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Saudi Arabia’s Sovereign Fund Plans to Boost Investments in Japan to $27 Billion by 2030

A photo from the opening ceremony of the Priority Summit in Tokyo (Future Investment Initiative)
A photo from the opening ceremony of the Priority Summit in Tokyo (Future Investment Initiative)
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Saudi Arabia’s Sovereign Fund Plans to Boost Investments in Japan to $27 Billion by 2030

A photo from the opening ceremony of the Priority Summit in Tokyo (Future Investment Initiative)
A photo from the opening ceremony of the Priority Summit in Tokyo (Future Investment Initiative)

Yasir Al-Rumayyan, Governor of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) and Chairman of the Future Investment Initiative (FII) Institute, announced that the Kingdom is aiming to increase its investments in Japan to $27 billion by 2030.

Speaking at the FII Priority Asia Summit in Tokyo, held under the theme “New Asia,” Al-Rumayyan described Japan as a “principal partner” for Saudi Arabia, noting that 39% of Japan’s oil imports come from the Kingdom.

He said PIF invested $11.5 billion in Japan between 2017 and 2024, adding: “We expect this figure to rise to $27 billion by the end of 2030.”

These investments currently contribute an estimated $6.7 billion to Japan’s GDP, a figure he hopes will reach $16.6 billion by the end of the decade.

He further highlighted a series of memorandums of understanding signed last October with major Japanese financial institutions, including Mizuho Bank, Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, MUFG Bank, Nippon Export and Investment Insurance (NEXI), and the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC).

Valued at more than $51 billion, the agreements aim to stimulate bilateral capital flows through debt instruments and capital-market cooperation.

At the end of last year, Mizuho Financial Group launched the One ETF FTSE Saudi Arabia Index, now listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. With an initial market capitalization exceeding 15 billion Yens, it has become the largest Japan-listed ETF focused exclusively on the Saudi market. Both PIF and Mizuho are anchor investors in the fund.

Al-Rumayyan outlined sectors where he sees strong potential for Japanese companies in Saudi Arabia, including tourism, travel, entertainment, advanced manufacturing, and innovation. He also emphasized promising opportunities in industrial development, logistics, clean energy, and renewable infrastructure.

He stressed the importance of critical minerals in the electric-vehicle and AI era, noting that Saudi Arabia’s extractable mineral resources exceed $2.5 trillion, including significant reserves of uranium and cobalt. The Saudi mining company Maaden is expanding its investments to support growth in EVs, batteries, and other strategic industries.

During a special session on artificial intelligence, Al-Rumayyan said Saudi Arabia is well positioned to become a global AI hub, citing its energy capacity, land availability, and government commitment to building the sector.

These initiatives, he said, reinforce the Kingdom’s commitment to “investing for the future” and strengthening Asia’s role as a global center of innovation.

Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike officially opened the summit, highlighting Asia’s dynamic role in shaping the future of trade, technology, and investment. She called on global leaders to take bold action and deepen collaboration to drive the region into a new era of prosperity.

Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan Al Saud, President of the Saudi Esports Federation and Vice Chairman of Savvy Games Group, emphasized the importance of youth development and infrastructure in advancing the esports industry.

Hiromi Yamaji, CEO of the Japan Exchange Group, said Japan’s markets are experiencing renewed momentum driven by an exit from decades of deflation, rising foreign-investor interest, and significant progress in corporate governance.

Alongside the summit, the FII Institute released the fifth edition of the Global Future of Work Compass, focusing on Asia. Based on surveys of 200 companies and 100 young people across nine major Asian economies, the report identifies emerging risks and opportunities related to AI automation and youth skills.

The Institute also unveiled the Global Future of Work Navigator, a digital platform that compiles regional insights into a comparative interface for policymakers.

The report shows that Asia accounts for 25% of global R&D and 70% of patent applications, driven largely by China, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore. But adoption of AI varies sharply: only 64% of executives in Japan expect to use AI within five years, the lowest rate in the region, compared with 86% in emerging Asian markets, where companies still face constraints such as limited size and funding.

Skills gaps are also widening. STEM graduates make up about 40% of China’s workforce, versus 20% in Japan, where 81% of employers report difficulty hiring qualified talent.

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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.

Business

Saudi Arabia Among Top 10 Investors in Tunisia With Over $375 Mln

Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar bin Ibrahim Alkhorayef speaks during the business forum in Riyadh (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar bin Ibrahim Alkhorayef speaks during the business forum in Riyadh (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia Among Top 10 Investors in Tunisia With Over $375 Mln

Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar bin Ibrahim Alkhorayef speaks during the business forum in Riyadh (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar bin Ibrahim Alkhorayef speaks during the business forum in Riyadh (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi investments in Tunisia have gathered momentum over recent years, placing the kingdom among the country’s top 10 foreign investors, with cumulative investments surpassing $375 million by the end of 2024.

