Saudi Aramco set to spread its wings

The firm’s industrial slate will be broadened and its global reach extended when the Sabic deal is complete

Saudi Aramco's acquisition of a 70pc stake in Sabic, the kingdom's giant petrochemicals group, for $69bn has industrial logic in that it gives the upstream purchaser a massive downstream hedge against oil price volatility. But no less interesting is what Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), the seller and current holder of that 70pc share, intends to do with the money. Officially, the line is that it gives the PIF, headed by crown prince Mohammad bin Salman (MbS), funds to diversify the Saudi economy to make it less dependent on oil in line with his much-touted Vision 2030. That means two things. First, focusing domestically on sectors such as tourism, entertainment and the developme