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Leading Harvard Trade Economist Says Saudi Arabia Holds Key to Success in Fragmented Global Economy

Professor Pol Antràs speaks during a panel discussion at the AlUla Conference for Emerging Market Economies (Asharq Al-Awsat).
Professor Pol Antràs speaks during a panel discussion at the AlUla Conference for Emerging Market Economies (Asharq Al-Awsat).

Harvard University economics professor Pol Antràs said Saudi Arabia represents an exceptional model in the shifting global trade landscape, differing fundamentally from traditional emerging-market frameworks. He also stressed that globalization has not ended but has instead re-formed into what he describes as fragmented integration.

Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat on the sidelines of the AlUla Conference for Emerging Market Economies, Antràs said Saudi Arabia’s Vision-driven structural reforms position the Kingdom to benefit from the ongoing phase of fragmented integration, adding that the country’s strategic focus on logistics transformation and artificial intelligence constitutes a key engine for sustainable growth that extends beyond the volatility of global crises.

Antràs, the Robert G. Ory Professor of Economics at Harvard University, is one of the leading contemporary theorists of international trade. His research, which reshaped understanding of global value chains, focuses on how firms organize cross-border production and how regulation and technological change influence global trade flows and corporate decision-making.

He said conventional classifications of economies often obscure important structural differences, noting that the term emerging markets groups together countries with widely divergent industrial bases. Economies that depend heavily on manufacturing exports rely critically on market access and trade integration and therefore face stronger competitive pressures from Chinese exports that are increasingly shifting toward alternative markets.

Saudi Arabia, by contrast, exports extensively while facing limited direct competition from China in its primary export commodity, a situation that creates a strategic opportunity. The current environment allows the Kingdom to obtain imports from China at lower cost and access a broader range of goods that previously flowed largely toward the United States market.

Addressing how emerging economies should respond to dumping pressures and rising competition, Antràs said countries should minimize protectionist tendencies and instead position themselves as committed participants in the multilateral trading system, allowing foreign producers to access domestic markets while encouraging domestic firms to expand internationally.

He noted that although Chinese dumping presents concerns for countries with manufacturing sectors that compete directly with Chinese production, the risk is lower for Saudi Arabia because it does not maintain a large manufacturing base that overlaps directly with Chinese exports. Lower-cost imports could benefit Saudi consumers, while targeted policy tools such as credit programs, subsidies, and support for firms seeking to redesign and upgrade business models represent more effective responses than broad protectionist measures.

Globalization has not ended

Antràs said globalization continues but through more complex structures, with trade agreements increasingly negotiated through diverse arrangements rather than relying primarily on multilateral negotiations. Trade deals will continue to be concluded, but they are likely to become more complex, with uncertainty remaining a defining feature of the global trading environment.

Interest rates and artificial intelligence

According to Antràs, high global interest rates, combined with the additional risk premiums faced by emerging markets, are constraining investment, particularly in sectors that require export financing, capital expenditure, and continuous quality upgrading.

However, he noted that elevated interest rates partly reflect expectations of stronger long-term growth driven by artificial intelligence and broader technological transformation.

He also said if those growth expectations materialize, productivity gains could enable small and medium-sized enterprises to forecast demand more accurately and identify previously untapped markets, partially offsetting the negative effects of higher borrowing costs.

Employment concerns and the role of government

The Harvard professor warned that labor markets face a dual challenge stemming from intensified Chinese export competition and accelerating job automation driven by artificial intelligence, developments that could lead to significant disruptions, particularly among younger workers. He said governments must adopt proactive strategies requiring substantial fiscal resources to mitigate near-term labor-market shocks.

According to Antràs, productivity growth remains the central condition for success: if new technologies deliver the anticipated productivity gains, governments will gain the fiscal space needed to compensate affected groups and retrain the workforce, achieving a balance between addressing short-term disruptions and investing in long-term strategic gains.