萝莉视频

Pakistan, 萝莉视频 agree to promote investments, expand cooperation in key sectors

Pakistan, 萝莉视频 agree to promote investments, expand cooperation in key sectors
Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar met 萝莉视频鈥檚 Minister of Economy and Planning, Faisal bin Fadhil Alibrahim, on the sidelines of high-level events during Pakistan鈥檚 Presidency of the UN Security Council in New York, on July 23, 2025. MoFA
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Pakistan, 萝莉视频 agree to promote investments, expand cooperation in key sectors

Pakistan, 萝莉视频 agree to promote investments, expand cooperation in key sectors
  • Pakistan's Deputy PM Ishaq Dar meets Saudi Minister of Economy and Planning, Faisal bin Fadhil Alibrahim, in New York聽
  • Both discuss expanding cooperation in food security, manufacturing and mines & minerals, says Pakistan鈥檚 FO

ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar met 萝莉视频鈥檚 Minister of Economy and Planning, Faisal bin Fadhil Alibrahim, on Wednesday to discuss promoting bilateral investments and expanding cooperation in key economic sectors, Pakistan鈥檚 foreign ministry said.聽

Pakistan and 萝莉视频 enjoy cordial relations and strong ties in defense, military, tourism and various other sectors. The two countries have eyed closer cooperation in mines and minerals, agriculture, tourism, IT and other sectors in recent years.聽

Islamabad and Riyadh last year signed 34 business-to-business deals worth $2.8 billion amid Islamabad鈥檚 increasing focus to shore up its foreign reserves and bolster its economic revival with the help of its Gulf allies.聽

Dar, who is in the United States till July 28 to lead 鈥渉igh-level signature events鈥 under Pakistan鈥檚 presidency of the UN Security Council, met Alibrahim on the sidelines of the events.聽

鈥淒iscussions focused on expanding cooperation across key sectors, including food security, manufacturing, and mines & minerals,鈥 the Pakistani foreign ministry said.聽

鈥淭hey also agreed to advance investments and technical collaboration for mutual benefit of the two nations,鈥 it added.聽

The two reaffirmed brotherly ties between Pakistan and 萝莉视频 and their shared vision for lasting peace, prosperity and regional harmony, the foreign ministry said.

Apart from being a key regional ally and close business partner, 萝莉视频 also happens to be the largest source of foreign remittances for Pakistan.聽

These remittances are a lifeline for Pakistan鈥檚 cash-strapped economy, playing a critical role in stabilizing foreign exchange reserves and supporting balance of payments.聽


China鈥檚 BYD to assemble EVs in Pakistan from 2026

China鈥檚 BYD to assemble EVs in Pakistan from 2026
Updated 7 sec ago

China鈥檚 BYD to assemble EVs in Pakistan from 2026

China鈥檚 BYD to assemble EVs in Pakistan from 2026
  • BYD, the world鈥檚 top EV maker, has been expanding rapidly outside its home market
  • Its plant in Pakistan will initially have the capacity to produce 25,000 units a year

KARACHI: Chinese electric vehicle giant BYD plans to roll out its first car assembled in Pakistan by July or August 2026 to capture growing demand for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles in the region, a company executive said on Wednesday.

BYD, the world鈥檚 top EV maker, has been expanding rapidly outside its home market, where it is in a strong price war. The Pakistan plant addresses rising demand from emerging markets and allows the company to take advantage of incentives offered by the Pakistani government.

The plant has been under construction since April near Karachi in a partnership between BYD and Mega Motor Company, a subsidiary of Pakistani utility Hub Power, Danish Khaliq, vice president of sales and strategy at BYD Pakistan, told Reuters.

A BYD ATTO 3 electric vehicle is displayed at the BYD Pakistan Metropole Experience Center, in Karachi, Pakistan, on July 23, 2025. (REUTERS)

It would initially have the capacity to produce 25,000 units a year on a double shift, he said. He did not elaborate on when the plant would achieve full capacity or say when mass production would begin there.

The plant will start by assembling imported parts, with some local production of non-electric components, Khaliq said, adding it would initially produce vehicles for the domestic market, with potential to export to right-hand drive countries in the region depending on freight costs and business economics.

