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Saudi Arabia Launches Center to Steer Industrial Transformation, Expand Adoption of 4IR Technologies

Alkhorayef tours the Saudi Industrial Transformation Expo 2025. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Alkhorayef tours the Saudi Industrial Transformation Expo 2025. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia Launches Center to Steer Industrial Transformation, Expand Adoption of 4IR Technologies

Alkhorayef tours the Saudi Industrial Transformation Expo 2025. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Alkhorayef tours the Saudi Industrial Transformation Expo 2025. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources has launched the Advanced Manufacturing and Production Center, a national hub designed to lead the Kingdom’s industrial transformation agenda and accelerate the adoption of Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies.

The center will serve as the central platform overseeing smart-manufacturing programs and strengthening the global competitiveness of Saudi factories.

Speaking at the Saudi Industrial Transformation Expo 2025, Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef said the center’s “Factories of the Future” program aims to upgrade more than 4,000 factories, transforming them into smart, automated facilities that rely on advanced digital and industrial technologies.

“This transition will significantly enhance the competitiveness and efficiency of the national industrial sector,” he noted.

The center is designed to advance key objectives aligned with Saudi Vision 2030, including accelerating the shift of existing factories toward smart-manufacturing ecosystems powered by artificial intelligence, robotics, and the Internet of Things.

It will also promote the deployment of cutting-edge, sustainable technologies to boost the performance of Saudi factories, support the localization of advanced and deep manufacturing capabilities previously imported, reduce supply-chain vulnerabilities, open new export avenues, and strengthen research, development, and innovation. Developing national talent and attracting high-value industrial investment are core components of the initiative.

Alkhorayef added that the ministry aims to boost Saudi Arabia’s global industrial standing by increasing the number of Saudi factories recognized by the World Economic Forum’s Global Lighthouse Network, which showcases global leaders in 4IR adoption.

The Kingdom has set a target of 14 factories joining the network by 2030.

As part of its support for the transformation effort, the ministry has also allocated 50 additional slots under the 4IR Initiative for factories participating in the expo. The initiative includes assessments using the Smart Industry Readiness Index (SIRI), the development of digital-transformation roadmaps, and the implementation of advanced-manufacturing solutions with certified technology partners.

These initiatives come amid substantial expansion in the Saudi industrial sector. The number of industrial facilities has grown by more than 65%, while total industrial investment has surpassed SAR 1.2 trillion (USD 320 billion). In 2016, Saudi Arabia had around 7,200 factories; by 2025, the number exceeded 12,000.

This growth has translated into record non-oil industrial exports, which reached SAR 515 billion (USD 137.5 billion) in 2024 - an increase of 13% compared with the previous year.

All of these efforts fall under the National Industrial Strategy, launched in October 2022, which focuses on 12 subsectors aimed at diversifying the Kingdom’s production base. The strategy identifies 118 priority industrial product groups and outlines more than 800 investment opportunities worth SAR 1 trillion.

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Business

TotalEnergies to Honor All LNG Contracts Despite Qatar Outages

FILE PHOTO: The logo of French oil and gas company TotalEnergies is seen at a petrol station in Paris, France, March 25, 2026. REUTERS/Abdul Saboor/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: The logo of French oil and gas company TotalEnergies is seen at a petrol station in Paris, France, March 25, 2026. REUTERS/Abdul Saboor/File Photo
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TotalEnergies to Honor All LNG Contracts Despite Qatar Outages

FILE PHOTO: The logo of French oil and gas company TotalEnergies is seen at a petrol station in Paris, France, March 25, 2026. REUTERS/Abdul Saboor/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: The logo of French oil and gas company TotalEnergies is seen at a petrol station in Paris, France, March 25, 2026. REUTERS/Abdul Saboor/File Photo

TotalEnergies' CEO Patrick Pouyanne said on Thursday that the company made a decision not to declare force majeure to any of its liquefied natural gas customers, and that it would respect all the LNG contracts in terms of price and ⁠volume.

