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Macron: Saudi Arabia is a Cornerstone for Accessing Gulf, Arab, and African Markets

French President Emmanuel Macron speaks during the Saudi-French Business Forum during an official visit in Riyadh on December 3, 2024. JEANNE ACCORSINI / AFP
French President Emmanuel Macron speaks during the Saudi-French Business Forum during an official visit in Riyadh on December 3, 2024. JEANNE ACCORSINI / AFP
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Macron: Saudi Arabia is a Cornerstone for Accessing Gulf, Arab, and African Markets

French President Emmanuel Macron speaks during the Saudi-French Business Forum during an official visit in Riyadh on December 3, 2024. JEANNE ACCORSINI / AFP
French President Emmanuel Macron speaks during the Saudi-French Business Forum during an official visit in Riyadh on December 3, 2024. JEANNE ACCORSINI / AFP

French President Emmanuel Macron has encouraged French entrepreneurs to invest in Saudi Arabia, describing the Kingdom as a cornerstone for accessing markets across the Gulf, Arab countries, and Africa. At the same time, he invited Saudi companies to invest in Paris, highlighting France’s position as the top destination for investments over the past five years and emphasizing its role as a gateway to European Union markets.

Speaking at the Saudi-French Investment Forum on Tuesday in Riyadh, Macron described the two nations as reliable partners amid global fragmentation. He referred to his recent conversation with Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, where they discussed several geopolitical issues and stressed the importance of balance and peace.

Macron noted the participation of 145 French companies at the event, underscoring France’s commitment to the Kingdom. He pointed out that his country is Saudi Arabia’s second-largest foreign investor and that French companies employ approximately 12,000 people in the Kingdom.

The president highlighted the key sectors of bilateral investment partnerships, including energy, water, environment, tourism, sports, healthcare, food, space exploration, and aviation.

In addition, Macron emphasized France’s interest in supporting Saudi Arabia’s carbon reduction goals through innovation and new transportation technologies, including renewable energy and green hydrogen. He also noted the Kingdom’s significant investments in artificial intelligence (AI) and pointed out the potential for collaboration, leveraging France’s expertise in training talent and developing AI solutions that integrate climate considerations.

The French president further highlighted Paris’ aspiration to collaborate on Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 mega-projects, including NEOM, AlUla, and Qiddiya, as well as participate in Expo 2030 and the FIFA World Cup 2034. He stressed the importance of knowledge and technology transfer to support the organization of such large-scale events.

He also proposed leveraging French expertise to enhance Saudi Arabia’s cultural heritage sites and museums by introducing innovative experiences and bringing together experts from both nations to develop these sites.

Riyadh Metro Project

Saudi Minister of Investment Khalid Al-Falih affirmed the progress in Saudi-French economic cooperation, describing the forum as an opportunity to align efforts in various fields, including innovation and technology. Al-Falih revealed that Saudi Arabia hosts approximately 500 French companies, with 30 of them having established regional headquarters in Riyadh.

The minister also announced three major renewable energy projects in partnership with French private-sector companies and highlighted the Riyadh Metro Project as a model of successful collaboration between French and Saudi firms, paving the way for further expansion. Additionally, Al-Falih mentioned a partnership with Airbus, which recently secured the largest aircraft order of 2024.

For his part, Laurent Germain, head of the French side of the Saudi-French Business Council and president of MEDEF, described Saudi Arabia as a key partner for French companies. He identified three main factors driving French investment in the Kingdom: strong political vision, the presence of large-scale projects, and access to financing. Germain also noted the participation of a French company in the Riyadh Metro Project and emphasized Riyadh’s growing significance as a global hub for major events.

Meanwhile, Wouter Van Wersch, Executive Vice President of Airbus, revealed to Asharq Al-Awsat that the company operates around 200 commercial aircraft in Saudi Arabia and has future orders for an additional 300 planes. He added that Airbus also manages over 120 helicopters, approximately 80 military aircraft, and a number of satellites in the Kingdom.

Van Wersch reaffirmed Airbus’ commitment to supporting Vision 2030, noting significant opportunities in the transportation sector, as Saudi Arabia aims to triple the number of incoming travelers by 2030. He also highlighted the Kingdom’s potential in sustainable aviation fuel and possibly hydrogen, opening new avenues for collaboration between the two sides.

