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Saudi Arabia Strengthens Private Sector Collaboration at PIF Forum

Gatherers at the second edition of the PIF and Private Sector Forum. (PIF and Private Sector Forum)
Gatherers at the second edition of the PIF and Private Sector Forum. (PIF and Private Sector Forum)
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Saudi Arabia Strengthens Private Sector Collaboration at PIF Forum

Gatherers at the second edition of the PIF and Private Sector Forum. (PIF and Private Sector Forum)
Gatherers at the second edition of the PIF and Private Sector Forum. (PIF and Private Sector Forum)

Saudi Arabia is intensifying efforts to boost private sector contributions to its economy and attract foreign investments, aligning with Vision 2030’s goal of reducing reliance on oil. The Public Investment Fund (PIF) plays a pivotal role in this transformation by fostering an attractive investment climate and establishing new economic sectors.

A key platform driving this initiative is the 2025 PIF and Private Sector Forum, which launches on Wednesday in its third edition. The forum serves as a bridge between PIF, its subsidiaries, and private enterprises, reinforcing partnerships to accelerate economic diversification.

The Kingdom aims to increase the private sector’s share of GDP to 65% by 2030. To achieve this goal, the government has implemented economic reforms to enhance business operations, digitize government services and create financing programs, incubators and accelerators to support private enterprises.

PIF has been instrumental in unlocking previously untapped non-oil sectors, providing new investment opportunities. Local businesses have capitalized on these developments, contributing to sectoral growth and national economic expansion.

Private sector contribution

Since the launch of Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia has made significant strides in attracting foreign investments and bolstering private sector activity. In January 2025, the Kingdom’s non-oil economy recorded its strongest performance in over a decade.

The Riyad Bank Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) surged from 58.4 in December 2024 to 60.5 in January 2025, marking its highest level since September 2014. The PMI, a key economic indicator, reflects improvements in private sector conditions.

The country’s economy grew by 1.3% in 2024, driven by a 4.3% expansion in non-oil activities, while the oil sector experienced contraction. The Ministry of Finance had projected a 0.8% GDP growth for the year, while the International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimated a 1.4% expansion.

Managing assets worth approximately $930 billion, PIF plans to reduce its international investment share from 30% to 18-20%, emphasizing domestic development projects.

“Most of PIF’s investments focus on national development initiatives,” stated PIF Governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan at the Future Investment Initiative conference.

Strategic sectors

Dr. Moodhi Al-Otaibi, Assistant Professor of Economics at Al Yamamah University, highlighted PIF’s essential role in achieving Vision 2030 through active contributions to local and global economic frameworks. This has positioned Saudi Arabia as a leading investment hub, fostering economic transformation and private sector growth.

She emphasized the private sector as the Kingdom’s long-term strategic partner, noting PIF’s commitment to enhancing local content. The fund focuses on 13 key industries, including housing, tourism, hospitality and entertainment, while also driving innovation.

PIF’s investment portfolio includes 99 companies that have significantly contributed to localization and economic diversification. The fund has introduced several targeted initiatives, such as Mosaahama (Contribution), Business Accelerator, and the PIF SME Program, to empower private enterprises and connect them with emerging opportunities.

The PIF and Private Sector Forum has seen rapid growth in participation over its past two editions. Attendee numbers surged from 4,000 in 2023 to 9,000 in 2024, while the number of PIF portfolio company booths expanded from 50 to 83. The forum also facilitated agreements and memorandums of understanding worth approximately SAR 17 billion ($4.5 billion).

The 2025 edition is expected to host 1,000 high-profile participants from public and private sectors. Over 120 speakers will take part in discussions, with extensive media coverage from more than 40 local and international outlets.

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Business

Precious Metals Fall again, Asian Stocks Swing as Traders Wind Down

Gold and silver prices have fallen from record highs this week. DAVID GRAY / AFP/File
Gold and silver prices have fallen from record highs this week. DAVID GRAY / AFP/File
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Precious Metals Fall again, Asian Stocks Swing as Traders Wind Down

Gold and silver prices have fallen from record highs this week. DAVID GRAY / AFP/File
Gold and silver prices have fallen from record highs this week. DAVID GRAY / AFP/File

Precious metals extended losses Tuesday on profit-taking after hitting recent records, while equities fluctuated in quiet trade as investors wound down ahead of the New Year break.

Traders were taking it easy in the last few days of 2025 following a stellar 12 months that have seen tech firms push several stock markets to all-time highs, while bitcoin, gold and silver have also enjoyed multiple peaks, said AFP.

Minutes from the Federal Reserve's most recent policy meeting -- at which it cut interest rates a third straight time -- are due to be released later in the day and will be scanned for an idea about whether a fourth can be expected in January.

