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Oxagon CEO to Asharq Al-Awsat: We Hope to Redefine Concept of Industrial Cities

Oxagon industrial city is located in NEOM in northwestern Saudi Arabia. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Oxagon industrial city is located in NEOM in northwestern Saudi Arabia. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Oxagon CEO to Asharq Al-Awsat: We Hope to Redefine Concept of Industrial Cities

Oxagon industrial city is located in NEOM in northwestern Saudi Arabia. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Oxagon industrial city is located in NEOM in northwestern Saudi Arabia. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Oxagon industrial city is hoping to redefine the concept of industrial cities in the world.

 

‘Located in NEOM, a region in northwestern Saudi Arabia, it is aiming to confront some of the world’s most pressing industrial challenges with the least impact on the environment and planet. This is a representation of NEOM’s vision to redefine livability, business, and conservation.’

 

Oxagon CEO Vishal Wanchoo told Asharq Al-Awsat that industrialists will be able to decrease their carbon footprint by using renewable energy at a 100% through operations that will be activated at the appropriate time to confront the challenges imposed by traditional industrial locations.

 

Oxagon, he stressed, embodies NEOM’s approach in changing the concept of the traditional industrial city and looking towards establishing a new model that revolves around man and innovation and consolidates values of sustainability to act as a gateway to advanced and clean sectors and industries at NEOM.

 

Oxagon boasts a strategic location on the Red Sea, he added, citing the NEOM port that will act as the main trade gateway to northwestern Saudi Arabia.

 

Moreover, he said industrial companies that are seeking to expand their operations and establish factories in Oxagon will be encouraged to adopt the best sustainable practices followed by NEOM.

 

This will help drive the circular economy, he explained. This can be achieved through the application of four strategies: design, industry, utilization and recoupment.

 

‘This approach will support the highly advanced marine port and integrated supply chain network. It will allow manufacturers at Oxagon to directly and transparently reach markets in NEOM, Saudi Arabia and the whole region in a way that can be more sustainable than moving goods by road or air, Wanchoo went on to say. The CEO explained that each container coming into Port of NEOM could save up to one tonne of CO2 emissions, compared to on-land transportation.’

 

Moreover, he revealed that plans are in place to build a system of research and innovation that will make Oxagon the optimal destination for innovators and entrepreneurs where they can be empowered to innovate and manufacture their products and put them on the market in NEOM or abroad.

 

NEOM port will act as a vital link in the direct connection with global markets, he said. This will boost the competitiveness of the region and help the growth of the Kingdom’s economy.

 

Manufacturing at Oxagon will help in social and economic development across NEOM, he stressed.

 

Industry at NEOM will be based on the fourth industrial revolution and the development of talents. This will allow companies to develop sustainable products and services.

 

At the end of the day, everything taking place at Oxagon supports NEOM’s ambitions and is aligned with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, Wanchoo added.

 

Moreover, he stressed that the city’s location on the Red Sea provides a perfect opportunity for industrial companies seeking to expand their operations to enter new ones. They will also benefit from Saudi Arabia’s strategic location as an entry point to main and greater markets and provide faster contacts with local and international markets.

 

Wanchoo said what Oxagon was doing was radically different from what traditional industrial cities were doing.

 

He explained that it is working on empowering an industrial model that beats with the development of its society. “This encourages us to provide a high quality of living standard for residents and workers alike,” he added. Oxagon will provide a vibrant social environment for talents, researchers, experts and entrepreneurs.

 

He revealed that work is underway on the expansion of NEOM port that will serve the world’s largest vessels. The port is expected to have a capacity of over 1.5 million containers by 2025.

 

The year 2026 will witness the first phase of the construction of the first permanent residential compound in NEOM and Yotel Hotel will open its doors in Oxagon.

 

NEOM has also started building the world’s largest green hydrogen plant in Oxagon and it will enter production in 2026.

 

The plant will be a major player in creating job opportunities and bolster local production, added Wanchoo.

 

“The size, scale, and ambition of Oxagon is complex,” he added. “That is why we are keen on forging partnerships with companies from around the world to ensure that our vision is translated into reality.”

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Business

European Commission Vows Tougher Action on Trade with China

Worker use a forklift to transfer goods at the Xiaomi logistic center, in Beijing, China on Friday, May 29, 2026. (AP)
Worker use a forklift to transfer goods at the Xiaomi logistic center, in Beijing, China on Friday, May 29, 2026. (AP)
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European Commission Vows Tougher Action on Trade with China

Worker use a forklift to transfer goods at the Xiaomi logistic center, in Beijing, China on Friday, May 29, 2026. (AP)
Worker use a forklift to transfer goods at the Xiaomi logistic center, in Beijing, China on Friday, May 29, 2026. (AP)

The EU's trade and investment relationship with China is "not sustainable", the European Commission said on Friday, vowing a stronger response as commissioners discussed how best to shield Europe's industries from surging Chinese imports.

