Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Economy and Planning, Faisal Al-Ibrahim, is intensifying the Kingdom’s international engagement through a series of high-level meetings aimed at strengthening bilateral relations and boosting economic cooperation with key global partners. On the sidelines of the UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development 2025 (HLPF25), Al-Ibrahim met with ministers and officials from various countries to advance Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 goals—chief among them, economic diversification, investment attraction, and long-term sustainable growth.
In one of his key meetings, Al-Ibrahim sat down with Ethiopia’s Minister of Planning and Development, Fitsum Assefa, to explore ways to deepen economic, commercial, and investment ties between the two nations. The talks focused on mutual interests and potential areas for collaboration. “These meetings reflect our ongoing commitment to building meaningful economic partnerships that support Vision 2030,” the Ministry of Economy and Planning said in a statement. The ministry is prioritizing the development of long-term strategies, data-driven policymaking, and institutional capacity building, all aimed at ensuring a resilient and diversified national economy.
Al-Ibrahim also held a productive discussion with Hungary’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Peter Szijjarto, to strengthen trade and development ties. In a post on X, the ministry highlighted the two ministers’ shared interest in closer economic cooperation.
The Saudi minister’s agenda at HLPF25 included a wide range of bilateral engagements:
- Ireland: Al-Ibrahim met with Darragh O’Brien, Ireland’s Minister for Climate, Environment, and Energy, and Minister for Transport, to explore opportunities in economic policy coordination, trade, and sustainable investment under the Vision 2030 framework.
- Czech Republic: Talks with Petr Kulhanek, Minister for Regional Development, focused on infrastructure development, sustainable growth practices, and economic expansion opportunities.
- Panama: In a meeting with Beatriz Carles de Arango, Minister of Social Development, the two sides discussed collaboration on human capital development, social protection, and sustainable development.
- Pakistan: Al-Ibrahim met with Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, to discuss public policy coordination and efforts to enhance bilateral economic cooperation.
In the private sector sphere, the minister also met with Larry Fink, chairman and CEO of BlackRock, the world’s largest asset management firm. The two discussed ways to expand investment opportunities in the Kingdom. As Saudi Arabia positions itself as a global economic player, Al-Ibrahim’s diplomatic and economic outreach at HLPF25 underscores the Kingdom’s strategic focus on forging global partnerships and building a diversified economy that thrives beyond oil. “These dialogues help shape our path forward,” Al-Ibrahim wrote on X, “as we continue to work toward sustainable development and stronger international cooperation.”
