Analysis Trade Gulf’s pivot to Asia set to keep on rolling in 2024 2023 has been the year of the comprehensive economic partnership agreement, better known as the Cepa, as the UAE seeks to increase non-oil trade to $1.1 trillion (AED4 trillion) by 2031. The Emirates has seven deals in the bag and several more in the pipeline – and like many of its Gulf neighbours, it is […] December 27, 2023
Opinion Oil & Gas Cops in Baku and Belem bode well for Global South Azerbaijan and Brazil can bring their own perspectives on climate change December 19, 2023
Trade ADQ and Azerbaijan invest in $1bn joint venture Abu Dhabi-based ADQ has announced a $1 billion joint venture with Azerbaijan’s sovereign wealth fund to invest in major sectors. The JV with Azerbaijan Investment Holding will focus on agriculture, technology, pharmaceuticals and energy infrastructure. Investments will primarily be concentrated in Azerbaijan, the UAE and Central Asia, with the potential to expand to other countries, […] December 18, 2023
Industry e& unit buys Norway’s telecoms subsidiary in Pakistan e&, formerly known as Etisalat, said its subsidiary in Pakistan will acquire a 100 percent stake in Norway telecom-owned Telenor Pakistan Private Limited. The transaction has an enterprise value of PKR108 billion ($380.95 million) on a cash-and-debt-free basis, the Abu Dhabi-listed telco said in a statement. e& holds a 23.4 percent stake in Pakistan Telecommunication […] December 15, 2023
Trade Saudi Arabia and China sign $25bn of deals Deals worth more than $25 billion have been signed at the Saudi-China Investment Conference in Beijing. More than 60 agreements and memoranda of understanding were completed at Tuesday’s meeting, the Saudi Ministry of Investment said in a statement. The deals covered sectors including energy, agriculture, tourism, mining, financial services, logistics, infrastructure, technology and healthcare. About […] December 12, 2023
Analysis Trade Saudi leaders gather in Beijing to boost $106bn trade Saudi Arabia’s investment minister Khalid Al Falih is leading a delegation in Beijing this week as the kingdom looks to tighten ties with its largest trade partner. Government and private sector leaders will participate in the China-Saudi Investment Conference on Tuesday, as part of Al Falih’s six-day visit. China-Saudi trade stood at $106 billion in […] December 11, 2023
Analysis Finance Gold to glisten despite world’s economic concerns Central bank demand helped lift gold prices to all-time highs this month and further accumulation should support the precious metal next year despite a likely slowdown in the global economy, a top industry official has told AGBI. Gold’s performance is important to the United Arab Emirates. The country is a major processor and the world’s […] December 10, 2023
Logistics Saudi port operator to develop Bangladesh terminal Saudi company Red Sea Gateway Terminal International Limited (RSGTI) has signed a 22-year concession to develop a container terminal at Bangladesh’s primary port in a deal worth $170 million. RSGTI, a subsidiary of the Sustained Infrastructure Holding Company (Sisco), signed the deal with the Chittagong Port Authority to develop Patenga Container Terminal. In a filing […] December 7, 2023
Analysis Trade UAE and Kazakhstan launch trade investment platform The UAE and Kazakhstan have announced the launch of a new investment vehicle focused on high-growth sectors. The countries are planning $1 billion in annual bilateral trade. Abu Dhabi’s ADQ and the Qazaqstan Investment Corporation (QIC), the main driver of direct investment into Kazakhstan, said the focus will be on food and agriculture, mobility, healthcare, […] December 7, 2023
Analysis Trade UAE-Russia trade grows as Putin arrives in Gulf President Vladimir Putin will be hoping to build on Russia’s $9 billion of trade with the UAE as he visits the Gulf this week. Putin arrived in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday and is also expected to travel to Saudi Arabia for talks with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Trade between Russia and the UAE increased […] December 6, 2023
Sustainability Adnoc and Santos link up to work on net zero goals Abu Dhabi oil major Adnoc and Australia’s Santos have signed an agreement to develop a joint global carbon management platform aimed at decarbonising markets in the Asia-Pacific region. The companies will also work together on carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies. In addition, Adnoc and Santos will jointly explore the development of a carbon dioxide shipping […] November 22, 2023
