Hidemitsu Kibe

Jun 26, 2024 | asia.nikkei.com | Hidemitsu Kibe |Nikkei senior |Kana Watanabe

JERUSELEM -- Israel's Minister of Economy and Industry Nir Barkat told Nikkei that Qatar should "immediately" withdraw from its role as a mediator of cease-fire negotiations with Hamas. Instead, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates should take over as go-betweens, he said during the interview Wednesday in Jerusalem.

Apr 29, 2024 | weforum.org | Hidemitsu Kibe

Middle Eastern state-owned enterprises are making strategic investments in production infrastructure and IT technology, putting them ahead of Western oil conglomerates as the latter divest from fossil fuels. The Middle East capitalizes on its renewable resources to stay relevant in the global energy market, while Asia’s growth demands a rethink of energy relations and diminishing Western mediation influence.

Mar 28, 2023 | asia.nikkei.com | Hidemitsu Kibe |Nikkei senior

TOKYO -- A China-brokered deal between Saudi Arabia and Iran to restore diplomatic relations has served as a powerful reminder of the waning U.S. presence in the Middle East. But even as leaders in Riyadh and Tehran tilt toward Beijing, they are still hoping for renewed U.S. engagement.

Mar 24, 2023 | asia.nikkei.com | Hidemitsu Kibe |Nikkei senior

TOKYO -- The crisis at Credit Suisse quickly deepened after its top investor, Saudi National Bank, ruled out further assistance, showcasing the outsize influence that Middle Eastern funds wield in the global financial market. "Absolutely not," Chairman Ammar Al Khudairy said when asked on March 15 about providing more cash to the ailing Swiss bank.