United States Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and top Wall Street banks have announced their intention to attend a major investment gathering in the Saudi capital of Riyadh despite a boycott protesting the fate of missing journalist Jamal Khashoggi by numerous media and technology companies.
“I am planning on going at this point. If more information comes out and changes, we can look at that, but I am planning on going,” Mnuchin said in an interview with CNBC on Friday.
Moreover, none of the top financial firms whose senior executives had previously announced their intention to take part in the conference have indicated any change in plans after being contacted by Reuters.
The Future Investment Initiative (FII), unofficially known as the “Davos of the Desert”, was intended to be a significant event for investors to promote Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s vision of reform but has been boycotted by officials…