Int’l Companies Speed Opening Regional Headquarters in Riyadh

Riyadh International Industry Week (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Riyadh International Industry Week (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Int’l Companies Speed Opening Regional Headquarters in Riyadh

Riyadh International Industry Week (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Riyadh International Industry Week (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Several international companies intend to form alliances with their Saudi counterparts to expand investments and localize the production of goods for exportation. Additionally, these companies are also considering establishing regional headquarters in the Kingdom.

International companies participating in this year’s Riyadh International Industry Week have revealed their new approach to entering the Saudi market and capitalizing on the package of initiatives and programs offered by the government to facilitate foreign investments.

Jagadeesh Bhandari, the CEO of Suhail International, an Indian company specializing in plastic molds, told Asharq Al-Awsat that his company has been investing in Saudi Arabia for 26 years.

During this time, they have constructed three factories that export products to 58 countries. He also revealed a future project for establishing a headquarters in the Kingdom to serve customers closely.

David Lo, the Chief Marketing Officer of Polystar, a Taiwanese international plastic manufacturing company, emphasized to Asharq Al-Awsat the importance of having a presence in Saudi Arabia at the present time.

This is due to the expansion of investments with local partners and the existence of incentivizing measures to enter the domestic market.

Lo revealed the attainment of agreements with several Saudi investors to establish alliances and manufacture products locally for subsequent exportation.

The events of the Riyadh International Industry Week 2023 kicked off on Monday with the participation of 400 global companies from 23 countries.

Among them, China had the largest representation with approximately 204 companies, followed by India with 64 establishments, alongside 100 local companies.

The Riyadh International Industry Week features four exhibitions: Plastic and Petrochemical Industries, Printing and Packaging, Smart Logistics Services, and the Saudi Exhibition for Smart Manufacturing.

It is considered the region’s most prominent event in terms of its direction and innovative solutions that align with the future of the global industry. This aligns with the aspirations and future of the Saudi industry and aims to achieve the targets of the National Industrial Strategy.

The week includes an overview of the potentials of fair competition and the competitive environment, sustainability and export capabilities, local content, employment, training, and the challenges facing the industrial sector in the Industrial Council's tracks.

Additionally, it emphasizes the importance of energy efficiency in the industrial sector.

 



Energy Fund to Boost Saudi-US Strategic Investments

Heads of companies investing in the energy fund (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Heads of companies investing in the energy fund (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Energy Fund to Boost Saudi-US Strategic Investments

Heads of companies investing in the energy fund (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Heads of companies investing in the energy fund (Asharq Al-Awsat)

A $5 billion energy investment fund was unveiled in Riyadh on Tuesday during the Saudi-US Investment Forum, held in conjunction with US President Donald Trump’s visit to the kingdom, in a move aimed at boosting bilateral partnerships and stabilizing the global energy sector.

The White House announced in a statement that the fund was among several key initiatives agreed during Trump’s visit, calling it a “historic step” toward deepening economic cooperation between the United States and Saudi Arabia.

Scott Pruitt, who served as the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), told Asharq Al-Awsat the fund will target strategic investments in the energy sector, focusing primarily on US-based companies.

These include firms supporting existing energy hubs and those developing transitional technologies to advance the global energy future and promote efficient manufacturing.

Pruitt said the fund aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, aiming to invest in companies that can benefit from the kingdom’s business environment while also supporting energy-related infrastructure, services, and manufacturing in the US.

The fund is expected to begin deploying its $5 billion capital in 2025, he added.

Strategic Investment in Energy

Neil Bush, chairman of Skytower Investments, a green technology investment firm, said the energy fund brings together experienced partners in fund management and energy investment.

He noted that it will play a critical role in directing strategic capital toward the future of global energy and efficient production.

The fund naturally targets the development of US infrastructure, bolstering America’s leadership in global energy markets and delivering strong returns to investors, Bush said.

Launched during President Trump’s visit, this initiative sends a strong signal of renewed economic momentum between Washington and Riyadh.

Saudi businessman Abdullah Al-Meleihi, CEO of Saudi Excellence Co., described the fund as more than a capital mechanism, calling it a “bridge of trust and ambition” between the two countries.

He emphasized Trump’s role in creating a climate conducive to innovation and opportunity.

Al-Meleihi said the fund is expected to be fully established and financed in 2025, characterizing it as a model of public-private cooperation and strategic alignment between the US and Saudi Arabia.

He noted that it enjoys robust support from the private sector in both countries as well as international investors, and will focus on energy, technology, artificial intelligence in energy, and advanced industries, while also facilitating knowledge transfer to the kingdom and capital investment in the US.