IMF Executive Board to meet on May 9 to review Pakistan’s loan programs

IMF Executive Board to meet on May 9 to review Pakistan’s loan programs
International Monetary Fund logo is seen outside the headquarters building during the IMF/World Bank spring meeting in Washington DC, US, on April 20, 2018. (REUTERS/File)
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Updated 29 April 2025
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IMF Executive Board to meet on May 9 to review Pakistan’s loan programs

IMF Executive Board to meet on May 9 to review Pakistan’s loan programs
  • IMF board’s approval of staff-level agreement with Pakistan will pave the way for disbursement of $1 billion
  • Islamabad also secured a new loan program with IMF in March to help build resistance against natural disasters 

KARACHI: The International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) Executive Board will meet on May 9 to review its staff-level agreement with Pakistan for an ongoing $7bn bailout program and a new climate resilience loan scheme with Islamabad, the global lender said on its website recently. 

The IMF reached a staff-level agreement with Pakistan in March on the first review of the country’s Extended Fund Facility (EFF) and a new $1.3 billion loan arrangement under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF). Pakistan secured the EFF program last year and deems it crucial to escape a prolonged economic crisis. The staff-level agreement, once approved by the IMF Executive Board, will pave the way for an immediate disbursement of about $1 billion for Pakistan.

The RSF, on the other hand, will support Pakistan’s efforts in building resilience to natural disasters, enhancing budget and investment planning to promote climate adaptation, improve the efficient and productive use of water. It will also help in strengthening Pakistan’s climate information architecture to improve the disclosure of climate risks and align energy sector reforms with mitigation targets.

“May 9, 2025, Pakistan-first review under the extended arrangement under the Extended Fund Facility, request for Modification of Performance Criteria, and request for an arrangement under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility,” the IMF wrote on its website on Friday, disclosing its Executive Board’s schedule. 

Pakistan has been prone to natural disasters and consistently ranks among the most severely affected countries in the world due to climate change effects. Unusually heavy rains and melting of glaciers in 2022 triggered flash floods across the country, killing over 1,700 people and inflicting losses over $33 billion. 

The IMF program has played a key role in stabilizing Pakistan’s battered economy, which has made some gains in recent months, most notably a reduced inflation rate. The government has said the country is on course for a long-term recovery, while Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has vowed Islamabad will continue to implement financial reforms mandated by the international lender. 

Pakistan secured the $7 billion loan program in September 2024 as it attempted to consolidate its economy since averting a default in 2023. Islamabad has since undertaken several reforms to reduce public debt, maintain low inflation, improve energy sector viability, and accelerate growth.

Pakistan hopes to achieve further economic progress by increasing its exports and attracting foreign investment from regional allies, particularly the Gulf countries. Islamabad has signed memoranda of association (MoUs) regarding trade and investment worth billions of dollars with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Azerbaijan, China and other countries in recent months. 


Closing Bell: Saudi main index closes higher, gains 76 points  

Closing Bell: Saudi main index closes higher, gains 76 points  
Updated 26 May 2025
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Closing Bell: Saudi main index closes higher, gains 76 points  

Closing Bell: Saudi main index closes higher, gains 76 points  
  • MSCI Tadawul 30 Index climbed 14.22 points, or 1.01%, to 1,416.62
  • Parallel market Nomu fell 237.23 points, or 0.88%, to 26,780.54

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All Share Index closed higher on Monday, rising 76.18 points, or 0.69 percent, to finish at 11,075.96.

The total trading value on the main market reached SR4.32 billion ($1.1 billion).  

Despite the benchmark’s gain, market breadth leaned negative, with 70 stocks advancing while 171 declined.  

The MSCI Tadawul 30 Index climbed 14.22 points, or 1.01 percent, to 1,416.62.  

The parallel market, Nomu, however, ended in the red, falling 237.23 points, or 0.88 percent, to 26,780.54, with 36 stocks advancing and 59 declining.  

ACWA Power Co. led the session’s gainers on the main index, surging 9.96 percent to close at SR276.00, supported by trading turnover of SR192.89 million.  

Astra Industrial Group advanced 4.38 percent to SR157.20, followed by Saudi Industrial Investment Group, which gained 3.64 percent to SR15.38.  

