PIF signs MoU with BlackRock to explore infrastructure investments in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East

The Public Investment Fund (“PIF”) today announced the signing of a non-binding MoU with BlackRock, the global investment company, to anchor BlackRock’s Middle East Infrastructure strategy and establish a framework to jointly explore infrastructure projects in the Middle East, with a majority of the investment activity focused on Saudi Arabia. In support of this initiative, BlackRock will look to build a dedicated infrastructure investment team in Riyadh to cover the Middle East region.

The target projects are across a range of sectors including energy, power, utilities, water, environment, transportation, telecommunications and social infrastructure, leveraging positive Saudi and regional market dynamics to deliver sustainable long-term returns. PIF and BlackRock plan to work together to attract regional and international investors to participate in investment projects, boost foreign direct investment (FDI) into Saudi Arabia, add value to the Saudi Arabian economy and the wider market while facilitating knowledge and skills transfer.

The MoU signing is aligned with PIF’s mandate to explore new investment opportunities in the MENA region, while enabling and supporting Saudi private sector participation. It further cements PIF’s partnership with BlackRock and allows both parties to explore opportunities in Saudi Arabia and across the Middle East, in line with PIF’s strategy to expand its local and regional investment portfolio.

About PIF

The Public Investment Fund (PIF) is one of the largest and most impactful sovereign wealth funds in the world. Since 2015, when the Board was reconstituted and oversight transferred to the Council of Economic and Development Affairs, the Fund’s board of directors has been chaired by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Prime Minister, Chairman of the Council of Economic and Development Affairs, and Chairman of the Public Investment Fund. PIF a leading role in advancing Saudi Arabia’s economic transformation and diversification, as well as contributing to shaping the future of the global economy. Since 2017, PIF has established 66 companies and created, directly and indirectly, more than 500,000 jobs as at the end of 2021.

PIF is building a diversified portfolio by entering into attractive and long-term investment opportunities in 13 strategic sectors in Saudi Arabia and globally. PIF’s strategy, as set out in the PIF Program 2021-2025 – one of the Vision 2030 realization programs – aims to enable many promising sectors and contribute to increasing local content by creating partnerships with the private sector, in addition to injecting at least 150 billion riyals annually into the local economy. PIF works to transfer technologies and localize knowledge to build a prosperous and sustainable economy domestically. As the investment arm Saudi Arabia, PIF looks to make unique investments, and is building strategic alliances and partnerships with prestigious international institutions and organizations, which contribute to achieving real long-term value for Saudi Arabia, in line with the objectives of Vision 2030. PIF has also created an operational governance model that reflects its main tasks and objectives, in line with best international practices. Applying this model of governance enhances the level of transparency and effectiveness in decision-making and future progress.