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Business

Saudi Aramco Achieves 70% Local Content Target through iktva Program

Saudi Aramco Achieves 70% Local Content Target through iktva Program
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Saudi Aramco Achieves 70% Local Content Target through iktva Program

Saudi Aramco Achieves 70% Local Content Target through iktva Program

Saudi Aramco announced on Wednesday that its supply chain transformation program, iktva (In-Kingdom Total Value Add), has achieved its target of reaching 70% local content.

Building on this milestone, the company said that it plans to increase local content in its goods and services procurement to 75% by 2030.

Since its launch, the iktva program has contributed more than $280 billion to the Kingdom’s gross domestic product, reinforcing its role as a key driver of industrial development, economic diversification, and long-term financial resilience.

Through the localization of goods and services, the program has strengthened the resilience and reliability of Aramco’s supply chains, enhanced operational continuity, reduced supply chain vulnerabilities, and provided protection against global cost inflation - capabilities that proved critical during periods of disruption.

Aramco President and CEO Amin Nasser expressed pride in the scale of transformation achieved through iktva and its positive impact on the Kingdom’s economy, noting that the announcement represents a major milestone in the program’s journey and reflects a significant leap in Saudi Arabia’s industrial development, fully aligned with the Kingdom’s national vision.

“iktva is a core pillar of Aramco’s strategy to build a competitive national industrial ecosystem that supports the energy sector while enabling broader economic growth and creating thousands of job opportunities for Saudi nationals,” he stressed.

By localizing supply chains, the program ensures operational reliability and mitigates disruptions that may affect global supply chains, he added, noting that its cumulative impact over a decade demonstrates the sustained value it continues to generate.

Over the past decade, iktva has emerged as a leading example of supply-chain-driven economic transformation, converting Aramco’s project spending into domestic economic multipliers that have created jobs, improved productivity, stimulated exports, and strengthened supply chain resilience.

The program has identified more than 200 localization opportunities across 12 key sectors, representing an annual market value of $28 billion. These opportunities have translated into tangible investment outcomes, catalyzing more than 350 investments from 35 countries in new manufacturing facilities within the Kingdom, supported by approximately $9 billion in capital. These investments have enabled the local manufacture of 47 strategic products in Saudi Arabia for the first time.

iktva has also contributed to the creation of more than 200,000 direct and indirect jobs across the Kingdom, further strengthening the local industrial base and national capabilities. To support continued growth, the program organized eight regional supplier forums worldwide in 2025, in addition to its biennial forum. These events helped connect global investors, manufacturers, and suppliers with localization opportunities in Saudi Arabia.

Business

AirAsia X Unveils Kuala Lumpur-Bahrain-London Route

FILE PHOTO: Planes from AirAsia are seen on the tarmac of Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminal 2 (KLIA2) in Sepang, Malaysia, February 26, 2024. REUTERS/Hasnoor Hussain/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Planes from AirAsia are seen on the tarmac of Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminal 2 (KLIA2) in Sepang, Malaysia, February 26, 2024. REUTERS/Hasnoor Hussain/File Photo
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AirAsia X Unveils Kuala Lumpur-Bahrain-London Route

FILE PHOTO: Planes from AirAsia are seen on the tarmac of Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminal 2 (KLIA2) in Sepang, Malaysia, February 26, 2024. REUTERS/Hasnoor Hussain/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Planes from AirAsia are seen on the tarmac of Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminal 2 (KLIA2) in Sepang, Malaysia, February 26, 2024. REUTERS/Hasnoor Hussain/File Photo

Malaysian budget carrier AirAsia X on Wednesday unveiled plans to resume flights from Kuala Lumpur to London via a new hub in Bahrain, using the extended range of narrow-body jets to stitch fresh routes alongside established carriers.

The service, due to start in June, would make Bahrain AirAsia X's first hub outside Asia, placing it within reach of busy markets in Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Europe.

It also marks a ‌return to ‌the British capital more than a decade after the airline suspended ‌non-stop ⁠flights from Kuala Lumpur ⁠and retired its Airbus A340 jets.

Co-founder Tony Fernandes said Bahrain could become a regional gateway for underserved secondary cities across Asia, Africa and Europe.

"While ... of course London is a very emotional destination for many people in Southeast Asia, the real aim is to have a bunch of A321s flying maybe 15 times a day to Bahrain," he told Reuters in an interview.