The figures were disclosed at the Saudi-Tunisian Business Forum, held in Riyadh on Monday on the sidelines of the 12th session of the Saudi-Tunisian Joint Committee, where officials and business leaders met to explore ways to deepen investment ties between the two countries.

The forum was attended by Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar bin Ibrahim Alkhorayef and Tunisia’s Minister of Economy and Planning, Dr. Samir Abdelhafidh.

The forum was organized by the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources in cooperation with the Ministry of Investment and the Federation of Saudi Chambers, with the participation of official delegations and more than 300 representatives from the public and private sectors in both countries.

High-level visits

In his opening remarks, Alkhorayef emphasized the strength of long-standing Saudi-Tunisian relations, which are rooted in the shared vision of the two countries’ leaderships and reinforced by high-level reciprocal visits.

He said these visits had formed a cornerstone in supporting economic momentum and driving recent growth in bilateral trade.

Alkhorayef described the Saudi Tunisian Business Forum as an important milestone for enhancing investment partnerships and transforming promising opportunities into projects with tangible economic impact.

“We are betting today on investors, business leaders, and private sector champions in both countries to lead growth in promising sectors, including advanced industries, tourism, renewable energy, and mining,” he said.

“Our role as governments is to enable, legislate, and facilitate procedures, while the private sector’s role is to build, innovate, and turn these enablers into productive projects, job opportunities, and shared success stories that reflect the value and depth of the partnership, toward comprehensive economic integration based on the competitive advantages of both countries.”

Investment fundamentals

For his part, Abdelhafidh said the Saudi Tunisian Business Forum serves as a practical platform for strengthening investment partnerships, noting the steady rise in Saudi investments in Tunisia in recent years, with the kingdom among the top 10 investing countries and total investments exceeding $375 million by the end of 2024.

He said Tunisia offers competitive investment fundamentals, including a strong pool of engineering and technical talent, as well as the capacity to absorb large-scale projects, particularly in renewable energy, automotive and aerospace components manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and the food industry.

Supply chains

In a related context, Saudi Tunisian Business Council Chairman Dr. Omar Al Ajaji highlighted the importance of the private sector’s role in strengthening economic cooperation between the two countries.

He said the forum helps business communities explore promising opportunities and opens broader horizons for integration in key sectors, particularly industry, technology, and supply chains.

Also speaking at the forum, Dr. Samir Majoul, President of the Tunisian Union of Industry, Trade, and Handicrafts, emphasized the need to create a regulatory environment conducive to investment and to establish sustainable strategic partnerships that foster trade and investment flows between the kingdom and Tunisia.

The Saudi-Tunisian Business Forum reflects the two countries’ shared vision of building effective investment partnerships that expand cooperation and economic integration, support growth in bilateral trade, align with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, and advance comprehensive and sustainable development in both countries.

Business

Iran's Central Bank Chief Resigns

A man walks past a sign at a currency exchange bureau as the value of the Iranian rial drops, in Tehran, Iran, December 20, 2025. (Via Reuters)
A man walks past a sign at a currency exchange bureau as the value of the Iranian rial drops, in Tehran, Iran, December 20, 2025. (Via Reuters)
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Iran's Central Bank Chief Resigns

A man walks past a sign at a currency exchange bureau as the value of the Iranian rial drops, in Tehran, Iran, December 20, 2025. (Via Reuters)
A man walks past a sign at a currency exchange bureau as the value of the Iranian rial drops, in Tehran, Iran, December 20, 2025. (Via Reuters)

Iran's central bank chief, Mohammad Reza Farzin, has resigned, the semi-official ​Nournews agency reported on Monday, citing an official at the president's office, as the country battles a slump in its rial currency and high inflation.

The rial, which has been falling as the Iranian economy has suffered from the impact of Western sanctions, fell to a ‌new record low on ‌Monday at around 1,390,000 ‌to ⁠the ​dollar, according ‌to websites displaying open market rates.

Iranian media outlets reported there had been demonstrations in the capital Tehran, mainly by shop owners, against the economic situation.

Farzin has headed the central bank since December 2022. His resignation will be reviewed by President Masoud ⁠Pezeshkian, the official added, according to Nournews.

Iranian state media reported ‌later on Monday, citing the communications ‍and information deputy ‍at the Iranian president's office, that former Economy ‍Minister Abdolnaser Hemmati will be appointed as the new central bank chief.

Iranian media have said the government's recent economic liberalization policies have put pressure on the ​open-rate currency market.

The open-rate market is where ordinary Iranians buy foreign currency, whereas businesses typically ⁠use state-regulated rates.

The reimposition of US sanctions in 2018 during President Donald Trump's first term has harmed Iran's economy by limiting its oil exports and access to foreign currency.

The Iranian economy is at risk of recession, with the World Bank forecasting GDP will shrink by 1.7% in 2025 and 2.8% in 2026. The risk is compounded by rising inflation, which hit a 40-month high of ‌48.6% in October, according to Iran's Statistical Center.