Saudi Arabia, Poland Agree to Bolster Digital Partnership

The Saudi delegation's visit to Poland was centered on exploring trade and investment partnership prospects. SPA
The Saudi delegation's visit to Poland was centered on exploring trade and investment partnership prospects. SPA
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Saudi Arabia, Poland Agree to Bolster Digital Partnership

The Saudi delegation's visit to Poland was centered on exploring trade and investment partnership prospects. SPA
The Saudi delegation's visit to Poland was centered on exploring trade and investment partnership prospects. SPA

Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Affairs Krzysztof Gawkowski has expressed his endorsement for initiating collaborative digital initiatives with Saudi Arabia, which would benefit both nations.

Gawkowski's remarks came during his meeting Tuesday in Warsaw with Federation of Saudi Chambers Chairman Hassan Al-Huwaizi and a delegation of Saudi businessmen. The visit was centered on exploring trade and investment partnership prospects.

Gawkowski underlined Poland's keenness to enhance cooperation with Saudi Arabia on digital development and cybersecurity, particularly considering the substantial progress underway in the sector in both countries.

During the meeting, Alhwaizy stressed the significance of augmenting Saudi-Polish investments in technology and digital transformation, recognizing the pivotal role of the fields in economic advancement and business expansion.

Saudi Polish Business Council chairman Abdullah Abu Dabeel highlighted that Saudi Arabia’s ambitious plan for a $100 billion artificial-intelligence (AI) project, coupled with Poland's prominent position as the third-ranked country globally in terms of the quality and number of programmers, presents promising avenues for collaboration between the two nations.



US Auto Sales Set to Modestly Rise in First Quarter as Tariffs Signal Bumpy Ride

New vehicles are seen at a parking lot in the Port of Richmond, at the bay of San Francisco, California June 8, 2023. REUTERS/Carlos Barria/File Photo
New vehicles are seen at a parking lot in the Port of Richmond, at the bay of San Francisco, California June 8, 2023. REUTERS/Carlos Barria/File Photo
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US Auto Sales Set to Modestly Rise in First Quarter as Tariffs Signal Bumpy Ride

New vehicles are seen at a parking lot in the Port of Richmond, at the bay of San Francisco, California June 8, 2023. REUTERS/Carlos Barria/File Photo
New vehicles are seen at a parking lot in the Port of Richmond, at the bay of San Francisco, California June 8, 2023. REUTERS/Carlos Barria/File Photo

US auto sales likely inched higher in the first three months of the year on steady demand, data from the carmakers will show on Tuesday, as the industry braces for the fallout of President Donald Trump's latest tariffs.

Market research firm Cox Automotive has estimated that US new-vehicle sales volume increased 0.6% to 3.79 million units in the first quarter from a year earlier.

"Automotive tariffs — now set to take effect on April 2 — might have pulled ahead some vehicle purchases in Q1," said Jessica Caldwell, head of insights at automotive data provider Edmunds.

General Motors pickup trucks and SUVs are expected to help it retain its top spot in the quarter, followed by Toyota Motor's North America unit and Ford, according to Cox, Reuters reported.

Electric-vehicle maker Tesla is also forecast to report a drop in first-quarter vehicle deliveries on Wednesday.

President Trump's move to levy tariffs on US auto imports is widely seen as weighing on consumer sentiment and forcing a rethink on purchases.

The tariffs could also reduce the number of lower-cost imported vehicles on the market, such as Ford's compact Maverick pickup truck, further straining affordability as the average new-vehicle price nears $50,000.

"The potential for higher inflation due to new tariffs at American borders will all potentially hold back new-vehicle sales in 2025," Cox said.

Caldwell said tariffs would likely create challenges for the industry in the second quarter and beyond and expects discounts to be "harder to come by".