RIYDAH: Investors need to be braver and exploit Saudi Arabia’s position as a hub linking Europe and Asia, insists the head of private equity firm Eurazeo. Speaking to Arab News on the sidelines of the Future Investment Initiative in Riyadh, Christophe Baviere, chairman and CEO of the France-based firm, talked up the potential of the Kingdom to deliver returns to those with the vision to invest in the region. The firm has maintained a presence in Saudi Arabia for 10 years, with Baviere attending all eight FII forums to date. The three-day conference welcomed over 7,000 attendees, and saw leading figures from the worlds of business, economics, and politics debating issues such as artificial intelligence and sustainability. Reflecting on the advantages the Kingdom and the Middle East, Baviere said: “First and foremost, Saudi Arabia is a very promising local market, with a young, educated population that is digital by nature. The region has the potential to act as a hub for the whole region, linking Asia and Africa. Right now, we really need to think in terms of hubs. “We often have to deal with the fact that investors are still a little timid in their investments. Most people keep most of their savings in areas of the world that are already very well defined, such as the United States and the United Kingdom. The main challenge is to teach people to open up the geographical areas in which they can invest.” Eurazeo finances medium-sized companies, helping them raise their international profile, particularly by forming partnerships in the region. “The difficulty often lies in explaining to our investors that they need to invest not just in Europe, but also in Saudi Arabia, Africa and Asia,” said Baviere, adding: “When we look internationally, we look at sectors that we know well, in particular the financial, medical, energy transition, digital transition and technological innovation sectors. We are active in sectors where our expertise is already long-established and recognized in Europe, and these are sectors in which Saudi Arabia has great potential.”