鈥淲e do not foresee excess capacity in our system as demand in Pakistan will catch up,鈥 he said.

Danish Khaliq, Vice President of the BYD Pakistan Sales and Strategy, poses for a picture after an interview with Reuters in Karachi, Pakistan, on July 23, 2025. (REUTERS)

BYD started delivering imported EVs in Pakistan in March. Khaliq did not give an exact sales number but said the sales of a few hundred cars had exceeded internal targets by 30 percent.

Khaliq said he expected the market size of EVs and plug-in hybrid cars in Pakistan to grow three to four times in 2025 from around 1,000 total units in 2024. BYD is targeting a 30-35 percent share of the segment, Khaliq said.

Based on a HUBCO filing, BYD Pakistan made around 444 million rupees ($1.56 million) in profit in the 2025 March quarter.

BYD will launch its Shark 6 plug-in hybrid pickup truck in Pakistan on Friday. China鈥檚 MG already sells a PHEV SUV, while rival Haval is set to join the segment soon.

Plug-in hybrids offer a more practical option in Pakistan as the country faces a lack of charging stations for all-electric vehicles. The government slashed power tariffs for chargers by 45 percent in January to encourage EV uptake and private charging stations.

($1 = 284.0000 Pakistani rupees) 


Oil Updates 鈥 prices gain on US trade optimism, drop in crude inventories

Oil Updates 鈥 prices gain on US trade optimism, drop in crude inventories
Updated 24 July 2025

Oil Updates 鈥 prices gain on US trade optimism, drop in crude inventories

Oil Updates 鈥 prices gain on US trade optimism, drop in crude inventories

TOKYO: Oil prices rose around 1 percent on Thursday, buoyed by optimism over US trade negotiations that would ease pressure on the global economy and a sharper-than-expected decline in US crude inventories.

Brent crude futures gained 64 cents, or 0.9 percent, to $69.15 a barrel by 8:30 a.m. Saudi time. US West Texas Intermediate crude futures climbed 68 cents, or 1 percent, to $65.93 per barrel.

Both benchmarks were little changed on Wednesday as markets monitored developments in US-European Union trade talks, following President Donald Trump鈥檚 tariff deal with Japan. The agreement lowers duties on auto imports and spares Tokyo from new levies in exchange for a $550 billion package of US-bound investment and loans.

鈥淏uying was driven by optimism that progress in tariff negotiations with the US would help avoid a worst-case scenario,鈥 said Hiroyuki Kikukawa, chief strategist of Nissan Securities Investment, a unit of Nissan Securities.

鈥淪till, uncertainty over US-China trade talks and peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia is limiting further gains,鈥 he said, predicting WTI would likely remain range-bound between $60 and $70.

Two European diplomats said on Wednesday that the EU and the US are moving toward a trade deal that could include a 15 percent US baseline tariff on EU goods and possible exemptions, potentially paving the way for another major trade agreement following the Japan deal.

On the supply side, US Energy Information Administration data showed US crude inventories fell last week by 3.2 million barrels to 419 million barrels, exceeding analysts鈥 expectations in a Reuters poll for a 1.6 million-barrel draw.

Gasoline stocks also fell by 1.7 million barrels to 231.1 million barrels, nearly double the expectations for a 908,000-barrel draw. Distillate stockpiles, including diesel and heating oil, rose by 2.9 million barrels in the week to 109.9 million barrels 鈥 still near their lowest seasonal level since 1996, ANZ analysts said in a note.

鈥淭his suggests demand over the northern hemisphere summer has been relatively strong,鈥 ANZ said.

Meanwhile, geopolitical tensions remained in focus.

Russia and Ukraine held peace talks in Istanbul on Wednesday, discussing further prisoner swaps, though the two sides remain far apart on ceasefire terms and a possible meeting of their leaders.

Separately, foreign oil tankers were temporarily barred from loading at Russia鈥檚 main Black Sea ports due to new regulations, two industry sources said on Wednesday, effectively halting exports from Kazakhstan through a consortium partly owned by US energy majors.

