Saudi wealth fund aims to double size to $400 billion by 2020

Saudi Arabia's main sovereign wealth fund wants to increase its financial clout to 1.5 trillion riyals ($400 billion) by 2020 as part of the kingdom's efforts to boost private sector growth and wean itself off oil export dependence.

The assets-under-management goal, laid out by the Public Investment Fund (PIF) on Wednesday, came on the second day of an international conference in Riyadh. It was accompanied by publication of PIF's first comprehensive business programme, outlining targets for investments and returns for 2018-2020.

PIF, which is expected to receive proceeds from the planned sale of five per cent of state oil company Saudi Aramco's shares, has currently around $230 billion worth of assets under management. It plans to create 20,000 direct domestic jobs and 256,000 construction jobs by 2020. This will increase PIF's contribution to Saudi Arabia's gross domestic product from 4.4 per cent to 6.3 per cent, it said in a statement on Wednesday.

Investments will be in sectors such as real estate and infrastructure as well as in new areas of activity in the Saudi economy through the establishment of companies such as the Saudi Arabian Military Industries company and the Saudi Real Estate Refinancing Company.

One of the biggest tasks facing PIF will be the delivery of a $500 billion plan to build a business and industrial zone extending into Jordan and Egypt, announced at the start of the conference on Tuesday.

PIF also set a new target to increase total shareholder return to four to five per cent between now and 2020 from three per cent, it said on Wednesday.

"The PIF Programme represents a vital milestone as we work towards realising Vision 2030," Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, the economic reform plan's architect, said in a statement.

The 96-page programme said PIF will structure its investments in six areas: Saudi equity holdings, sector development, real estate and infrastructure, mega projects, international strategic investments and a "diversified pool" across global asset classes.

PIF managing director Yasir Al Rumayyan said the fund was open to investing in more big ticket items such as Uber. - Reuters

Source: Khaleej Times