"From Bahrain, you connect to Africa and Europe with a big emphasis ⁠on creating connectivity that doesn't exist."

The move follows Asia's ‌largest low-cost carrier completing its acquisition of the short-haul ‌aviation business from parent Capital A, bringing the group's seven airlines under one umbrella.

Fernandes, also CEO ‌of Capital A, stressed the importance of the Airbus A321XLR, an extra-long-range narrow-body aircraft ‌he said would let the airline replicate its Asian low-cost model on intercontinental routes.

"That aircraft enables me to start thinking we can do what we did in Asia to Europe and Africa," he said, citing potential secondary routes such as Penang to Cologne or Prague.

AirAsia plans to ‌redeploy its larger A330s to longer routes while building up the Bahrain hub, with possible African destinations including the Maghreb region, Egypt, ⁠Morocco, Tanzania and Kenya. ⁠A Bangkok-to-Europe route is also under consideration.

Fernandes played down direct competition with Gulf carriers such as Emirates and Qatar Airways, positioning AirAsia X as a budget option aimed at a different market.

"I'm all about stimulating a new market," he said. "We've got into our little playground (of) 3 billion people, most of them have not been to Europe."

Business

Von der Leyen: EU Must 'Tear Down Barriers' to Become 'Global Giant'

(FILES) European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen delivers a speech in Brussels, on January 22, 2026. (Photo by NICOLAS TUCAT / AFP)
(FILES) European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen delivers a speech in Brussels, on January 22, 2026. (Photo by NICOLAS TUCAT / AFP)
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Von der Leyen: EU Must 'Tear Down Barriers' to Become 'Global Giant'

(FILES) European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen delivers a speech in Brussels, on January 22, 2026. (Photo by NICOLAS TUCAT / AFP)
(FILES) European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen delivers a speech in Brussels, on January 22, 2026. (Photo by NICOLAS TUCAT / AFP)

The EU must "tear down the barriers" that prevent it from becoming a truly global economic giant, European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said Wednesday, ahead of leaders' talks on making the 27-nation bloc more competitive.

"Our companies need capital right now. So let's get it done this year," the commission president told EU lawmakers as she outlined key steps to bridging the gap with China and the United States.

"We have to make progress one way or the other to tear down the barriers that prevent us from being a true global giant," she said, calling the current system "fragmentation on steroids."

Reviving the moribund EU economy has taken on greater urgency in the face of geopolitical shocks, from US President Donald Trump's threats and tariffs upending the global trading to his push to seize Greenland from Denmark.

AFP said that Von der Leyen delivered her message before heading with EU leaders including France's Emmanuel Macron and Germany's Friedrich Merz to a gathering of industry executives in Antwerp, held on the eve of a summit on bolstering the bloc's economy.

A key issue identified by the EU is the fact that European companies face difficulties accessing capital to scale up, unlike their American counterparts.

To tackle this, Plan A would be to advance together as 27 states, von der Leyen said, but if they cannot reach agreement, the EU should consider "enhanced cooperation" between those countries that want to.

Von der Leyen said Europe should ramp up its competitiveness by "stepping up production" on the continent and "by expanding our network of reliable partners", pointing to the importance of signing trade agreements.

After recent deals with South American bloc Mercosur and India, she said more were on their way -- with Australia, Thailand, the Philippines and the United Arab Emirates.

One of the biggest -- and most debated -- proposals for boosting the EU's economy is to favor European firms over foreign rivals in "strategic" fields, which von der Leyen supports.

"In strategic sectors, European preference is a necessary instrument... that will contribute to strengthen Europe's own production base," she said -- while cautioning against a "one-size-fits-all" approach.

France has been spearheading the push, but some EU nations like Sweden are wary of veering into protectionism and warn Brussels against going too far.

The EU executive will also next month propose the 28th regime, also known as "EU Inc", a voluntary set of rules for businesses that would apply across the European Union and would not be linked to any particular country.

Brussels argues this would make it easier for companies to work across the EU, since the fragmented market is often blamed for why the economy is not better.

The commission is also engaged in a massive effort to cut red tape for firms, which complain EU rules make it harder to do business -- drawing accusations from critics that Brussels is watering down key legislation on climate in particular.