Commissioners were pitching ideas ahead of an EU leaders' summit on June 18 to 19, and possible proposals could include forcing EU firms to diversify supply chains or introducing new trade mechanisms to curb China's access to the EU market in chemicals, metals and clean energy technology.

"As economic and security interests become ever more intertwined, both dimensions will require a more robust and coherent response," the Commission said.

Any concrete proposals for the response ‌are not expected ‌to be announced until the third quarter of this year.

Western governments are ‌trying ⁠to reverse some ⁠of the offshoring to China that peaked in the early 2000s, depleting industrial know-how and hubs in their countries, particularly in the US and EU members.

China's commerce ministry said on Saturday in response that Europe should abide by World Trade Organization rules, uphold free trade and fair competition, and firmly oppose protectionism and unilateralism.

"Should the EU insist on unilaterally introducing new trade instruments and imposing discriminatory restrictions, China will resolutely take countermeasures and adopt effective measures to safeguard its own interests," it said in an online statement.

TRADE ⁠IMBALANCES, OVERCAPACITY IN FOCUS

The Group of Seven (G7) wealthy nations will ‌also tackle trade imbalances and overcapacity at a mid-June summit ‌as China increasingly flexes its dominance on rare earths and other metals that are critical for sectors including defense, ‌tech, energy and automotive industries.

US President Donald Trump has pitched "America First" and, early this year, the ‌EU proposed a new "Buy European" policy and RESourceEU to accelerate the development of critical mineral supply chains in the EU as well as partnerships with mineral-rich countries from Central Asia to Australia and Brazil.

China's Foreign Ministry accused the EU on Thursday of using trade data selectively to justify claims of imbalances, and it has repeatedly threatened "strong ‌countermeasures" should the EU adopt "Buy European" and revised tech sovereignty policies. China rejects the notion that its trade practices are unjust.

Europe's industry faces ⁠a tougher climate than ⁠US rivals, constrained by higher energy costs and stricter regulation.

Industry Commissioner Stephane Sejourne said this week he wants the bloc's existing trade tools such as import duties and quotas to be used "more systematically" across sectors, rather than targeting specific companies or materials.

The EU has tried to curb some Chinese imports, with mixed results.

The bloc imposed tariffs on heavily subsidized Chinese electric vehicles, but not hybrid models. Hybrids accounted for nearly 40% of new car registrations so far this year and China's market share in Europe continues to rise.

While the Commission is keen to adopt a tougher stance, it will have to navigate differences between France and Germany to pass major legislation.

"Paris argues that Europe's open market is absorbing the combined effects of Chinese subsidies and US protectionism," Carsten Nickel, deputy research director at Teneo, wrote in a report.

"Germany's position is more conflicted," Nickel said, with concerns about mounting pressure on German manufacturing constrained by the deep dependency of big industrial groups on China's market.

Business

Regional Turmoil Drives Growth at Egyptian Ports While Cutting Suez Canal Revenues

Egypt has an extensive network of seaports along both the Red Sea and the Mediterranean. (Egyptian Ministry of Transport)
Egypt has an extensive network of seaports along both the Red Sea and the Mediterranean. (Egyptian Ministry of Transport)
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Regional Turmoil Drives Growth at Egyptian Ports While Cutting Suez Canal Revenues

Egypt has an extensive network of seaports along both the Red Sea and the Mediterranean. (Egyptian Ministry of Transport)
Egypt has an extensive network of seaports along both the Red Sea and the Mediterranean. (Egyptian Ministry of Transport)

The Suez Canal may have incurred heavy losses due to regional tensions and instability in recent years — from the war in Gaza to the conflict involving Iran — those same disruptions have contributed to a significant surge in activity at Egyptian ports and in transit trade.

However, Egyptian economists said the strong increase in container traffic at the country’s ports is not enough to compensate for the canal’s losses.

They stressed that government initiatives, including efforts to expand transit trade, may only help reduce part of the revenue shortfall.

At the end of April, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said Egypt had lost nearly $10 billion in Suez Canal revenues because of attacks on ships in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

Egyptian ports have experienced increased activity in recent months amid supply-chain disruptions linked to the Iran conflict. Maritime connections with regional countries have expanded, including the launch of the NEOM–Safaga multimodal logistics corridor linking Gulf Cooperation Council countries with Europe.

The Egyptian government has also reinforced trade links between the Gulf and Europe through the “Ro-Ro” shipping line connecting Damietta Port with Italy’s Port of Trieste to increase trade volumes.

