Ford Motor President Cancels Visit to Saudi Investor Conference

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Ford Motor Co.F.N) President Bill Ford has canceled a multi-stop trip to the Middle East, including a planned appearance at a Saudi investment conference, the company announced on Sunday, which announced the cancellation after the Saudi journalist's disappearance Jamal Khashoggi.

The company did not explain the reasons for Ford's decision not to attend the Future Investment Initiative conference in Riyadh and did not say whether concerns about Khashoggi's disappearance were a factor.

Khashoggi, an American resident and a Washington Post columnist criticizing Riyadh's policy, disappeared on October 2 after entering Saudi Arabia's consulate in Istanbul. Turkey thinks that he was murdered and his body removed. Saudi Arabia has denied this.

The investment summit to be held in Riyadh later this month will usually attract executives from some of the world's largest companies and media organizations. But it quickly became a way for these companies to express their concerns about Khashoggi's disappearance.

US President Donald Trump has threatened to "punish severely" if it turns out that Khashoggi was killed at the consulate, although he said Washington would "punish" itself if it stopped military sales in Riyadh. nL2N1WT06B]

Major news agencies such as CNN, the Financial Times, the New York Times, CNBC and Bloomberg pulled out of the conference. The Fox Business Network, the only Western media outlet to attend the conference, told Reuters on Sunday that it was reviewing its decision.

Dara Khosrowshahi, CEO of Uber Technologies Inc., Viacom Inc. (VIAB.O) CEO Bob Bakish and billionaire Steve Case, one of the founders of AOL, said they were not leaving.

The absence of media and technology managers may cast a shadow over this three-day event entitled "Davos in the Desert". It has become the largest investor fair to promote the reform vision of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

"While it is disappointing that some stakeholders and partners have pulled out, we look forward to welcoming thousands of speakers, moderators and guests from around the world to Riyadh," said a representative of the Future Investment Initiative in the week. last.