Other notable risers included Dar Alarkan Real Estate Development Co., up 3.55 percent to SR20.44, and Jamjoom Pharmaceuticals Factory Co., which closed 3.13 percent higher at SR171.40.   

On the downside, Raoom Trading Co. recorded the steepest drop, falling 4.31 percent to SR68.90.  

Jabal Omar Development Co. declined 4.14 percent to SR22.70, while The National Co. for Glass Industries ended 4.03 percent lower at SR44.10.  

SHL Finance Co. dropped 4.03 percent to SR18.56, and National Metal Manufacturing and Casting Co. slipped 3.90 percent to SR13.32.  

On the announcement front, Arabian Pipes Co. signed a contract with Saudi Aramco valued at approximately SR104 million for the manufacturing and supply of steel pipes.   

The agreement, signed on May 26, will span nine months and is expected to impact financial results in the fourth quarter of 2025 and the first quarter of 2026.   

Despite the news, shares of Arabian Pipes closed 1.03 percent lower at SR8.62.   

Meanwhile, United Carton Industries Co. is set to debut on the main market on May 27 following the completion of its SR600 million IPO.   

The final offer price was set at SR50 per share, giving the packaging firm an implied market capitalization of SR2 billion at listing. It marks the sixth listing on Tadawul so far this year. 


Saudi Arabia increases wage support to 50% for tourism sector jobs


Saudi Arabia increases wage support to 50% for tourism sector jobs

Updated 26 May 2025
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Saudi Arabia increases wage support to 50% for tourism sector jobs


Saudi Arabia increases wage support to 50% for tourism sector jobs

  • Move aims to bolster Saudization across 43 professions
  • It is designed to enhance the appeal and sustainability of careers in the sector

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has raised wage subsidies for local workers in the tourism sector from 30 percent to 50 percent, in a strategic push to expand employment opportunities for Saudi nationals and reduce reliance on foreign labor.

The initiative, part of the Employment Support Program by the Human Resources Development Fund, was unveiled by the Ministry of Tourism in coordination with other government agencies.

It extends financial support to 43 tourism-related professions and is designed to enhance the appeal and sustainability of careers in the sector.

According to the Saudi Press Agency, the program aligns with the Ahlaha initiative — the ministry’s national workforce empowerment plan — which seeks to train and integrate Saudi citizens into the tourism industry.

The updated wage support is expected to encourage more private sector involvement in national workforce development and marks a significant step toward achieving the goals outlined in the Kingdom’s National Tourism Strategy, which aims to create 1.6 million jobs by 2030 as part of the broader Vision 2030 economic diversification agenda.

“The step aims to raise the percentage of national employment in the tourism sector, while ensuring job sustainability and stability for Saudi workers,” the SPA report stated.

The decision underscores ongoing efforts by the Ministry of Tourism and its partners to empower Saudi men and women in tourism-related roles and increase Saudization rates across the industry.

Latest figures from the General Authority for Statistics show that by the fourth quarter of 2024, employment in the tourism sector grew by 4 percent year on year. Saudi nationals comprised 25 percent of the workforce — or 242,073 employees — while expatriates accounted for 75 percent, totaling 724,458 workers. The Riyadh and Makkah regions led the sector in employment numbers.

In a related move, authorities announced in April that 41 key tourism roles, including hotel managers, travel agency directors, and tour guides, will be exclusively reserved for Saudi nationals starting April 2026. The decision is part of continued efforts to localize critical job functions and strengthen the domestic workforce.


Saudi Arabia launches joint venture to produce high-voltage insulators

Saudi Arabia launches joint venture to produce high-voltage insulators
Updated 26 May 2025
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Saudi Arabia launches joint venture to produce high-voltage insulators

Saudi Arabia launches joint venture to produce high-voltage insulators
  • Consortium will establish a new facility within the Kingdom to produce the insulators
  • Deal expected to reinforce local energy supply chains, reduce operational costs, and generate employment opportunities

JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia’s power sector is set to receive a significant boost following the launch of a new joint venture aimed at localizing the production of high-voltage porcelain insulators, a key component in the Kingdom’s push to strengthen domestic manufacturing and reduce reliance on imports.