In the energy sector, oil flows through Egypt’s SUMED pipeline rose following disruptions in global energy supply chains caused by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Amr El-Samadouni, secretary-general of the International Transport and Logistics Division at the Cairo Chamber of Commerce, said the recent tensions in the Strait of Hormuz have “strengthened Egypt’s position as a regional hub for logistics services and supply-chain management.”

In a statement, El-Samadouni said the developments provide Egypt with “an important opportunity to offset part of the decline in Suez Canal revenues by attracting a share of urgent shipments that cannot tolerate long delays, especially in sectors linked to fast-moving trade and time-sensitive supply chains.”

According to a statement by Egypt’s Ministry of Transport on Thursday, the country’s port sector recorded a major increase in cargo and container handling. Egyptian ports handled 11.1 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in 2025, compared with 8.9 million in 2024, representing growth of 24.3 percent.

Transit container traffic also increased sharply, reaching 6.7 million containers in 2025, a rise of 36 percent. The number of ships calling at Egyptian ports climbed to 17,288 voyages in 2025, up 6.6 percent, according to the ministry.

Egypt has an extensive network of seaports along both the Red Sea and the Mediterranean and is investing heavily in upgrades to strengthen its role in regional and international trade.

The Ministry of Transport said the modernization program aims to transform Egypt into a regional hub for transport, logistics, and transit trade while boosting the ports’ ability to attract investment and handle growing trade volumes.

Despite the improvements in port activity, “they cannot compensate for the losses of the Suez Canal,” said Walid Gaballah, a member of the Egyptian Association for Political Economy, Statistics and Legislation.

He noted that revenues from trade and container handling “may reduce the losses but cannot fully replace them,” adding that shipping traffic through the canal has yet to return to pre-Gaza war levels.

Gaballah told Asharq Al-Awsat that continued regional instability makes recovery in Suez Canal traffic increasingly difficult.

Egyptian economist Mostafa Badra also said there can be no direct comparison between canal revenues and port trade income. “There is no substitute for the canal as a major source of foreign currency,” he told Asharq Al-Awsat, noting that revenues generated by port trade remain far below the canal’s earnings under normal conditions.

Badra added that the government’s port-development strategy is intended to strengthen Egypt’s logistics capabilities and reinforce the Suez Canal’s role as a global trade corridor while primarily supporting domestic trade. By contrast, he said, the canal itself remains a vital artery in global supply chains.

Egypt recently rose three places in the UNCTAD Liner Shipping Connectivity Index, ranking 19th globally, first in Africa, and second in the Arab world, according to the Ministry of Transport.

Business

US, Mexico Finish First Round of Trade Agreement Talks

Mexican Economy Minister, Marcelo Ebrard, gestures as he speaks during a press conference in Mexico City on May 27, 2026. (AFP)
Mexican Economy Minister, Marcelo Ebrard, gestures as he speaks during a press conference in Mexico City on May 27, 2026. (AFP)
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US, Mexico Finish First Round of Trade Agreement Talks

Mexican Economy Minister, Marcelo Ebrard, gestures as he speaks during a press conference in Mexico City on May 27, 2026. (AFP)
Mexican Economy Minister, Marcelo Ebrard, gestures as he speaks during a press conference in Mexico City on May 27, 2026. (AFP)

The United States and Mexico completed a first round of bilateral trade talks Friday, focused on revising the North American Free Trade Agreement in light of pressure from President Donald Trump's tariff policies.

The US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) is due for its first review since coming into force in 2020, with talks starting Wednesday led by Mexico's Economy Secretary Marcelo Ebrard and US Deputy Trade Representative Jeff Goettman joining Thursday.

"We talked about rules of origination, the automotive sector, how we compete with countries in Asia and other parts of the world, and how we can integrate more," Ebrard said in a statement.

The Mexican delegation in a statement described the talks as being held "in a constructive environment and with frank dialogue" that ended with a "net positive."

The US Trade Representative Office said in a statement the US approached the talks with the goals of reducing Washington's trade deficit with Mexico and strengthening US supply chains.

"During this first round, negotiators discussed priority issues related to automotive rules of origin, steel and aluminum, and economic security," the statement said.

"The United States and Mexico recognize the importance of advancing cooperation to enhance regulatory compatibility to strengthen sectors, including medical devices, pharmaceuticals, cosmetic products, and others."

Trump has threatened to pull out from the USMCA, arguing it doesn't benefit the US economy, casting a shadow over the talks.

The USMCA is critical for Mexico, as the United States accounts for more than 80 percent of its exports.

With the first round complete, future rounds of negotiations will take place in Washington in June, then Mexico City in July.