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Saudi Arabia Ranks 16th in IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook 2024

Saudi Arabia ranked 16th out of 67 of the world's most competitive countries. (SPA)
Saudi Arabia ranked 16th out of 67 of the world's most competitive countries. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia Ranks 16th in IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook 2024

Saudi Arabia ranked 16th out of 67 of the world's most competitive countries. (SPA)
Saudi Arabia ranked 16th out of 67 of the world's most competitive countries. (SPA)

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia ranked 16th out of 67 of the world's most competitive countries, according to this year's Swiss-based Institute for Management Development (IMD) World Competitiveness Yearbook.
This annual report offers benchmark services for countries and companies, providing insights into what makes companies competitive; it is prepared by the National Competitiveness Center in collaboration with concerned government agencies, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.
This year's ranking reflects a one-position improvement for the Kingdom, driven by advancements in business legislation and infrastructure. This places Saudi Arabia in 4th place among G20 countries.
The business efficiency axis specifically saw progress, moving from the 13th to the 12th rank. While infrastructure remains in its 34th position, the Kingdom continues to be strong in both economic performance and government efficiency, staying within the top 20.
Minister of Commerce and Chairman of the National Competitiveness Center Dr. Majid Al-Qasabi attributed the positive results to the economic transformation process championed by the Kingdom's government under the directives of Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia.
The economic reforms carried out have propelled the Kingdom to the top three positions in 24 key indicators. Notably, it secured the global top spot in crucial areas like long-term employment growth, social cohesion, long-term labor market growth, awareness about the need for economic and social reforms, cybersecurity, and internet user penetration per thousand residents.
Saudi Arabia secured second place globally in indicators such as digital transformation in companies, stock market capitalization, venture capital availability, technological development and application, and access to financing for technical advancements.
The Kingdom ranks third place globally in several areas, including trade, economic resilience, government adaptability to economic changes, unemployment legislation, and overall early stage entrepreneurial activity.

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Business

G7 Energy Ministers Confirm Readiness to Release Oil Stockpiles

Out of service signs are pictured on unleaded petrol and diesel fuel pumps at a petrol service station in Cambridge, eastern England on March 09, 2026. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP)
Out of service signs are pictured on unleaded petrol and diesel fuel pumps at a petrol service station in Cambridge, eastern England on March 09, 2026. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP)
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G7 Energy Ministers Confirm Readiness to Release Oil Stockpiles

Out of service signs are pictured on unleaded petrol and diesel fuel pumps at a petrol service station in Cambridge, eastern England on March 09, 2026. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP)
Out of service signs are pictured on unleaded petrol and diesel fuel pumps at a petrol service station in Cambridge, eastern England on March 09, 2026. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP)

Energy ministers from the Group of Seven nations confirmed readiness to ⁠take necessary steps to support ⁠global energy supplies, ⁠including possible joint release of strategic oil stockpiles, Japan's Industry Minister Ryosei Akazawa told a ⁠briefing on ⁠Tuesday.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) hosted a meeting of G7 energy ministers at its headquarters in Paris, chaired by Minister Roland Lescure of France, which holds the G7 presidency.

At the virtual meeting, the agency provided an update on its view of the situation in global oil and gas markets, which have been significantly affected by the conflict in the Middle East.

Lescure said the group is prepared to release emergency stockpiles if required.

“We are ready to take the necessary measures, including drawing on strategic reserves to stabilize the market,” Lescure said.

“We are not there yet,” he told reporters in Brussels, after hosting a meeting of G7 finance ministers.

“We are monitoring the markets, the impact on the macroeconomy but also on our citizens,” he said, adding that coordination among major economies remains central to the response.

“Everyone is willing to take measures to stabilize the market, including the US,” Lescure said.

“We have asked the IEA to elaborate scenarios for a potential oil stock release, we need to be ready to act at any moment,” he added.

For its part, the agency said in a statement, “We discussed all the available options, including making IEA emergency oil stocks available to the market. IEA Member countries currently hold over 1.2 billion barrels of public emergency oil stocks, with a further 600 million barrels of industry stocks held under government obligation.”

European governments are on edge about the prospect of a repeat of the energy crisis they faced in 2022 after Russia ⁠invaded Ukraine, when prices surged to record peaks, forcing some industries to shut down operations.

