Saudi Economy and Investment: Conversation with Fahad Alturki

Jadwa Investment’s Head of Research, Dr. Fahad M. Alturki, and Saudi-US Trade Group President Richard Wilson spoke about the Saudi economy and investment in the Kingdom as well as the planned opening of the Saudi stock market to qualified foreign investors. Dr. Fahad said that the average growth in the Saudi economy is going well, with a growth rate of around six percent per annum on average. All the economic or macro indicators like interest rate, fiscal accounts and monetary policy, point to a very strong macro picture in the Saudi economy. However, there is difficulty for SMEs to access banking credit. He considers it a positive development to open the market, and allowing foreign investors’ access to bonds and Sukuk issued by local companies in domestic currency.