The US central bank's monetary easing in the back end of this year has been a key driver of the markets' rally, compounding a surge in the tech sector on the back of the vast amounts of cash pumped into all things AI.

It has also helped offset recent worries about a possible tech bubble and warnings that traders might not see a return on their investments in artificial intelligence for some time.

Still, Asian markets have enjoyed a healthy year, with Seoul's Kospi piling on more than 75 percent and Tokyo's Nikkei 225 more than 25 percent -- both having hit records earlier in the year.

Still, both edged down Tuesday, with Shanghai, Sydney and Taipei also lower. Hong Kong, Singapore, Wellington and Jakarta rose.

The mixed performance followed losses for all three main indexes on Wall Street.

The big moves of late have been seen in precious metals, with gold hitting a record just shy of $4,550. Silver, meanwhile, topped out at $84 after soaring around 150 percent this year.

Investors have been piling into the commodities on bets for more US rate cuts, a weaker dollar and geopolitical tensions.

Silver has also been boosted by increased central bank purchases and supply concerns.

However, both metals have pulled back sharply this week on profit-taking, with gold now around $4,340 and silver at $73.50.

Oil dipped, having jumped more than two percent Monday when investors rowed back bets on peace talks to end Russia's war with Ukraine as a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky ended with little progress.

That surge followed Friday's similar-sized rally on optimism for a breakthrough to end the nearly four-year conflict.

An end to the war could see sanctions on Russian oil removed, which would see a huge fresh supply hit the market.

Bitcoin, which has tumbled since spiking above $126,000 in October, was stabilizing just below $90,000 after a shaky end to the year.

Business

Quality of Life Program Center Launches 'Smart Cities' Report

The Quality of Life Program Center has launched its new report on "Smart Cities". (SPA)
The Quality of Life Program Center has launched its new report on "Smart Cities". (SPA)
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Quality of Life Program Center Launches 'Smart Cities' Report

The Quality of Life Program Center has launched its new report on "Smart Cities". (SPA)
The Quality of Life Program Center has launched its new report on "Smart Cities". (SPA)

The Quality of Life Program Center has launched its new report on "Smart Cities," highlighting key global trends in the development of smart cities and their role in improving quality of life and enhancing urban sustainability.

This launch aims to promote human-centered cities and advance smart urban development, in line with Saudi Vision 2030 objectives, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.

The report notes that smart cities are among the most important pillars of modern urban development, as they rely on the use of advanced technologies, data analytics, and the Internet of Things to improve service efficiency, enhance quality of life, and address growing urban challenges such as traffic congestion, pollution, and resource management.

It also reviews several global indicators demonstrating the ability of smart solutions to reduce emergency response times, improve educational outcomes, increase residents' satisfaction with public services, and reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions through smart grids and advanced transportation systems.

The report emphasizes that adopting smart city concepts constitutes a fundamental pillar for achieving sustainable urban development, improving quality of life, and building more resilient and prosperous communities, thereby enhancing the competitiveness of Saudi cities at the regional and global levels.

Business

Saudi Arabia Turns Potato Farming Challenge into Export Opportunity

Saudi Arabia Turns Potato Farming Challenge into Export Opportunity
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Saudi Arabia Turns Potato Farming Challenge into Export Opportunity

Saudi Arabia Turns Potato Farming Challenge into Export Opportunity

In the deserts of Hail in northern Saudi Arabia, where rugged mountains border a climate that turns mild in summer and biting in winter, an unlikely agricultural success story has emerged.

From sandy soil that appears unforgiving at first glance, uniform potatoes are harvested to meet the exacting standards of local and international markets, supplying global food companies and contributing to the growth of a thriving export industry.

Grown not on traditional farmland but in a desert landscape long constrained by water and energy shortages, the crop has become a case study in how agricultural innovation and industrial sustainability can converge, positioning Saudi Arabia among the world's exporters of potatoes and processed potato products.

Potatoes in Hail are cultivated in sandy soil that gives the crop sufficient room to grow without deformities, setting it apart from harder soils that reduce quality and market acceptance. The main challenge, however, was not the soil but groundwater scarcity, making the search for innovative irrigation solutions a necessity rather than a choice.

That marked the start of a shift. Farmers have adopted drip irrigation systems powered by solar energy to reduce consumption and increase productivity, transforming Hail into a strategic production hub that contributes to self-sufficiency and exports to global markets.

According to previous remarks by Saudi Industry Minister Bandar Alkhorayef, the kingdom developed an irrigation model tailored to potatoes grown for potato chip manufacturing and export.

Alkhorayef said at the time that PepsiCo, which produces the well-known Lay’s brand, faced difficulties exporting potatoes grown in the kingdom. He stated that the government had collaborated with the Ministry of Agriculture to address the issue.

