RIYADH: The Suez Canal Economic Zone has attracted $6.3 billion in new investments across 155 projects over the past 14 months, while reporting record revenues of 11.6 billion Egyptian pounds ($237 million) for the 2024-25 fiscal year — up 38 percent year on year.
At its second board meeting of the fiscal year, held in Egypt’s new administrative capital, the authority approved its final accounts, showing net profits of 8.6 billion pounds, a 51 percent increase on the previous year and nearly triple budget expectations. Expenditure stood at 2 billion pounds.
SCZONE Chairman Walid Gamal El-Din emphasized that the zone’s performance came despite a 54 percent decline in Suez Canal transit revenues caused by reduced shipping traffic in the Red Sea.
He noted that growth was supported by contracts worth $8.6 billion covering 297 industrial, service, and port projects.
During the 2024-25 fiscal year, the authority finalized 129 projects valued at $4.4 billion, generating over 31,000 direct jobs. From July through mid-September of the current fiscal year, an additional 26 industrial and logistics contracts were signed in Sokhna and Qantara West with a combined value of $1.85 billion, expected to create 21,800 jobs.
Since mid-2022, SCZONE has secured a total of 334 projects worth $10.4 billion. Of these, 323 projects are located in industrial zones, accounting for $8.9 billion in investment and nearly 100,000 planned jobs, while 11 projects in the seaports represent $1.5 billion. The investment portfolio spans sectors including solar panels, tires, garments, metals, logistics, and recycled materials.
Qantara West has emerged as a key growth hub, now hosting 40 projects worth $1.05 billion and projected to create 55,900 jobs. For the first time, projects have also been launched in Ismailia East’s Technology Valley in Sinai.
The board also endorsed five new projects totaling $155 million in investment across 441,000 sq. meters, expected to generate 5,100 jobs. Four will be located in Qantara West, including ventures from Chinese and Pakistani firms in textiles and garments, along with a facility for recycled PVC flooring and wall panels. The fifth, led by Egyptian-Turkish joint venture SIGMA EGYPT, will establish bonded container yards in Qantara West and Sokhna.
Suez Canal Economic Zone reports 38% revenue growth, secures $6.3bn in projects
https://arab.news/n7w2e
Suez Canal Economic Zone reports 38% revenue growth, secures $6.3bn in projects
Closing Bell: Saudi main index slips to close at 10,588
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All Share Index slipped on Sunday, losing 127.15 points, or 1.19 percent, to close at 10,588.83.
The total trading turnover of the benchmark index was SR2.57 billion ($685 million), as 28 of the stocks advanced and 232 retreated.
Similarly, the Kingdom’s parallel market Nomu lost 108.53 points, or 0.46 percent, to close at 23,719.13. This comes as 22 of the stocks advanced while 47 retreated.
The MSCI Tadawul Index lost 17.17 points, or 1.22 percent, to close at 1,393.34.
The best-performing stock of the day was Sport Clubs Co., whose share price surged 3.69 percent to SR9.00.
Other top performers included Flynas Co., whose share price rose 2.55 percent to SR72.30, as well as National Industrialization Co., whose share price surged 2.13 percent to SR10.09.
Consolidated Grunenfelder Saady Holding Co. recorded the most significant drop, falling 6.61 percent to SR8.90.
Sustained Infrastructure Holding Co. also saw its stock prices fall 5.75 percent to SR30.82.
CHUBB Arabia Cooperative Insurance Co. also saw its stock prices decline 5.72 percent to SR22.40.
On the announcements front, Wataniya Insurance Co. said it has received a notice of award for a one-year contract with Saudi National Bank to provide general insurance as well as protection and savings insurance services, in line with agreed terms and conditions.
According to a Tadawul statement, coverage will begin on Jan. 1, 2026. The contract value exceeds 15 percent of the company’s total revenues, based on its latest audited financial statements for 2024.
Wataniya Insurance Co. ended the session at SR14.35, up 1.92 percent.
Fawaz Abdulaziz Alhokair Co., or Cenomi Retail, has announced executing a SR1.5 billion facility agreement structured as a short-term loan with Emirates NBD – Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. A bourse filing revealed that the financing duration is three years with an option to extend for a total of two years.
Cenomi Retail ended the session at SR20.00, up 0.26 percent.
First Milling Co. has announced the Board of Directors’ recommendation to amend the firm’s bylaws Article “Company Management” to increase the number of board members from seven to eight. This change reflects the firm’s commitment to broadening the range of expertise and skills on its board, in line with its growth and expansion plans for the next phase.
The company reiterated its commitment to fulfilling all necessary procedures and obtaining approvals from the relevant authorities. The recommendation will be submitted to the upcoming General Assembly, with the date to be announced in due course.
First Milling Co. ended the session at SR49.22, down 1.06 percent.
