Saudi debt issuances hit SAR 100 bln YTD; green financing targeted as main channel: AlMedaini

Hani AlMedaini, acting CEO of the National Debt Management Center

Saudi Arabia's borrowing plan is estimated at nearly SAR 124 billion in 2021, of which more than SAR 100 billion was issued until August, Hani AlMedaini, acting CEO of the National Debt Management Center (NDMC), told Argaam in an exclusive.

He expects the borrowing process to take place in the fourth quarter of 2021, noting that the Kingdom targeted dollar- and euro-denominated bond markets with negative returns this year, in addition to the local market.

The country is expected to focus on SAR-denominated issuances in Q4 2021, the top official said.

"However, this does not preclude that the Kingdom would consider the dollar-denominated sukuk market as well."

Speaking on the green sukuk, AlMedaini said banks have been appointed recently to help restructure sustainable issuances to be part of the financing channels.

The Kingdom's strategic goal is to make sustainable and green issuances key financing channels in the near term, he concluded.