“They had a valid concern related to water scarcity, so we developed an appropriate irrigation model, which was approved by the agriculture ministry, resolving the export problem,” he said.

According to the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture, Saudi Arabia experienced a significant increase in potato production in 2023, with output rising by 47 percent to exceed 621,750 tonnes. The self-sufficiency rate reached 86.8 percent, according to the latest officially announced figures.

Hamoud Al Saleh, founder and chairman of Lahaa Agricultural Production, one of the Saudi suppliers to PepsiCo, said the kingdom had exported potatoes to Russia for six consecutive years, in addition to other countries including Norway, Lebanon, Syria and Jordan, while also supplying local factories.

Challenges

Some European markets still face hurdles in importing Saudi potatoes due to the absence of trade protocols, while Norway has proven more flexible, continuing imports over recent years, Al Saleh said.

He said groundwater remains the biggest challenge for farmers. Speaking to Asharq Al Awsat, Al Saleh said PepsiCo supported the company in implementing drip irrigation, covering part of the cost for three years and providing experts to help design and approve the system, which significantly increased productivity.

He said yields per hectare rose to between 50 and 60 tonnes in some fields, alongside a notable reduction in water consumption. He added that Saudi potatoes show high resilience to environmental conditions.

Energy has also been a challenge, with agricultural equipment relying heavily on diesel. This has prompted many farmers to adopt solar power, thereby easing operating costs for both farmers and the state.

Al Saleh unveiled a new project costing 15 million riyals, approximately $4 million, spanning 700 hectares and utilizing a combination of diesel and solar energy, describing it as a long-term investment aimed at enhancing sustainability and reducing consumption.

Resource efficiency

PepsiCo said resource efficiency has become a central pillar of its regional strategy. Ahmed El Sheikh, president and general manager for the Middle East, North Africa and Pakistan, said the company had adopted advanced drip irrigation systems in cooperation with specialized firms and the agriculture and industry ministries.

He said this helped cut water use by around 30 percent compared to traditional irrigation, alongside a shift toward solar energy instead of diesel, which reduced fuel and energy consumption.

Regarding exports, El Sheikh stated that most products are shipped to Gulf states and Jordan, with efforts underway to explore exports to Syria from plants within the kingdom.

In terms of investments linked to Vision 2030, he stated that the company has invested 300 million riyals, approximately $80 million, in new production lines targeting both local and export markets.

He stated that local content reached 95 percent for certain packaging materials that were previously imported, while locally sourced potatoes also achieved 95 percent, with ongoing efforts to reach 100 percent.

Local content refers to the share of raw materials, manufactured inputs, or extracted resources produced inside Saudi Arabia, whether agricultural, industrial, or packaging-related.

Regarding workforce localization, El Sheikh stated that some plants, including the Dammam factory, have achieved Saudization rates of 80 percent, with the appointment of the first Saudi female plant manager.

In research and development, the company stated that it has established an R&D center with investments exceeding 30 million riyals, approximately $8 million, thereby localizing operations within the kingdom instead of relying on overseas centers.

El Sheikh said the company has reached full operational capacity in working with farmers on potato crops, calling it a major achievement that it hopes to replicate with other crops in the future.

Water scarcity by the numbers

This agricultural experience comes amid mounting challenges to water resources. The National Water Strategy says Saudi Arabia has a limited stock of exploitable non-renewable groundwater, with low recharge rates not exceeding 2.8 billion cubic meters annually.

Total water demand is estimated at approximately 24.8 billion cubic meters, with an annual growth rate of around 7 percent.

The strategy states that agriculture is the largest consumer of water in the kingdom, accounting for approximately 84 percent of total demand, and relies heavily on non-renewable resources that make up nearly 90 percent of agricultural water use.

Agriculture ministry data show irrigation efficiency does not exceed 50 percent, compared with more than 75 percent under global best practices. Fodder cultivation alone consumes about 67 percent of agricultural water, according to the latest available figures.

Government role

This shift in potato farming would not have been completed without government support. The kingdom developed and approved an irrigation model suited to potatoes grown for chips and export as the preferred method, prompting PepsiCo to expand its factories in the Eastern Province with investments exceeding 300 million riyals.

This helped make Saudi Arabia the world’s second-largest hub for potato chip manufacturing, according to previous remarks by the industry minister.

Beyond exports, the model strengthens self-sufficiency. Under this approach, Saudi potatoes have become more than just an ingredient in chips, turning into a symbol of integration between agriculture and industry and evidence of the kingdom’s ability to transform environmental challenges into global economic and investment opportunities, in line with the ambitions of Vision 2030.