Qatar, the world's biggest ⁠LNG producer, has declared force majeure on all of its LNG output after being attacked as part of the US-Israeli war with Iran.

"We said to our customers we will ⁠not invoke force majeure and not deliver the gas... We want to be security of supply for our customers," Pouyanne said.

"Yes, we'll miss energy coming from Qatar and Abu Dhabi, but our portfolio is large enough to redirect part of it," he added, according to Reuters.

Analysts estimate TotalEnergies takes 5.2 million metric tons per annum (mtpa) from ⁠its ⁠share of the QatarEnergy LNG trains.

Sources have said Shell, the world's biggest LNG trader, had declared force majeure on cargoes it buys from QatarEnergy and sells on. Analysts estimate Shell takes 6.8 mtpa of Qatari LNG.

Pouyanne also said that the current energy crisis makes renewables more attractive as they are not subject to the volatility from geopolitical instability.

Business

India Secures 60 Days of Oil Supply amid Hormuz Disruption

Small boats sail loaded with goods in front of a container ship in the waters of the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Oman, June 25, 2025 (AFP)
Small boats sail loaded with goods in front of a container ship in the waters of the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Oman, June 25, 2025 (AFP)
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India Secures 60 Days of Oil Supply amid Hormuz Disruption

Small boats sail loaded with goods in front of a container ship in the waters of the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Oman, June 25, 2025 (AFP)
Small boats sail loaded with goods in front of a container ship in the waters of the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Oman, June 25, 2025 (AFP)

India has secured crude oil supplies for the next 60 days, ensuring stable fuel supplies in the country despite disruption in shipments from the Middle East, the oil ministry said in a statement on Thursday.

India, the world's third biggest oil consumer and importer, was buying over 40% of its oil imports from the Middle East. Those supplies are disrupted due to the US-Israeli war on Iran.

Higher availability of crude in global markets, mainly from the Western hemisphere, has helped offset the shortfall, the government said.

Taking advantage of a temporary US waiver, Indian refiners have also ramped up purchases of Russian crude, securing millions of barrels to fill the supply gap.

"Despite the situation at the Strait of Hormuz, India is today receiving more crude oil from its 41-plus suppliers across the world than what was previously arriving through the Strait," the ministry said.

As a net exporter of petroleum products, India’s domestic availability of petrol and diesel remains structurally secure, the government said.

The world's fourth-largest refiner has oil and fuel stocks sufficient to meet 60 days of demand, against a total storage capacity of 74 days, it added.

"Nearly two months of steady supply is available for every Indian citizen, regardless of what happens globally. The next two months of crude procurement have also been secured," it added.

India has asked refiners to maximize production of liquefied petroleum gas, used as cooking fuel, as the nation was buying 90% of its LPG imports from the Middle East.

Domestic daily LPG production has been increased by 40% to 50,000 metric tons against a requirement of 80,000 tons, it said.

In addition, Indian companies have secured 800,000 tons of LPG cargoes from the United States, Russia, Australia, and other countries, it said.

These shipments, arriving across India's 22 LPG import terminals, provide roughly one month of assured supply, with further procurement underway, the government said.

Business

SAMA Licenses Two Companies to Provide Open Banking Services

SAMA Licenses Two Companies to Provide Open Banking Services
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SAMA Licenses Two Companies to Provide Open Banking Services

SAMA Licenses Two Companies to Provide Open Banking Services

The Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) announced the licensing of “Altknwlwjya aljadydh llhulul albrmjyh” and “lyn tknwlwjyz Company Saudi Arabia litqniyat nuzum almaelumat” to conduct payment services by providing account information—one of the services associated with open banking.

The licenses were granted following the successful completion of the regulatory sandbox phase under SAMA’s supervision.

The decision reflects SAMA’s ongoing efforts to support and enable the financial sector, enhance the efficiency and flexibility of financial transactions, and promote innovation in financial services. This aims to advancing financial inclusion and expanding access to financial services across all segments of society.

SAMA emphasizes the importance of dealing exclusively with authorized financial institutions. To view licensed and permitted financial institutions, visit SAMA's official website.