Trade Malaysia continues GCC trade talks that began in 2011 Malaysian prime minister Anwar Ibrahim has said that talks on closing a free trade agreement (FTA) with the Gulf Cooperation Council are continuing, 14 years after they first began. The deal will deepen commercial partnerships and expand economic growth, Kuwait’s state-run Kuna news agency reported, quoting Ibrahim. The GCC and Malaysia agreed on a trade […] May 7, 2025
Opinion Renewable Energy GCC states bet big on renewables in Central Asia Green energy deals are the foundations for closer trade relationships May 6, 2025
Construction Qatari royal backs Maldives $9bn financial freezone MBS Global Investments and the Maldives government will jointly develop a $8.8 billion Maldives International Financial Centre (MIFC) in the Maldivian capital city of Malé. The freezone will have no corporate tax and tax-free inheritance in a bid to attract digital nomads, entrepreneurs and high net worth individuals. Based in Dubai, MBS Global is the investment […] May 5, 2025
Analysis Trade Oman’s tile law could set pattern for the GCC Oman plans to implement anti-dumping measures on ceramic tile imports from China and India, saying the materials that are widely used in the building industry are being sold at below-cost prices. This comes amid a global debate around the impact of increased US import tariffs on China, the world’s biggest manufacturer, and whether the tax […] May 2, 2025
Oil & Gas QatarEnergy in talks with Japan on long-term LNG supply One of the world’s biggest liquefied natural gas suppliers, QatarEnergy, is in talks with Japanese firms for a long-term deal to supply LNG from its North Field expansion project, five trading and industry sources told Reuters. Under the deal, Qatar would supply a consortium of Japanese importers and a volume of at least 3 million […] May 2, 2025
Economy Turkey worried that cheap Asian goods will hurt economy Turkey is concerned that an enduring trade war between the US and China and other Asian countries may encourage manufacturers to flood Turkey’s market with cut-price goods to make up for US losses, the finance minister has said. That could damage Turkey’s own manufacturing base, already struggling with high and rising borrowing costs and domestic […] April 23, 2025
Opinion Markets Searching for a Trump-proof gem? Head for an emerging market China, Singapore, Brazil and India could become havens for investors fleeing the trade war April 22, 2025
Energy Saudi Arabia and China to advance nuclear cooperation Barely a week after a deal on cooperation with the US, Saudi Arabia and China have agreed to work more closely on nuclear energy development, China’s state-run Global Times reported. The two countries signed a memorandum of understanding at a China-Gulf Cooperation Council forum on nuclear technology in Chengdu on Monday. The agreement comes after […] April 22, 2025
Oil & Gas Adnoc strikes another LNG deal with Chinese energy major China National Offshore Oil Corporation (Cnooc) has agreed a term deal to buy liquefied natural gas from Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc), according to two Chinese trading sources and a state media report. It is the third supply contract Adnoc has signed with Chinese buyers recently, following the deals over the weekend with ENN […] April 22, 2025
Petrochemicals China to build new industrial city in Iraq China will build an industrial city in the Karbala governorate to develop Iraq’s petrochemical sector, the official Iraq News Agency reported. Sepco Electric Power Construction Corporation, a subsidiary of state-run PowerChina, signed an agreement with Iraq’s ministry of industry and minerals to build four petrochemical plants within the Karbala Industrial City, according to Iraqi News, […] April 21, 2025
Trade Modi makes trade visit to Saudi Arabia this week Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Saudi Arabia this week to meet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom’s de facto ruler, to discuss trade, investment and energy tie-ups. The two leaders will also discuss the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor and defence cooperation during the April 22-23 visit, the Indian Express newspaper reported. Saudi Arabia is […] April 21, 2025