The agreement, signed under the patronage of the Ministry of Energy, brings together China’s Dalian Insulators Group, Power Union Co. — a subsidiary of Al-Ojaimi Industrial Group — and the Saudi firm Greengrid.

The consortium will establish a new facility within the Kingdom to produce high-voltage and extra-high-voltage suspension porcelain insulators used in electricity transmission and distribution networks.

The deal was formalized by Salem Mohammed Al-Ojaimi, CEO of Al-Ojaimi Industrial Group, and Chen Junrong, chairman and general manager of Dalian Insulators Group.

The initiative aligns closely with Saudi Arabia’s economic diversification plan that emphasizes local industry development, reduced import dependency, and private sector engagement. The venture is expected to reinforce local energy supply chains, reduce operational costs, and generate employment opportunities within the power sector.

In a statement on X, the Ministry of Energy said the agreement seeks to “enhance local manufacturing capabilities in the conventional power sector to achieve the goal of localizing energy sector components by 2030.”

The initiative is part of Nuwatin — Arabic for “We Localize” — a flagship program under the Energy Localization initiative, unveiled at the Energy Localization Forum in Riyadh last October. It aims to guide energy companies toward national localization targets, including expanding industrial capacity, increasing GDP contribution, boosting exports, and improving the trade balance.

Porcelain insulators are vital to the reliability and safety of high-voltage transmission lines, providing both mechanical and electrical stability. Local production is expected to enhance grid resilience, reduce long-term infrastructure costs, and accelerate the development of a self-reliant domestic energy industry.

Established in 1915, Dalian Insulators Group is a leading Chinese manufacturer of high-voltage insulators and has been publicly listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange since 2011. The company has supplied more than eight million porcelain insulators to major transmission projects globally, including China’s 1,000kV UHV AC and 800kV DC lines.

As Saudi Arabia continues its transition to a more diversified and resilient energy economy, this joint venture represents a strategic step forward in strengthening industrial cooperation and advancing energy sector localization.


Six Saudi-listed companies join FTSE Russell indices amid index review 

Six Saudi-listed companies join FTSE Russell indices amid index review 
Updated 26 May 2025
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Six Saudi-listed companies join FTSE Russell indices amid index review 

Six Saudi-listed companies join FTSE Russell indices amid index review 
  • Changes will take effect on June 23 and be reflected on the Saudi Exchange
  • All six companies recently completed initial public offerings on the Tadawul

RIYADH: Six recently listed Saudi companies are set to join FTSE Russell’s global equity benchmarks, following the index provider’s latest quarterly review.

As part of the FTSE Saudi Arabia Inclusion in the Global Equity Index Series, these changes will take effect on June 23 and be reflected on the Saudi Exchange at the close of trading on Wednesday, June 19. The adjustment is being made early due to the market closure on Friday, June 21.

The newly included companies are Al Majed Oud Co., Arabian Mills for Food Products Co., Fourth Milling Co., Nice One Beauty Digital Marketing Co., Tamkeen Human Resource Co., and United International Holding Co. All six companies recently completed initial public offerings on the Tadawul.

FTSE Russell, a subsidiary of the London Stock Exchange Group, is a globally recognized index provider. Its indices, including the FTSE Global Equity Index Series, are widely followed by institutional and passive investors. Inclusion in these benchmarks is a notable milestone for any listed company, often resulting in increased passive fund inflows, improved liquidity, greater visibility, and enhanced credibility.

According to the index update, Al Majed Oud Co. will be included in the Mid Cap segment of the FTSE Global Equity Index. The other five companies — Arabian Mills, Fourth Milling, Nice One, Tamkeen, and United International Holding — will be added to the Micro Cap segment.

This move supports Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, a national strategy aimed at diversifying the economy, liberalizing capital markets, and boosting non-oil revenues. Reforms spearheaded by Tadawul and the Capital Market Authority — including the easing of foreign ownership restrictions and the modernization of trading systems — have helped make the Kingdom’s markets more accessible to global investors.