Manufacturing Hyundai breaks ground on $1.5bn EV plant in Korea Hyundai Motor Co on Monday broke ground on a 2 trillion won ($1.52 billion) dedicated electric vehicle (EV) plant in South Korea, as the automaker accelerate a shift to electrification. Hyundai Motor, the world’s No. 3 automaker by sales with its affiliate Kia Corp, plans to begin mass production of EVs from the plant in […] November 13, 2023
Transport Orascom wins deals as Egypt steps up transport ambitions Orascom Construction has signed new contracts to work on two major transport projects in Egypt. The National Authority for Tunnels has hired the Cairo-based builder to carry out all civil works for a package of the Greater Cairo Metro Line 4 expansion. Orascom said in a filing to Nasdaq Dubai – where its share price […] November 7, 2023
Renewable Energy Lootah Biofuels strengthens Maldives presence Dubai’s Lootah Biofuels has signed a deal with Atmosphere Hotels & Resorts to provide and supply biodiesel and deliver waste cooking oil recycling services in the Maldives. The agreement also supports the collection and recycling of used cooking oil from luxury resorts, hotels, restaurants and households to produce biodiesel. The Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation […] November 3, 2023
Oil & Gas Saudi fuel retailer to buy Shell assets in Pakistan Shell Petroleum Company, the parent company of Shell Pakistan, has signed a deal with Wafi Energy, a fuel retailer in Saudi Arabia, to sell its operations in Pakistan. Shell Petroleum said the sale is expected to complete by the fourth quarter of 2024, subject to regulatory approvals, Reuters reported. In June, Shell Petroleum said it […] November 1, 2023
Economy Pakistan central bank keeps key rate unchanged at 22% Pakistan’s central bank kept its key interest rate unchanged on Monday, as expected, and forecast inflation would ease in the months ahead after a sharp jump last month. The decision to keep its main policy rate at 22 percent comes ahead of a visit by a delegation of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Thursday […] October 31, 2023
Opinion Business of Sport Why the Gulf should bid for the 2035 Rugby World Cup For the region and for the future of the sport, a Gulf Rugby World Cup makes perfect sense October 26, 2023
Industry Work to begin in 2024 on Hyundai’s $500m Saudi car plant A joint venture between Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund and Hyundai Motor Company is expected to break ground on its first vehicle manufacturing plant next year. The sovereign fund will hold a 70 percent stake in the venture, with the South Korean car giant holding the rest. Vehicle production is due to start in 2026. The […] October 23, 2023
Trade Vietnam courts Middle East investors after US boost Vietnam is aiming to establish itself as a manufacturing hub to rival China and it is hoping improved relations with the US will be the catalyst for investment from the Middle East. The country is currently engaged in talks with the UAE about a trade agreement. During a visit to Vietnam by President Joe Biden […] October 20, 2023
Finance IMF seeks lower deficit and strong budget from Sri Lanka The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is looking for a strong budget and narrower deficit from Sri Lanka as it seeks funding to bridge the gap between government revenue and expenditure, the IMF mission chief for the country said on Friday. Sri Lanka plunged into its worst financial crisis in seven decades last year after its […] October 20, 2023
Analysis Trade GCC trade deal to help ‘level playing field’ for Pakistan The GCC has signed a preliminary free trade agreement with Pakistan as the South Asian nation looks to boost exports to ease its financial woes. The agreement was signed in Riyadh earlier this month. It aims to increase trade and investment with GCC countries by up to 50 percent by eliminating tariffs on goods and […] October 19, 2023
Finance India-GCC free trade talks ‘to start in November’ India and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) expect to begin discussing a free trade agreement as early as November after the appointment of chief negotiators from both sides, according to Indian commerce ministry officials. The plans to begin talks on an FTA were announced last November, but delayed due to the non-appointment of a chief negotiator […] October 17, 2023
