688 Trucks Loaded With Syrian Goods Enter Saudi Market

A woman shops for snacks at a supermarket in the capital Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Oct. 18, 2020. (AFP Photo)
A woman shops for snacks at a supermarket in the capital Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Oct. 18, 2020. (AFP Photo)
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688 Trucks Loaded With Syrian Goods Enter Saudi Market

A woman shops for snacks at a supermarket in the capital Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Oct. 18, 2020. (AFP Photo)
A woman shops for snacks at a supermarket in the capital Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Oct. 18, 2020. (AFP Photo)

The Saudi General Authority of Customs confirmed the smooth flow of Syrian exports through Saudi ports to the local markets, indicating that trucks coming from Syria have entered according to the approved regulations and in line with the customs procedures.

In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, the Customs Authority said that Al Haditha crossing, which is located on the northern borders of the Kingdom, saw the passage of more than 688 trucks from August 2016 until the end of last October, loaded with goods from Syria, while more than 799 trucks left Saudi territory during the same period.

There is no specific mechanism or procedure for Syrian trucks, Customs officials said. The same procedures and regulations are applied for all exporting countries.

Asked whether there was a list of specific Syrian goods allowed to enter the Saudi territory, the officials said: “There are no specific goods; but only items and goods that are permitted to enter according to the approved regulations in the Kingdom.”

Meanwhile, sources in the Saudi retail markets told to Asharq Al-Awsat that Syrian products were always available, “and they include various types of vegetables, fruits, and other products and commodities that are sold in many Saudi cities.”



Riyadh Hosts Saudi-Egyptian Industrial Forum

Officials are seen at the forum on Monday. (SPA)
Officials are seen at the forum on Monday. (SPA)
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Riyadh Hosts Saudi-Egyptian Industrial Forum

Officials are seen at the forum on Monday. (SPA)
Officials are seen at the forum on Monday. (SPA)

The Saudi-Egyptian Industrial Forum kicked off in Riyadh on Monday under the patronage of Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef. The forum aims to bolster strategic industrial cooperation and integration between the two countries.

Organized by the Federation of Saudi Chambers of Commerce in collaboration with the Federation of Egyptian Industries, the forum witnessed the participation of Deputy Minister for Industrial Affairs Eng. Khalil bin Salamah, Saudi Export Development Authority CEO Abdulrahman Althukair, and 300 prominent Saudi and Egyptian industry leaders and investors.

Bin Salamah underscored the significance of strengthening economic cooperation and industrial integration between Saudi Arabia and Egypt. He advocated for enhanced industrial partnerships within five priority sectors identified in the Kingdom's National Industrial Strategy: pharmaceuticals, automotive, building materials, textiles, and food industries.

He highlighted the evolving strategic integration between the two countries across initiatives like "Saudi Made,Future Factories," and "Made in Egypt," as well as in the broader goods and services sector. Bin Salamah urged Egyptian industrialists to capitalize on the industrial investment opportunities available in the Kingdom, citing its ambitious plans to establish 24,000 new factories over the next decade.

Federation of Saudi Chambers of Commerce Chairman Hassan Alhwaizy hailed the forum as a crucial milestone in Saudi-Egyptian industrial collaboration, emphasizing the strategic partnership underpinning their economic relations, particularly in the industrial sector.

Federation of Egyptian Industries Chairman Mohamed El-Sewedy stated that current global challenges are accelerating the need for industrial integration between the two countries, strengthening their partnership to tap into the African market's potential.

Saudi-Egyptian Business Council Chairman Bandar Al-Ameri highlighted the substantial growth in trade exchange between Saudi Arabia and Egypt in recent years, fueled by developing economic partnerships between their respective business communities. He emphasized that signing the agreement to protect and encourage mutual investments represents a strategic achievement serving their shared interests.