💰 Saudi cash flood into Tokyo: The sovereign wealth fund PIF plans to more than double its investments in Japan to around $27B by 2030, up from $11.5B so far. Targets include public markets, private equity, infrastructure and supply-chain access.
⛏️ Hunt for critical minerals: Japan is seeking a rare-earth alliance with Saudi Arabia to reduce dependence on China. Riyadh is touting $2.5T in mineral reserves and accelerating exploration using AI.
📈 Asia over Wall Street: PIF is raising its annual deployment target to $70B and shifting its focus further toward Asia. ETFs, bank financing and co-investments with Japan, China and Hong Kong are being systematically expanded.
🎮 Soft power included: Beyond energy and finance, Saudi Arabia is also betting on anime, gaming and entertainment. Dragon Ball theme parks in Riyadh and the Nintendo stake are part of its youth and job-creation strategy.
🤝 Japan returns as a key partner: Tokyo is already Saudi Arabia’s third-largest trading partner. Both sides are deepening supply chains, technology partnerships and industrial cooperation — from EVs to green ammonia.
Big Picture
Saudi Arabia is steadily shifting its geopolitical and economic weight toward East Asia. As relations with the West grow more complex, Japan and Asia offer capital markets, technology, industrial expertise and stable demand. For Tokyo, this means fresh foreign capital; for Riyadh, access to supply chains, critical raw materials and industrial value creation beyond oil.
The China Survival Guide for Western Businesses
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