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  • Jadwa Investment – December 2012 Saudi Chartbook
     

    Jadwa Investment’s Saudi Chartbook for the month of December 2012 assesses a number of key aspects of the Saudi economy including the real economy, bank lending, banking indicators, inflation, trade, oil, exchange rates, the TASI (Saudi Stock Market), sectoral performance, and more. A summary of the report is provided for your consideration below, and the […]

     
  • Jadwa Investment – November 2012 Saudi Chartbook
     

    Jadwa Investment’s Saudi Chartbook for the month of November 2012 assesses a number of key aspects of the Saudi economy including the real economy, bank lending, banking indicators, inflation, trade, oil, exchange rates, the TASI (Saudi Stock Market), sectoral performance, and third quarter earnings. To read the entire report in full as a PDF, click […]

     
  • Anne Habiby: Entrepreneurship and Job Creation in the Arab World
     

    In addition to featured speakers such as President Bill Clinton and Mr. Abdullah Alireza  the recent C3 Summit in New York City presented a number of compelling panel discussions addressing commercial and trade issues related to doing business in the MENA region. SUSTG has featured the remarks at this event of Abdullah Alireza (Global Economic […]

     
  • Saudi best in MidEast for doing business
     

    Saudi Arabia is the best country in the Middle East for doing business, according to a new study published by the World Bank. The Gulf kingdom, the world’s largest oil producer, was ranked 22nd globally in the ‘Doing Business 2013’ report, ahead of neighbour the UAE which placed 26th. Elsewhere in the GCC, Qatar came […]

     
  • The Saudi Economy: Still Shining
     

    A recently released October 2012 economic report by Jadwa Investment finds that a recent flow of data has been generally stronger than expected, and as a result of high oil production (which elevates the hydrocarbon sector growth to 6.1 percent for the year) Jadwa raises its projections for Saudi Arabia’s budget and current account surpluses. […]

     
  • Public policy considerations in Saudi Arabia’s new Arbitration Law
     

    We see plenty of coverage these days of Saudi Arabia’s growing economy; and justifiably so.  Expansionary government spending, elevated oil prices, a strong banking system, a maturing private-sector, increasing diversification, growing foreign investment and other factors contribute to an exciting period for Saudi Arabia. While elevated oil prices have fueled Saudi Arabia’s impressive recent growth, […]

     
  • High capital/solid profitability: Saudi banking system remains stable
     

    The outlook for Saudi Arabia’s banking system remains stable, says Moody’s Investors Service in a new Banking System Outlook. The key drivers of the outlook are (1) a benign operating environment; (2) low problem loan levels; (3) strong loss-absorption capacity, underpinned by high capital buffers and solid profitability; and (4) the sector’s stable, low-cost deposit […]

     
  • US Eximbank OKs record-breaking $5 bln loan for Saudi petchem complex
     

    In its largest job-supporting authorization to date, the board of the Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank) has approved a $4.975 billion direct loan to Sadara Chemical Company for the export of American goods and services required in the construction of a petrochemical complex in Jubail Industrial City II in the Kingdom of […]

     
  • Abdullah Alireza speaks at C3 Summit
     

    SUSTG attended the C3 Summit in New York City September 13-14, 2012. This was the inaugural event in what the organizers anticipate will be an annual gathering to ‘build new relationships, foster existing partnerships and exchange best practices’ between the U.S. and the Arab world. C3 (Community, Collaboration and Commerce) is looking to host the […]

     
  • Total US-Saudi Bilateral Trade Reaches Record-High $39 Billion in H1 2012
     

    Total bi-lateral trade between Saudi Arabia and the United States reached $39 billion in the first six months of 2012, a record high for any half to date.  Below are some key US-Saudi trade figures for the first half (H1) of 2012 provided to SUSTG by the Saudi Commercial Office at the Royal Embassy of […]

     

MUST-READS

  • Saudi Central Bank extends guaranteed financing program for small businesses

    The program is part of the Saudi initiative Kafalah (which means “guarantee” in Arabic) to help small and mid-sized businesses get loans from banks. The reasoning was that smaller enterprises may have difficulties providing sufficient guarantees for repayment to financial institutions. The program guarantees a portion of the funds banks grant to businesses. Kafalah is a partnership between the Saudi Ministry of Finance and private banks, according to the Riyadh-based Al Rajhi Bank.

  • Iran in talks with the Taliban to resume ambitious rail project

    Iran is holding talks with the Taliban to resume construction of an ambitious rail project that ultimately aims to connect at least five Central Asian countries, according to an Iranian official. Iran is ready to make further investments and both sides are willing to finish construction on a rail line connecting Khaf in northeastern Iran with Herat in northwestern Afghanistan, according to Iranian transit official Abbas Khatibi.

  • What does a US ban on Russian oil accomplish?

    Last year, roughly 8% of U.S. imports of oil and petroleum products came from Russia. Together, the imports totaled the equivalent of 245 million barrels in 2021, which was roughly 672,000 barrels of oil and petroleum products a day. But imports of Russian oil have been declining rapidly as buyers shunned the fuel.

  • U.S. calls on Saudi Arabia to lift travel bans on released women activists

    The United States urged its ally Saudi Arabia on Tuesday to lift travel bans and other restrictions imposed on previously released women's rights activists. Michele Taylor, U.S. ambassador to the U.N. Human Rights Council, also called on the kingdom to resolve cases of 'prisoners of conscience' - a term commonly referring to political prisoners.

  • U.S. may act alone to ban Russian oil imports, sources say

    The United States is willing to move ahead with a ban on Russian oil imports without the participation of allies in Europe, two people familiar with the matter told Reuters, in light of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. President Joe Biden held a video conference call with the leaders of France, Germany and the United Kingdom on Monday as his administration continues to seek their support for a ban on Russian oil imports.

  • Western Union partners with Banque Saudi Fransi for digital money transfers

    Western Union, a global leader in cross-border, cross-currency money movement and payments, has collaborated with Banque Saudi Fransi, one of the leading banks in Saudi Arabia, to enable its customers in the country to make cross-border money transfers via the BSF Internet banking platform (www.fransiplus.com). BSF customers can now connect to their loved ones around the world, sending money for payout into billions of bank accounts and millions of wallets and cards in more than 125 countries and territories, or to more than 550,000 agent locations across more than 200 countries and territories, anytime.

  • Saudi Arabia, France agree to set up joint working mechanism to support Lebanese people

    The two agreed on financing several humanitarian projects in Lebanon, which includes offering direct support to hospitals and first health care centres. The support will be in the form of several charitable and humanitarian projects concerned with providing direct support to a number of hospitals and primary health care centres in Lebanon.

  • Lebanese authorities say they have foiled 3 militant attacks

    Bassam Mawlawi said the would-be attackers, two of whom were detained earlier this month, are all Palestinians who had been recruiting young men to carry out suicide attacks with explosive belts in the predominantly Shiite southern suburbs of Beirut — a stronghold of the militant Hezbollah group.

  • The Russia-Ukraine conflict is set to hit Lebanon’s food supply

    “Wheat would be the food commodity most impacted as Russia is the world’s largest exporter of wheat, and Ukraine is also a major exporter,” said Steve Taravella, a senior spokesperson for the UN World Food Programme. Combined, the two countries are responsible for 29% of the global wheat trade.

  • Saudi Arabia Eyes Bold Global Acquisitions for $82 Billion Bank

    The oil-rich country wants Saudi National Bank, the lender with a market value of $82 billion created through a merger more than a year ago, to boost its presence outside the kingdom, according to the people. The bank has been studying potential purchases of financial institutions in Europe and Asia, the people said, asking not to be identified because the information is private.