{"id":102958,"date":"2025-12-02T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-12-02T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/ksa\/2025\/12\/02\/pif-to-double-japan-investments-by-2030\/"},"modified":"2025-12-02T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2025-12-02T00:00:00","slug":"pif-to-double-japan-investments-by-2030","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/ksa\/2025\/12\/02\/pif-to-double-japan-investments-by-2030\/","title":{"rendered":"PIF to double Japan investments by 2030"},"content":{"rendered":"

Good morning, wonderful people<\/strong>. Capital markets are dominating today\u2019s issue as we delve deep into TASI\u2019s decline in November and take stock of a flurry of IPO updates, from Cherry\u2019s muted first-day performance, to CGS wrapping up its main market IPO with the retail portion undersubscribed, to EFSIM setting a price range that could see it raise more than SAR 300 mn.<\/p>\n

BUT FIRST- We take a little detour to cover Moody\u2019s latest periodic review <\/strong>of Saudi\u2019s credit standing. The verdict? Real GDP growth is forecast to accelerate to 4.5% in 2026, backed by robust growth in the non-oil sector.<\/p>\n

ALSO- The finance ministry is gearing up to unveil our FY 2026 budget, likely today<\/strong>. All eyes will be on how spending and borrowing will play out amid weaker oil prices, after the pre-budget statement<\/a> saw a lowering of revenue projections and an increase in expenditures, while highlighting global risks including geopolitical tensions, protectionist trade policies, supply chain disruptions, and uncertainty over US monetary policy.<\/p>\n

HAPPENING TODAY-<\/p>\n

Black H<\/a><\/strong>at MEA<\/a><\/strong> kicks off today at the Riyadh Exhibition and Convention Center in <\/strong>Malham<\/strong>. The cybersecurity event will host over 45k visitors from 140 countries, 450 exhibitors, and 300 speakers and will feature over 500 hours of content across 12 stages, including live hacking demos, panels, workshops, and interactive sessions, with participants from Google Cloud, Cisco, Haboob, Saudi Information Technology Company, Infoblox, Microsoft, Interpol, Mastercard, and Riot Games.<\/p>\n

\n

WATCH THIS SPACE-<\/p>\n

<\/a> #1- <\/strong>PIF <\/strong>to double Japan investments by 2030: <\/strong>The Public Investment Fund (PIF) expects its total commitments in Japan to reach USD 27 bn by the end of 2030, adding to the USD 11.5 bn it has already pumped into the country since 2017, PIF Governor Yasser Al-Rumayyan said on X<\/a> at the FII Priority Asia Summit in Tokyo.<\/p>\n

Big returns: <\/strong>The fund expects investments in Japan to contribute more than USD 16 bn to Saudi\u2019s GDP, Al Rumayyan said.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve been deepening ties with Japan:<\/strong> Japanese banks plan to issue new loans to Saudi companies and develop financial products tailored to the Kingdom\u2019s capital markets, Investment Minister Khalid Al Falih said at the Saudi-Japanese Investment Forum in Osaka<\/a>. Saudi Arabia is also considering integrating Japanese firms into its special economic zones.<\/p>\n

The story also got ink from <\/strong>Bloomberg<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\n

\n

<\/a> #2- <\/strong>Russia abolishes visas for Saudis:<\/strong> Saudi Arabia and Russia signed an agreement to mutually cancel entry visa requirements for holders of ordinary and official passports, SPA<\/a> reports. The agreement permits visa-free stays of up to 90 days within a 180-day period for citizens of both countries, while excluding travel for Hajj and Umrah, which remain subject to Saudi procedures. The agreement was signed on the sidelines of the Saudi-Russian Investment and Business Forum..<\/p>\n

DATA POINT- <\/strong>Tourist flows between the two countries have surged in 2024, with 52.4k Saudis visiting Russia (a 5x increase) and more than 36k Russians visiting the Kingdom, according to Asharq Business<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n

\n

<\/a> #3- <\/strong>Saudi Arabia is reportedly steppi<\/strong>ng in as mediator between Afghanistan and Pakistan<\/strong>, hosting high-level talks between Afghanistan and Pakistan following recent border clashes along the Durand Line, CNN-News 18 reported (watch, runtime: 2:53<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Who\u2019s involved: <\/strong>A senior Afghan delegation \u2014 including Taliban member Anas Haqqani, Deputy Interior Minister Rahmatullah Najib, and Foreign Ministry spokesperson Abdul Qahar Balkhi \u2014 is in Riyadh for the discussions, while a Pakistani delegation has also arrived. In October, a similar truce was brokered by Qatar, but that truce shattered almost immediately. <\/p>\n

What we stand to gain: <\/strong>Saudi has faced rising threats from the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan militant groups, as well as and narcotics trafficking. Mediating a truce would help the Kingdom stabilize regional tensions, assert its leadership within the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and position itself as a key mediator in the Muslim world.<\/p>\n