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GASTAT: Saudi Industrial Production Index Rose 1.6% in July

The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) data
The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) data
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GASTAT: Saudi Industrial Production Index Rose 1.6% in July

The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) data
The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) data

The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) in Saudi Arabia said on Tuesday that Industrial Production Index (IPI) rose by 1.6% in July this year compared to the same month in 2023.

The growth was attributed to heightened activity in the manufacturing industry, electricity, gas, steam, and air conditioning supply activities, as well as water supply, sewerage, waste management, and remediation activities, GASTAT said in a bulletin on the results of IPI for July 2024.

The report also highlighted a 4.6% increase in the sub-index for manufacturing activity compared to July 2023. Conversely, the sub-index for mining and quarrying activities decreased by 0.8% in July 2024.

The sub-index for electricity, gas, steam, and air conditioning supply activity showed a notable 8.2% increase, while the sub-index for water supply, sewerage, waste management, and remediation activities saw a growth of 1.1% over July 2023.

Data revealed a 1.1% decrease in the index for oil activities in July 2024, along with an 8.2% increase in non-oil activities, compared to the same period the previous year.
IPI is an economic indicator that tracks the development and relative changes in the volume of industrial production quantities. This data is derived from the Industrial Production Survey, conducted among a sample of industrial establishments involved in mining, manufacturing, electricity and gas supply, water supply, sanitation, waste management, and remediation activities.

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Global AI Summit Brings Together Experts, Decision-Makers in Riyadh

A Saudi woman tries out one of the new technologies at the Global AI Summit in 2022. (SPA)
A Saudi woman tries out one of the new technologies at the Global AI Summit in 2022. (SPA)
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Global AI Summit Brings Together Experts, Decision-Makers in Riyadh

A Saudi woman tries out one of the new technologies at the Global AI Summit in 2022. (SPA)
A Saudi woman tries out one of the new technologies at the Global AI Summit in 2022. (SPA)

The Global AI (GAIN) Summit will kick off in Riyadh on Tuesday under the patronage of Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince, Prime Minister and Chairman of the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA).

The summit, organized by SDAIA, will feature 456 speakers from 100 countries and is expected to draw 32,000 attendees. Experts said the event will focus on the regulation and ethics of AI, with hopes of advancing “responsible AI.”

Mark Minevich, an American expert and advisor on AI Policy at the International Research Center for AI, told Asharq Al-Awsat that GAIN will be a key event for launching AI-driven solutions and supporting economic and sustainable development.

Minevich, who has authored “Our Planet Powered by AI,” said the third edition of the summit is crucial as it will gather AI leaders to discuss important topics. He praised Saudi Arabia’s focus on “AI for Humanity” and its advancements in multi-modal AI, AI-supported healthcare, and smart city projects like NEOM.

At the summit, Minevich will stress the importance of AI governance, innovation, and strategic deployment. He noted that the event provides a global platform to explore how institutions can use AI responsibly while adhering to ethical and regulatory standards.

He also highlighted that Saudi Arabia’s efforts in AI, including its focus on AI talent and open-source tools, are positioning it as a leader in the field. These initiatives are expected to attract new investments and partnerships, contributing to the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 goals.

He noted that Saudi Arabia’s use of AI in energy and sustainability are making it a key hub for foreign investment. He expects the summit to boost efforts in economic diversification.

He also predicted that AI will create high-skill jobs and advance sectors like healthcare and finance. These initiatives, aligned with Vision 2030, will improve Saudi Arabia’s global competitiveness and drive innovation in AI industries.

Sheikh Abdullah Zaid Al-Meleihi, chairman of Al-Ramez International Group and CEO of its subsidiary, Saudi Excellence Co., told Asharq Al-Awsat that the GAIN Summit will set up a global platform to show Saudi Arabia’s commitment to using AI for economic diversification and tech leadership.

He viewed the summit as a major step in Saudi Arabia’s goal to lead in AI. The event will highlight the Kingdom’s progress in AI infrastructure, innovation, and its digital ecosystem aligned with Vision 2030.

Key topics will include AI integration in projects like NEOM, improvements in data infrastructure, and AI advancements in healthcare, energy, and urban development.

Al-Meleihi noted that a key challenge is meeting the demand for scalable infrastructure while ensuring energy efficiency. He expected the summit to create partnerships that drive innovation in various sectors and support Vision 2030 goals by promoting economic diversification and technological leadership.