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Saudi ‘MODON’ Chief: Work is Underway to Raise Rate of Women Investors to 20%

Saudi Arabia is working to empower women investors in the industrial sector, Asharq Al-Awsat
Saudi Arabia is working to empower women investors in the industrial sector, Asharq Al-Awsat
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Saudi ‘MODON’ Chief: Work is Underway to Raise Rate of Women Investors to 20%

Saudi Arabia is working to empower women investors in the industrial sector, Asharq Al-Awsat
Saudi Arabia is working to empower women investors in the industrial sector, Asharq Al-Awsat

Saudi Industrial Property Authority (MODON) Director-General Khalid Al-Salem has reaffirmed the Kingdom’s commitment to developing smart industrial cities that meet the needs of both national and foreign investors.

Today, the size of developed industrial lands in Saudi Arabia exceeds 198.8 million square meters. MODON has ensured that operations and management of industrial cities in the Kingdom are run according to the highest international standards.

In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Al-Salem revealed that Saudi Arabia has successfully attracted over 4,000 industrial contracts that encompass different sectors and involve more than SR367 billion ($98 billion).

He also noted that recently signed agreements helped attract Chinese quality industries to the Kingdom.

Speaking about the role played by women in developing national industries, Al-Salem acknowledged that it was vital.

He noted that the number of Saudi women working in the industrial cities overseen by MODON had increased by nearly 120% to reach 17,000 female workers by the end of Q1 2020. This is a significant hike from the 7,860-figure recorded in 2018.

Saudi women are finding more employment as private and government bodies strive to reach qualified women across the Kingdom’s economic sectors.

As for Saudi women investors in the Kingdom’s industrial sectors, Al-Salem said they represent 1% of total investors but stressed that work is underway to raise their share to 20%. He noted that this will be achieved in partnership with both the private and public sectors.

Launching the “Industry Ladies Conference 2020” represents one of the many examples of efforts spent by Saudi authorities to support the empowerment of women investors in industrial sectors, noted Al-Salem.

He revealed that MODON is looking to transform the female-focused forum to an annual event for dealing with investment opportunities in the Kingdom and addressing challenges inhibiting the role of women in the industrial sector.

Despite MODON having come a long way in its journey to increase Saudi women participation in the Kingdom’s industrial sector, Al-Salem reaffirmed that the authority is still striving toward more women empowerment.

He added that MODON has made the industrial sector more attractive to women through innovative financing products, services and solutions that suit their important role in the national economy.

Incentives for working women include the launch of industrial oases, which are characterized by the availability of nurseries, parking spaces and medical and recreational centers.

These oases host clean industries such as medical and food industries, rubber and high-tech industries, as well as prefabricated factories supporting women entrepreneurs and small and medium enterprises, noted Al-Salem.

He added that 2021 will see the launch of small, prefabricated factories to enable women’s investments in the industrial city of Dammam, a first for the Kingdom.

Coronavirus Pandemic

MODON has successfully implemented a range of initiatives that helped in easing and limiting the fallout caused by the coronavirus pandemic, affirmed Al-Salem.

The authority has cut annual rents by 25% until 2020-end and delayed the payment of other fees for 90 days for factories, he noted, asserting that these measures fall within the Saudi initiative to support the industrial sector.

This initiative includes the exemption from fees related to engineering schemes and contracts amendment until year-end. It also comprises extending the timeframe for the construction works of factories from 24 months to 36 months, in addition to extending the operation license term until end of year.

Al-Salem added that MODON has conducted 1,557 field inspections to ensure that industrial institutions in the Kingdom are following precautionary and preventative measures designed to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

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FAO Official: Gulf States Shielded Themselves from Major Shocks

David Laborde, Director of the Agrifood Economics Division at the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
David Laborde, Director of the Agrifood Economics Division at the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
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FAO Official: Gulf States Shielded Themselves from Major Shocks

David Laborde, Director of the Agrifood Economics Division at the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
David Laborde, Director of the Agrifood Economics Division at the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)

David Laborde, Director of the Agrifood Economics Division at the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), told Asharq al-Awsat that global hunger increased sharply during the coronavirus pandemic, noting that the GCC countries were able to shield themselves from major shocks affecting food security.
Laborde added that global hunger affected over 152 million people, with no improvement in the past two years.
Today, 733 million people suffer from chronic hunger, and 2.3 billion face food insecurity, according to the UN annual report on “The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World.”

Laborde explained that the global economic crisis has worsened food insecurity, keeping hunger levels high.
Alongside this, climate shocks and conflicts are major causes of hunger. He also pointed out that food insecurity is closely tied to inequality, and the economic crisis, rising living costs, and high interest rates are deepening existing inequalities both within and between countries.
On whether economic diversification in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries is boosting food security, Laborde said: “A move towards a more diversified economy and enhancing the ability to rely on various sources of food supplies are key drivers of food security resilience and stability.”
“GCC countries have managed to shield themselves from major shocks, primarily due to their high income levels and ability to cover import costs without difficulty,” he explained.
Regarding the FAO’s outlook on reducing global hunger, Laborde insisted that ending hunger will require a significant increase in funding.
When asked for suggestions on how governments could enhance food security, Laborde said: “Despite global figures remaining stable, improvements are seen in Asia and Latin America, showing that the right policies and conditions can reduce numbers.”
“Hunger is not inevitable. Investing in social safety nets to protect the poor, along with making structural changes to food systems to be more environmentally friendly, resilient, and equitable, is the right path forward,” emphasized Laborde.
The annual State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World report, published on Wednesday, said about 733 million people faced hunger in 2023 – one in 11 people globally and one in five in Africa.
Hunger and food insecurity present critical challenges affecting millions globally.
The annual report, released this year during the G20 Global Alliance for Hunger and Poverty Task Force ministerial meeting in Brazil, warns that the world is significantly lagging in achieving Sustainable Development Goal 2—ending hunger by 2030.
It highlights that global progress has regressed by 15 years, with malnutrition levels comparable to those seen in 2008-2009.
Despite some progress in areas like stunting and exclusive breastfeeding, a troubling number of people still face food insecurity and malnutrition, with global hunger levels rising.