International investors keen on entering Saudi market, says minister

Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef said the increase in interest from global investors is the result of the Kingdom’s efforts to create new opportunities in different sectors. (Shutterstock)
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Updated 21 May 2023
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International investors keen on entering Saudi market, says minister

RIYADH: As the Kingdom’s economy is performing exceptionally well, Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef, said foreign investors are keen on entering the Saudi market.

He was speaking at a meeting with members of the National Industrial Committee at the ministry’s headquarters in Riyadh on Sunday. 

“There is a great interest from foreign investors to enter the Saudi market, which was clearly felt during the World Economic Forum in Davos 2023,” Alkhorayef said. 

The minister said the increase in interest from global investors is the result of the Kingdom’s efforts to create new opportunities in different sectors and ensure a “transparent and fair” environment conducive to business.

During the meeting, the minister tapped on several topics including the performance of the industrial committee as well as the coordination between the ministry and the relevant authorities. 

The meeting also addressed issues related to the cost of government fees on the industrial sector and strategies related to industrial cities. 

The minister highlighted some of the key achievements of the National Industrial Committee, the most prominent of which is the abolition of export restrictions on some products. 

The committee also reviewed the challenges faced by the industrial sector including those revolving around zakat regulations and land issues such as the condition of factories outside the areas designated for industrial use as well as industrial land ownership. 

Participants of the meeting also discussed ways to facilitate investors to establish and operate factories within cities. 

The committee aims to set up frameworks and mechanisms to tackle challenges faced by the industrial sector. 

It also seeks to enable cooperation between the government and private sectors to exploit opportunities that will enhance the pace of industrial development.    

The committee aims to contribute to the development of the regulatory and economic environment of the industrial sector and increase industrial and ethical environmental awareness. 


European gas prices soar almost 50% as Iran conflict halts Qatar LNG output

Updated 02 March 2026
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European gas prices soar almost 50% as Iran conflict halts Qatar LNG output

  • Analysts warn prolonged disruption could push prices higher
  • Some shipments of oil, LNG through Strait of Hormuz suspended
  • Benchmark Asian LNG price up almost 39 percent

LONDON: ​Benchmark Dutch and British wholesale gas prices soared by almost 50 percent on Monday, after major liquefied natural gas exporter Qatar Energy said it had halted production due to attacks in the Middle East.

Qatar, soon to cement its role as the world’s second largest LNG exporter after the US, plays a major role in balancing both Asian and European markets’ demand of LNG.

Most tanker owners, oil majors and ‌trading houses ‌have suspended crude oil, fuel and liquefied natural ​gas shipments ‌via ⁠the ​Strait of ⁠Hormuz, trade sources said, after Tehran warned ships against moving through the waterway.

Europe has increased imports of LNG over the past few years as it seeks to phase out Russian gas following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Around 20 percent of the world’s LNG transits through the Strait of Hormuz and a prolonged suspension or full closure would increase global competition for other ⁠sources of the gas, driving up prices internationally.

“Disruptions to ‌LNG flows would reignite competition between ‌Asia and Europe for available cargoes,” said ​Massimo Di Odoardo, vice president, gas ‌and LNG research at Wood Mackenzie.

The Dutch front-month contract at the ‌TTF hub, seen as a benchmark price for Europe, was up €14.56 at €46.52 per megawatt hour, or around $15.92/mmBtu, by 12:55 p.m. GMT, ICE data showed.

Prices were already some 25 percent higher earlier in the day but extended gains ‌after QatarEnergy’s production halt.

Benchmark Asian LNG prices jumped almost 39 percent on Monday morning with the S&P Global ⁠Energy Japan-Korea-Marker, widely used ⁠as an Asian LNG benchmark, at $15.068 per million British thermal units, Platts data showed.

“If LNG/gas markets start to price in an extended period of losses to Qatari LNG supply, TTF could potentially spike to 80-100 euros/MWh ($28-35/mmBtu),” Warren Patterson, head of commodities strategy at ING, said. The British April contract was up 40.83 pence at 119.40 pence per therm, ICE data showed.

Europe is also relying on LNG imports to help fill its gas storage sites which have been depleted over the winter and are currently around 30 percent full, the latest data from Gas Infrastructure ​Europe showed. In the European carbon ​market, the benchmark contract was down €1.10 at €69.17 a tonne