The US energy secretary said on Tuesday that the US would consider sanctioning Russian oil to end the war in Ukraine. Meanwhile, the EU on Friday agreed its 18th sanctions package against Russia, lowering the price cap for Russian crude. 


Saudi non-oil exports climb 6% to $8.29bn: GASTAT聽

Saudi non-oil exports climb 6% to $8.29bn: GASTAT聽
Updated 24 July 2025

Saudi non-oil exports climb 6% to $8.29bn: GASTAT聽

Saudi non-oil exports climb 6% to $8.29bn: GASTAT聽

RIYADH: 萝莉视频鈥檚 non-oil exports, including re-exports, reached SR31.11 billion ($8.29 billion) in May, marking a 6 percent increase compared to the same month in 2024, official data showed. 

Preliminary figures released by the General Authority for Statistics showed that the UAE remained the top destination for the Kingdom鈥檚 non-oil products, with exports to the Emirates amounting to SR9.54 billion in May. 

India was the second-largest non-oil trade partner, importing goods worth SR2.78 billion, followed by China at SR2.03 billion, Bahrain at SR989.1 million, and Turkiye at SR924.7 million. 

The rise in non-oil exports supports the goals of Vision 2030, which aims to diversify 萝莉视频鈥檚 economy and reduce its reliance on oil revenues. 

In its latest report, GASTAT stated: 鈥淣on-oil exports in May, including re-exports, recorded an increase of 6 percent compared to May 2024, while national non-oil exports, excluding re-exports, decreased by 1.8 percent.鈥 

It added: 鈥淢oreover, the value of re-exported goods increased by 20.5 percent during the same period.鈥 

In a separate release in May, GASTAT noted that the Kingdom鈥檚 gross domestic product grew by 2.7 percent year on year in the first quarter, driven by robust non-oil activity. 

Commenting on the GDP figures at the time, Minister of Economy and Planning Faisal Al-Ibrahim 鈥 who also chairs GASTAT鈥檚 board 鈥 highlighted that the contribution of non-oil activities to the Kingdom鈥檚 economic output reached 53.2 percent, a 5.7 percent increase over previous estimates. 

He added that the country鈥檚 economic outlook remains strong, buoyed by structural reforms and high-quality, state-led projects across various sectors.

Other major destinations for 萝莉视频鈥檚 non-oil shipments in May included Egypt, which received goods worth SR585.1 million, followed by Belgium at SR756.6 million, and Kuwait at SR736.9 million. 

Exports to the US stood at SR730.3 million, while shipments to Singapore and Jordan totaled SR689.3 million and SR642.8 million, respectively. 

Departure locations

Among seaports, the King Fahad Industrial Port in Jubail handled the highest volume of outbound non-oil goods, valued at SR3.52 billion, followed closely by the Jeddah Islamic Sea Port at SR3.35 billion.

Ras Al Khair and Jubail Sea Ports facilitated non-oil exports worth SR2.37 billion and SR2.36 billion, respectively. 

On land, the Al-Batha Port processed non-oil exports worth SR2.18 billion. Al-Hadithah and Al-Wadiah ports recorded outbound shipments of SR864.4 million and SR460.2 million, respectively. 

King Abdulaziz International Airport led all air terminals, handling SR4.22 billion in non-oil exports in May 鈥 a 258 percent increase compared to the same month last year. 

Machinery and chemicals lead the way

鈥淎mong the most important non-oil exports are machinery, electrical equipment and parts, which constituted 23.7 percent of the total non-oil exports, recording a 99.8 percent increase compared to May 2024,鈥 GASTAT noted. 

Chemical products came in second, accounting for 22.8 percent of total non-oil exports and growing 0.4 percent year on year. 

The strength of 萝莉视频鈥檚 non-oil private sector was further affirmed by Riyad Bank鈥檚 Purchasing Managers鈥 Index, compiled by S&P Global, which showed that the Kingdom鈥檚 headline PMI rose to 57.2 in June, up from 55.8 in May. This reading indicates a strong improvement in business conditions, exceeding the long-run average of 56.9. 