Oil & Gas Chinese energy companies sign LNG deals with Adnoc China’s privately controlled ENN Natural Gas and state-run Zhenhua Oil have each signed deals to buy liquefied natural gas from Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc). ENN Natural Gas said on its official WeChat account on Saturday that the deal covers annual supplies of about 1 million metric tonnes for 15 years, marking Adnoc’s largest LNG […] April 21, 2025
Banking and Finance Qatar and Russia set up $2bn investment fund The sovereign funds of Qatar and Russia have created a $2 billion joint fund to invest in technology, minerals and healthcare projects. Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) and the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) will each invest $1 billion, a statement from the RDIF said. In 2014 the two wealth funds launched a $4 billion joint […] April 18, 2025
Banking and Finance Warburg Pincus and Adia to invest $877m in Indian bank India’s IDFC First Bank will raise up to 75 billion rupees ($877 million) from affiliate companies of private equity group Warburg Pincus and the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority sovereign wealth fund, the lender said on Thursday. IDFC First Bank will issue Warburg Pincus, an existing investor, and Adia convertible shares, which, if fully converted, will give them a combined 15 percent […] April 17, 2025
Oil & Gas Turkey’s largest refiner buys Russian oil after price drop Turkey’s largest oil refiner Tupras has returned to buying Russian Urals crude cargoes, after it stopped doing so earlier this year due to stronger US sanctions on Moscow, according to three trading sources and shipping data. Tupras did not immediately reply to a Reuters request for comment. The three sources said Tupras resumed its purchases […] April 17, 2025
Renewable Energy Chinese company to build $200m wind turbine plant in Oman China’s Shanghai Electric Wind Power Group has signed a $200 million agreement to build a wind turbine factory in Oman’s central industrial city of Duqm. Duqm, which sits on international shipping routes, has attracted over $15 billion in project spending, including a 230,000 barrels per day oil refinery, a crude oil storage facility, a free […] April 15, 2025
Banking and Finance Indonesia and Qatar to set up $4bn joint fund Indonesian sovereign wealth fund Danantara Indonesia and Qatar Investment Authority will set up a joint fund worth $4 billion to invest in so-called domestic priority sectors in the southeast Asian country. These include food and energy security, downstream processing, digital infrastructure, healthcare and tourism, Indonesian state-run Antara news agency reported, quoting Danantara chief investment officer […] April 15, 2025
Renewable Energy Masdar to build floating solar plants in Indonesia Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar) is to start building floating solar power projects this year in Indonesia, southeast Asia’s largest energy market, the company said in a statement. The UAE renewables company signed two agreements with PT PLN (Persero), Indonesia’s state-owned electricity company, during a state visit by Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto to the […] April 14, 2025
Food & Drink Turkish fish processors adapt as taste for sushi grows Turkish seafood processors are expanding their product range to cash in on new tastes, eating habits and markets, adding the Japanese delicacy sushi to their offerings. Not so long ago sushi was a rarity in Turkey. It featured on the menus of a few Japanese restaurants in tourist areas catering to foreign visitors rather than […] April 11, 2025
Oil & Gas Turkey steps up oil exploration in Pakistan Energy-poor Turkey is expanding into international oil and gas exploration with a focus on Pakistan, a senior government official has said. “Turkish firms are now turning their focus to international opportunities,” Alparslan Bayraktar, the energy and natural resources minister, said in a speech in Pakistan, according to Daily Sabah newspaper. This week, state-run Turkish Petroleum […] April 10, 2025
Opinion Tourism Moscow’s metro rolls out Arabic welcome for Gulf tourists Arabic speakers visiting Russia often struggle to find locals who speak their language. Yet Moscow is eager to welcome them April 9, 2025
Oil & Gas Aramco cuts Asia oil prices to four-month low Saudi Arabia, the world’s top oil exporter, has slashed crude oil prices for Asian buyers in May to their lowest in four months. This follows a recent shock decision by the Opec+ oil group to speed up oil output hikes. State oil company Saudi Aramco cut the May official selling price (OSP) for flagship Arab […] April 7, 2025