The EU imports more than 90% of its oil and around 80% of its gas, making European countries highly ⁠exposed to fluctuations in global oil and gas prices.

European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen is due to propose measures to tackle the politically sensitive issue at an EU summit next week.

Being “completely dependent on expensive and volatile imports” of fossil fuels puts Europe at a disadvantage to other regions, von der Leyen said in a speech.

“Developments in the Middle East remind us once again of the risks of relying still too much on fossil fuels,” von der Leyen said, adding that reducing Europe's nuclear energy sector was a “strategic mistake.”

On Tuesday, the EU called on member states to help consumers and businesses by lowering taxes on energy where possible, as war in the Middle East saw oil and gas prices surge.

“If you are at all able to lower taxes on energy, especially on electricity, there is a huge potential” to reduce consumer bills, EU's energy chief Dan Jorgensen said at Parliament in Strasbourg on Tuesday.

Jorgensen said cutting taxes could help ease the financial burden on households as rising energy costs continue to affect consumers across the union.

According to the European Commission Joint Research Center, around 48 million people in Europe, roughly one in ten, cannot afford to heat their homes adequately.

Business

CEO: Exxon Evacuated Non-essential Middle East Staff

An Exxon gas station sign in Dallas, Friday, March 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
An Exxon gas station sign in Dallas, Friday, March 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
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CEO: Exxon Evacuated Non-essential Middle East Staff

An Exxon gas station sign in Dallas, Friday, March 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
An Exxon gas station sign in Dallas, Friday, March 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Exxon Mobil has evacuated non-essential employees from its operations in the Middle East, CEO Darren Woods said in an interview on Tuesday, as the US-Israel war on Iran continues.

Some operations have been scaled back to manage oil inventory levels as traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has been challenged, he said. ⁠Exxon is a ⁠minority partner in oil and gas projects in the UAE, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

"Our first and highest priority is making sure our people remain safe, and we evacuated folks who weren't critical or essential to the operations that we were providing support for," Reuters quoted Woods as saying.

Traffic ⁠through the Strait of Hormuz, an important waterway between Iran and Oman that sees one-fifth of the world's oil supply pass through it, has effectively halted after Iran threatened to attack tankers that attempt to pass.

US President Donald Trump on Monday threatened to escalate the war with Iran if it blocked oil shipments from the Middle East, even as he predicted a quick end to the conflict.

With exports strained, oil producers have ⁠cut output ⁠at some oilfields as storage capacity runs out.

"The ability to manage ... inventory becomes very challenged, and many of the operations are pulling back simply to manage inventory levels as the logistics in the supply chain and the flow through the Strait get worked (through) with time," Woods said.

About 20% of Exxon's oil and gas production is in the Middle East, according to analysts from Jefferies. Nearly 60% of the US oil major's liquefied natural gas business is concentrated in the region, according to TD Cowen.

Business

EU Opposes Removing Oil Sanctions on Russia to Cool Energy Prices

Pumpjacks operated by Aera Energy work the wells at the Midway-Sunset field near Taft in Kern County, California, on March 8, 2026. (Photo by Frederic J. BROWN / AFP)
Pumpjacks operated by Aera Energy work the wells at the Midway-Sunset field near Taft in Kern County, California, on March 8, 2026. (Photo by Frederic J. BROWN / AFP)
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EU Opposes Removing Oil Sanctions on Russia to Cool Energy Prices

Pumpjacks operated by Aera Energy work the wells at the Midway-Sunset field near Taft in Kern County, California, on March 8, 2026. (Photo by Frederic J. BROWN / AFP)
Pumpjacks operated by Aera Energy work the wells at the Midway-Sunset field near Taft in Kern County, California, on March 8, 2026. (Photo by Frederic J. BROWN / AFP)

EU economy chief Valdis Dombrovskis said Tuesday the European Union did not support removing sanctions on Russian oil despite soaring energy prices, AFP reported.

"We must continue to exert maximum pressure on Russia," he said when asked about US President Donald Trump's announcement he will waive some sanctions on oil, warning easing restrictions would "reinforce Russia's capacity to wage war, undermining Ukraine".