Saudi Arabia Signs Cooperation Agreements to Develop Contracting Sector

The opening ceremony of the FPF saw the signing of several MOUs with the Saudi Contractors Authority. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The opening ceremony of the FPF saw the signing of several MOUs with the Saudi Contractors Authority. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
TT

Saudi Arabia Signs Cooperation Agreements to Develop Contracting Sector

The opening ceremony of the FPF saw the signing of several MOUs with the Saudi Contractors Authority. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The opening ceremony of the FPF saw the signing of several MOUs with the Saudi Contractors Authority. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing Majed Al-Hogail said that the Future Projects Forum (FPF) will contribute to raising the efficiency and competitiveness of contractors and enable them to keep pace with the latest technologies to implement development projects within the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.

The Forum, which kicked off in Riyadh on Monday, will also enhance communication between the local and international public and private sectors, according to the minister.

Secretary-General of the Saudi Contractors Authority Thabet Al-Sweid said the FPF, which extends over three days, would feature various projects pertaining to oil and gas and others within the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.

He added that the virtual conference is attended by more than 10,000 local and foreign contractors and stakeholders, in addition to 39 entities, including ministries and companies, such as Aramco, SABIC, the Red Sea Project and Amaala.

The director of Mega Projects at SABIC, Dhaifallah Al-Maliki, noted that the company was seeking to support contractors in raising the quality of projects in terms of safety and execution speed.

The coronavirus pandemic has had a major impact on all sectors, Maliki said, stressing that SABIC has contributed to fighting its repercussions out of its social responsibility, with a budget equivalent of 123 million riyals.

The company has also encouraged local contractors to enhance their participation in the local content and contribute to the implementation of the best standards in the economic activity.

For his part, Khaled Al-Saif, Chairman of the Saudi Contractors Authority, said that the forum aims to raise the efficiency and competitiveness of contractors, and to keep pace with the technical requirements and capabilities necessary to implement future projects within Saudi Vision 2030.

Amaala, a premium tourist project that extends along the northwest coast of the Kingdom, signed an MOU with the Saudi Contractors Authority, to cooperate in several areas, including the establishment of an electronic platform for project sharing.

The opening ceremony of the FPF saw the signing of several MOUs with the Saudi Contractors Authority, including an agreement with the Center for Legal Studies and Research to activate joint cooperation between the two sides.



MAWANI Expands Jeddah Port’s Reach with FEM1 Shipping Service

MAWANI Expands Jeddah Port’s Reach with FEM1 Shipping Service
TT

MAWANI Expands Jeddah Port’s Reach with FEM1 Shipping Service

MAWANI Expands Jeddah Port’s Reach with FEM1 Shipping Service

The Saudi Ports Authority (MAWANI), in partnership with CStar Shipping Company and United Global Logistics (UGL), has announced the addition of the new shipping service FEM1 to the Jeddah Islamic Port to enhance the movement of exports and imports in line with MAWANI’s vision of reliable, efficient, and sustainable port operations.
This expansion is part of MAWANI’s ongoing efforts to improve the maritime navigation network connectivity index with global shipping lines, according to SPA.

By enhancing port competitiveness and increasing connections to ports in the East and West, MAWANI is contributing to the National Strategy for Transport and Logistic Services that aims to solidify Saudi Arabia's position as a global logistics hub and a bridge between three continents.
The new shipping service connects Jeddah Islamic Port with key ports in China, Malaysia, and Türkiye, including Qingdao, Shanghai, Ningbo, Nansha, Kelang, and Istanbul. With a capacity of 2,758 standard containers, the addition of FEM1 further strengthens Jeddah Islamic Port's pivotal role as a gateway to Europe, Asia, and Africa. This strategic location offers a competitive advantage for exporters, importers, and shipping agents, making it the first port on the Red Sea coast for transit maritime trade as well as container and cargo transportation.