Arab News, Tue, Mar 12, 2024 | Ramadan 2, 1445
PIF ranks 5th among sovereign wealth funds globally, nears $1tn in net assets
Saudi Arabia:
Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund has climbed to fifth in a ranking
of state-owned investment organizations, with its net assets reaching $861
billion, according to a new report.
The US-based Sovereign Wealth Fund Institute
stated that the Public Investment Fund is marching toward its end-2025 target of
$1 trillion in assets, which is intended to enhance the Kingdom’s
diversification efforts.
The significant rise in the PIF’s ranking follows
its acquisition of an additional 8 percent stake in Aramco, boosting its
shareholding’s estimated value to $328 billion.
This strategic acquisition has notably influenced
PIF’s total assets under management, which now surpass $860 billion, up from
$700 billion at the end of 2022.
Consequently, the Aramco stake currently
constitutes approximately 37 percent of PIF’s portfolio value, marking a
significant milestone in the fund’s growth trajectory and its central role in
the Kingdom’s broader economic diversification strategy.
The SWF Institute reported that the substantial
stake in Aramco is expected to generate billions in annual dividends for PIF,
reinforcing its investment capacity.
Moreover, PIF’s involvement in various
giga-projects and subsidiaries aims to catalyze Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030
ambitions.
Notable initiatives include the establishment of
Alat, a $100 billion industrial electronics firm poised to enhance the global
semiconductor supply and contribute $9.3 billion to the national gross domestic
product by 2030.
Moreover, PIF’s ventures into the automotive
sector, such as partnerships with Hyundai and investments in Lucid and Ceer
Motors, align with its objective to position Saudi Arabia as a key player in
global automotive production.