A PMI score above 50 signals expansion, while a figure below that mark indicates contraction. 萝莉视频鈥檚 June PMI also outpaced that of its regional peers, with the UAE and Kuwait recording 53.5 and 53.1, respectively. 

Merchandise exports 

According to GASTAT, the Kingdom鈥檚 total merchandise exports in May declined 14 percent year on year to SR90.44 billion.

The drop was primarily due to a 21.8 percent fall in oil exports, which caused the share of oil in total exports to drop from 72.1 percent in May 2024 to 65.6 percent this year. 

China was the top destination for 萝莉视频鈥檚 overall merchandise exports, with shipments valued at SR12.66 billion. The UAE followed at SR10.13 billion 鈥 a 37.5 percent jump compared to the previous year 鈥 while exports to India reached SR8.07 billion. South Korea, Japan, and the US imported SR7.44 billion, SR5.99 billion, and SR3.68 billion worth of goods, respectively. 

Imports climb 

萝莉视频鈥檚 imports in May reached SR80.93 billion, up 7.8 percent year on year, GASTAT reported.

Machinery, mechanical and electrical equipment topped the import list at SR24.03 billion, followed by transport equipment at SR9.20 billion and chemical products at SR7.64 billion.

Base metal imports stood at SR7 billion, while mineral products totaled SR4.84 billion. 

By region, Asia remained the Kingdom鈥檚 largest trade partner, contributing SR47.59 billion in imports 鈥 a 17.8 percent rise from a year ago.

Imports from Europe and the Americas amounted to SR19.85 billion and SR8.83 billion, respectively. Africa supplied SR3.78 billion worth of goods, while imports from Oceania totaled SR778.8 million. 

China led all countries as the top source of imports, with SR23.36 billion worth of shipments in May, a 23.3 percent year-on-year increase. The US followed with SR6.04 billion, ahead of the UAE at SR5.07 billion, India at SR3.69 billion, and Japan at SR3.61 billion. 

Sea routes were the dominant entry channel for imports, accounting for SR47.39 billion 鈥 a 7.1 percent increase year on year. Air and land routes handled SR24.33 billion and SR9.20 billion worth of inbound goods, respectively. 

King Abdulaziz Sea Port in Dammam led all seaports with SR21.37 billion in imports, followed by Jeddah Islamic Sea Port at SR17.49 billion and Ras Tanura Port at SR1.50 billion. 

Among land entry points, Al-Batha Port managed SR3.92 billion worth of goods, while Riyadh Dry Port and King Fahad Bridge processed SR2.56 billion and SR830.5 million, respectively. 

By air, King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh received SR11.17 billion in imports. King Abdulaziz International Airport and King Fahad International Airport handled SR8.85 billion and SR4.28 billion, respectively.


Closing Bell: Saudi main index rises to close at 10,983

Closing Bell: Saudi main index rises to close at 10,983
Updated 23 July 2025

Closing Bell: Saudi main index rises to close at 10,983

Closing Bell: Saudi main index rises to close at 10,983

RIYADH: 萝莉视频鈥檚 Tadawul All Share Index rose on Wednesday, gaining 140.73 points, or 1.30 percent, to close at 10,983.93.

The total trading turnover of the benchmark index was SR5.34 billion ($1.42 billion), as 207 of the stocks advanced and 46 retreated.  

Similarly, the Kingdom鈥檚 parallel market Nomu gained 38.14 points, or 0.14 percent, to close at 26,778.15. This comes as 43 of the listed stocks advanced while 35 retreated.  

The MSCI Tadawul Index gained 21.53 points, or 1.55 percent, to close at 1,411.73.  

The best-performing stock of the day was Sport Clubs Co., whose share price surged 18.60 percent to SR11.03. 

Other top performers included Middle East Specialized Cables Co., whose share price rose 7.56 percent to SR33.56, as well as Tourism Enterprise Co., whose share price surged 5.88 percent to SR1.08.

SICO Saudi REIT Fund recorded the most significant drop, falling 5.13 percent to SR4.07.

Obeikan Glass Co. also saw its stock price fall 3.22 percent to SR38.84.

Saudi Azm for Communication and Information Technology Co. also saw its stock prices decline 3.21 percent to SR26.50.