The momentum in Saudi Arabia’s IPO market continues to grow. In 2024, the main market witnessed 14 IPOs that raised approximately $3.8 billion, while the Nomu parallel market hosted 28 listings. Currently, more than 30 companies are in the IPO pipeline, and Tadawul is expecting a record year, with over 50 applications under review.

Despite the positive signal from index inclusion, all six companies experienced declines in share price as of 14:00 Saudi time on the day of the announcement. Al Majed Oud Co. dropped by 2.09 percent, Arabian Mills for Food Products Co. declined 1.87 percent, and Fourth Milling Co. fell 1.06 percent. Nice One Beauty Digital Marketing Co. slipped 1.96 percent, Tamkeen Human Resource Co. was down 2.89 percent, and United International Holding Co. edged lower by 0.71 percent.

While short-term price fluctuations are common, research suggests that being added to major global indices tends to enhance a company's visibility and appeal to institutional investors over time. The long-term impact, however, often depends on broader market conditions, investor behavior, and post-inclusion trading patterns.


Kuwaiti lenders Warba, Gulf Bank explore merger to boost competitiveness

Kuwaiti lenders Warba, Gulf Bank explore merger to boost competitiveness
Updated 26 May 2025
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Kuwaiti lenders Warba, Gulf Bank explore merger to boost competitiveness

Kuwaiti lenders Warba, Gulf Bank explore merger to boost competitiveness
  • Move comes in light of current internal and external challenges posed by local and global economic conditions
  • Aim is to form a single banking entity compliant with Islamic Shariah principles

RIYADH: Kuwait’s Warba Bank and Gulf Bank have entered discussions to explore a potential merger as part of a strategy to enhance long-term growth and competitiveness in the local Islamic banking sector. 

The two lenders announced the move in separate disclosures to Boursa Kuwait on May 26, prompting a temporary one-hour suspension of trading in both banks’ shares in line with capital markets regulations.  

A tie-up between the two would mark one of the most significant consolidations in Kuwait’s banking industry in recent years, as lenders in the region increasingly pursue mergers to achieve scale, drive efficiency, and adapt to evolving regulatory and economic conditions.  

In a statement to Boursa Kuwait, Warba Bank said: “The potential merger provides a promising strategic opportunity for growth and expansion for the two banks, leveraging their synergies and capabilities, as well as enhancing competitiveness in the local Islamic banking sector.”  

Kuwait-listed Gulf Bank and Warba Bank have agreed to undertake a feasibility study and due diligence on a proposed merger. Wikimedia Commons

It added that the move comes in light of current internal and external challenges posed by local and global economic conditions, to maximize value for shareholders and investors. 

As part of the merger process, both institutions will undertake a preliminary feasibility study and begin due diligence to assess the integration. The aim is to form a single banking entity compliant with Islamic Shariah principles. 

The banks noted that the Central Bank of Kuwait had been informed of the discussions on May 25. 

In its own bourse filing, Gulf Bank stated that its chairman received a letter from Warba Bank — one of its major shareholders — requesting the bank to consider the feasibility of a potential merger between the two institutions to create a unified entity. 

“Hence, the proposal was discussed taking into consideration the bank’s efforts to explore new approaches and prospects to achieve growth and prosperity, which includes the analysis of all opportunities and means of collaboration that would lead to the realization of our goals in terms of sustainable growth and added value for the bank, customers, and investors alike,” the Gulf Bank stated in the statement. 

The merger talks come amid a challenging global economic landscape marked by rising trade tensions and market volatility. In April, S&P Global Ratings said that banks across the Gulf Cooperation Council remain well-positioned to weather external shocks. 

In its report titled “GCC banks can cope with the fallout from intensifying trade tensions,” the agency pointed to the region’s robust financial buffers as protection against evolving global risks. 

“GCC banks appear to be in a good position to withstand these threats,” the report stated at that time, citing “robust liquidity levels, solid profitability, and healthy capitalization” as the sector’s core strengths.  

While the direct impact of trade tensions on GCC economies is expected to remain limited due to minimal export exposure to the US, S&P warned of potential indirect effects. A prolonged downturn in oil prices, for instance, could dampen fiscal spending and sentiment. 

The ratings agency has revised its average Brent oil price assumption for 2025 to $65 per barrel.