沙特鼓勵美企投資以降低對油價依賴

Saudi Arabia has drawn up a new strategy to convince US companies to invest in the kingdom, as it struggles to deal with the impact of sharply lower oil prices.

由於油價急劇下跌的影響令其難以應對，沙特阿拉伯爲說服美國企業投資該國制定了新的戰略。

Officials have been contacting a host of US corporations as Riyadh looks to increase foreign investment in its stuttering economy and boost employment, according to people familiar with the matter.

據知情人士透露，政府官員一直在與多家美國企業接觸，原因是沙特政府正試圖爲面臨困境的經濟增加外國投資並提振就業。

“The point is to attract inflows of cash and create jobs, which is why there is a focus on retail and healthcare, which are both labour intensive sectors,” said one Saudi banker briefed on the plans.

一位獲悉相關計劃的沙特銀行家表示：“這麼做的目的在於吸引現金流入並創造就業崗位。這也是爲什麼方向集中於零售業和醫療保健，因爲這兩者都是勞動密集型產業。”

Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, Saudi’s deputy crown prince, met a number of American chief executives when he and his father, King Salman, visited the US in September. Saudi officials have also been in contact with leading private equity firms to ask whether Riyadh can do business with their portfolio companies, one financier said.

在去年9月份與父親沙特國王薩勒曼(King Salman)訪問美國期間，沙特副王儲穆罕默德•本•薩勒曼•阿勒沙特(Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud)會見了多名美國首席執行官。一位金融家表示，沙特官員也一直在和頂尖的私人股本公司接觸，詢問沙特政府是否能與它們名下的企業合作。

The investment push is part of Saudi Arabia’s drive to lessen reliance on oil prices, which have fallen from about $115 a barrel in the summer of 2014 to $36.

這一鼓勵投資的行爲，是沙特降低對油價依賴性的行動的一部分。目前，油價已從2014年夏季的大約每桶115美元，跌至每桶36美元。