On the announcements front, Bank Albilad has announced its interim financial results for the period ending on June 30. According to a Tadawul statement, the firm recorded a net profit of SR1.46 billion during the first six months of the year, reflecting an 11.5 percent rise compared to the same period a year earlier. This climb is primarily attributed to a 9 percent increase in net income, driven by a rise in total operating income.

Dividend income, net gain on fair value through statement of income instruments, and other operating income have decreased. Total operating expenses increased by 7 percent, primarily driven by higher general and administrative costs, salaries and employee benefits, as well as depreciation and amortization. Despite this, there was a decline in net impairment charges for expected credit losses.

Bank Albilad ended the session at SR25.78, up 3.20 percent.

The Saudi Investment Bank has also announced its interim financial results for the first half of the year.

A bourse filing revealed that the company recorded a net profit of SR 1.01 billion for the period ending June 30, up 9.3 percent year over year.

This jump is primarily linked to an increase in total operating income. The Saudi Investment Bank ended the session at SR14.05, up 1.28 percent.

Yanbu Cement Co. also announced its condensed consolidated financial results for the six-month period ending on June 30.

According to a Tadawul statement, the firm recorded a net profit of SR51.5 million during the first half of 2025, reflecting a 47.4 percent decrease compared to the same period a year earlier.

The drop in net profit for the current period compared to last year is mainly due to lower domestic sales revenues driven by a decline in average selling prices, reduced margins from export sales, higher financing costs, and increased general and administrative expenses.

Yanbu Cement Co. ended the session at SR18.32, down 0.05 percent.


萝莉视频 launches AI readiness index to accelerate government tech transformation

萝莉视频 launches AI readiness index to accelerate government tech transformation
Updated 23 July 2025

萝莉视频 launches AI readiness index to accelerate government tech transformation

萝莉视频 launches AI readiness index to accelerate government tech transformation
  • AI is projected to contribute $235.2 billion to GDP
  • More than 180 representatives participated in the first measurement cycle

RIYADH: Saudi government agencies are set to advance artificial intelligence adoption through a new index that measures readiness and supports the development of innovative, data-driven solutions across key sectors. 

The National Artificial Intelligence Index, inaugurated by the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority, is designed to assess the maturity of AI implementation across government entities. 

More than 180 representatives participated in the first measurement cycle, which also aims to provide tailored recommendations and track progress regularly, according to the Saudi Press Agency. 

The initiative supports broader government targets, including ranking among the top 15 countries globally in AI, top 10 in the Open Data Index, and top 20 in data and AI-related publications under the National Strategy for Data and Artificial Intelligence. 

AI is projected to contribute $235.2 billion, or 12.4 percent, to 萝莉视频鈥檚 gross domestic product by 2030, according to estimates by PwC. 

鈥淭he index aims to unify government efforts and national priorities in the field of AI and provide the enabling capabilities to enable government agencies to adopt and develop effective and sustainable AI products and solutions that contribute to achieving the goals of Saudi Vision 2030,鈥 SPA said. 

It added: 鈥淭he index is based on three main pillars, seven main axes, and 23 sub-fields to ensure a comprehensive measurement of government agencies鈥 AI readiness.鈥 

This forms part of SDAIA鈥檚 broader mandate as the Kingdom鈥檚 national authority for data and AI development and regulation. It is intended to strengthen institutional performance and drive public-sector innovation. 

The newly launched index also provides results reflecting the maturity of AI adoption within government agencies, along with the necessary support to enhance their capabilities and further develop innovative solutions that sustain national efforts and expand their impact in priority sectors. 

As part of its continuous efforts to improve institutional excellence, SDAIA was recently awarded two international accreditation certificates by the Global Excellence Assembly, a body that specializes in developing and evaluating institutional excellence models.

The recognition highlights SDAIA鈥檚 alignment with international best practices in the design and governance of award models, as well as the transparency and impartiality of its evaluation and selection processes.

SDAIA is also engaging the public to shape the future of digital services. The authority earlier this month launched an electronic consultation to gather public opinion on the Ehsan National Platform for Charitable Work, inviting citizens and residents to share their views on which service is most in need of improvement.