Saudi Investment Minister Khaled Al-Falih praised the kingdom's economy, saying that the kingdom will enjoy very high rates of foreign investment in 2021 and the coming years.
In an interview with Al-Arabiya, he added that despite the Corona pandemic and its repercussions on world economies, the Kingdom was able to raise the level of foreign direct investment by 20% in 2020 and 13% in the quarter. The first of this year.
He continued, "We are still in the preparation stage, and the process of attracting foreign investment has not taken off completely, but the Kingdom has a powerful internal investment machine, such as the Public Investment Fund, which launched major projects and several Companies that will be the nucleus of different sectoral groupings.
He explained on the sidelines of his official visit to the United Kingdom, which concluded the day before yesterday, Saudi Arabia's intention to double investments in health care with the United Kingdom.
He pointed out that the most prominent partnerships between the two countries are in the health care sector, stressing that Saudi Arabia intends to expand clinical trials of new medicines, in cooperation with Britain.
Al-Falih added to the importance of strengthening relations between the two countries in the financial sector, explaining that Riyadh aims to reach neighboring markets to become a global financial center.
He revealed that he had held meetings with British banks and government agencies to convey their financial experience.
The visit of the Saudi Minister of Investment comes as an extension of a number of official visits by Saudi officials to the United Kingdom, aimed at informing the British side about the economic, legislative and procedural reforms brought about by the Kingdom's Vision 2030 In the investment environment, and its role in attracting more qualitative investments in various sectors, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
During the visit, they reviewed the progress witnessed by the business environment in the Kingdom, which enhanced the Kingdom's competitiveness regionally and globally, in addition to reviewing the available investment opportunities.
Al-Falih also discussed, with the British side, a number of initiatives aimed at strengthening the investment partnership, within the strategic partnership council between the two countries, which aims to increase the volume of mutual investments and encourage investments. The list, which is being worked on, in addition to discussing ways to support British companies wishing to open regional headquarters in the Kingdom.
The British side was briefed on the size of the qualitative investment opportunities currently available in the Kingdom, provided by the projects and programs of the Kingdom's Vision 2030.
