Middle-east Arab News Opinion | Asharq Al-awsat

Health, Banks Sectors in Saudi Arabia Attract Foreign Investors | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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A man views the under-construction King Abdullah Financial District in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia May 12, 2016. REUTERS/Faisal Al Nasser


Cairo- At the 6th EFG Hermes London MENA & Frontier Conference, Arab and foreign investors as well as investment funds have expressed their interest in entering the Saudi market given its promising future and investment opportunities in the majority of economic sectors in the country.

The four-day conference was launched on Monday, witnessing the participation of 270 international investors from 155 pioneering financial institutions of aggregate assets exceeding USD8 trillion. Its purpose was to showcase and evaluate attractive investment opportunities in the Middle East markets.

The 6th EFG Hermes London MENA & Frontier Conference coincided with the emerging markets stake of international investment flows reaching the highest level since mid-August 2015. This actually represents a clear transformation from the recession of emerging markets end of 2015 and beginning of 2016.

Ahmad Chamseddine, head of research department at EFG Hermes, told Asharq Al-Awsat that “there is an anticipation and interest shown by foreign investors and investment funds to take part in the Saudi market especially after the Kingdom has facilitated related procedures and reduced the required capital to USD1 billion.”

Chamseddine added that Saudi Arabia is expected to receive a huge liquidity during the upcoming period after it gets listed on the emerging market index, which will qualify it to attract a liquidity that ranges between USD6 to 8 billion during a minimum of two years. This step is expected to be made at the beginning of 2018.

“The health and banks’ sectors in Saudi Arabia are among the bulk sectors of which foreign investors have shown interest to get involved in,” he told Asharq Al-Awsat.