Saudi Aramco Expands its Industrial Investment Program

Saudi Aramco expands its industrial investment program (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Aramco expands its industrial investment program (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Aramco Expands its Industrial Investment Program

Saudi Aramco expands its industrial investment program (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Aramco expands its industrial investment program (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Aramco has announced a significant expansion of its industrial investment program, Aramco Namaat, with the signing of 22 new Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and one joint venture (JV) agreement valued at $24 billion.

The new agreements focus on capacity building in four key sectors: sustainability, technology, industrial and energy services, and advanced materials.

Namaat program aims to tap into the vast opportunities available in Saudi Arabia to create new value and drive economic expansion and diversification.

Aramco Chairman Yasir al-Rumayyan said that Aramco continues to be at the forefront of enabling and enhancing the Kingdom’s industrial, technology and sustainability infrastructure through large-scale investments and key partnerships, such as IKTVA and, by extension, Namaat.

“Such initiatives help further drive economic growth and diversification, ensure greater reliability of energy supply, effectively localize the industrial supply chain, and create better jobs and skillsets.”

Aramco President and CEO Amin Nasser indicated that Namaat offers its partners significant opportunities to participate in Aramco’s long-term growth strategy and play a vital role in the Kingdom’s expanding energy and chemicals supply chain.

The benefits for everyone involved are multiple, and Aramco continues to be a catalyst at the heart of the Kingdom’s transformation, harnessing its expertise and resources to champion new markets and growth sectors, said Nasser.

“We believe these exciting target sectors offer significant opportunities for all the current and prospective parties involved.”

Aramco Senior VP of Technical Services, Ahmed al-Saadi, explained that the partnerships illustrate Saudi Arabia’s significant appeal to international companies and pave the way for innovations in materials, processes, and solutions.

The 22 new MoUs signed under the Namaat program include one with SOLVAY to develop advanced non-metallic materials and localization of a composite value chain.

Another MoU was signed with DHL Supply Chain to evaluate establishing a local industrial logistics and procurement hub serving Saudi Arabia and the MENA region. One with VEOLIA to confirm the commercial feasibility of establishing a world-class integrated waste management company alongside a strategic IK stakeholder.

Public Investment Fund (PIF) signed three separate non-binding MoUs with Air Liquide, Haliburton, Baker Hughes, Linde & Schlumberger to evaluate Carbon Capture and Sequestration (CCS) opportunities and potential partnerships.

Samsung Engineering, Hyundai, and Saipem also signed three separate MoUs on engineering, procurement, and construction.

Aramco also signed an agreement with Honeywell to establish a JV that will develop and implement next-generation digital solutions to improve efficiency, sustainability and enable operational excellence of industrial facilities.

The MoUs also included a trilateral agreement with Shell AMG Recycling & United Company on metals reclamation and catalyst manufacturing.



Coordination Committee Seeks to Promote Bahraini-Saudi Tourism Exhibitions

Sara Ahmed Buhijji, CEO of Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority 
Sara Ahmed Buhijji, CEO of Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority 
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Coordination Committee Seeks to Promote Bahraini-Saudi Tourism Exhibitions

Sara Ahmed Buhijji, CEO of Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority 
Sara Ahmed Buhijji, CEO of Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority 

Sara Ahmed Buhijji, CEO of Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority, revealed the formation of a committee dedicated to coordinating exhibitions, conferences, and tourism events between Manama and Riyadh, with the aim to maximize mutual benefits for both countries in the sector.
Buhijji was speaking on the sidelines of the 9th UNWTO Forum on Gastronomy Tourism, held in Bahrain from November 18-19.
The event, which is taking place for the first time in the Middle East, is organized by the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority, the UN World Tourism Organization, and the Basque Culinary Center.
According to Buhijji, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia are promoting a shared tourism product, given their geographical proximity and close ties. Visitors to Manama can easily travel to Saudi Arabia, either via the King Fahd Causeway—reaching the Eastern Province in less than 20 minutes—or by air, with a flight to Riyadh taking approximately 30 minutes.
She also highlighted a targeted effort to attract tourists from five key countries, including GCC nations, with a particular focus on Saudi Arabia as one of the largest sources of visitors to Bahrain.
Buhijji emphasized the significance of hosting the 9th UNWTO Forum on Gastronomy Tourism in the Middle East, which has attracted over 650 participants from 59 countries, including the GCC.
She noted that hosting such a prominent event demonstrates Bahrain’s capability to attract large-scale events, thanks to its robust infrastructure, numerous hotels, and Bahrain International Airport’s capacity to handle a significant number of visitors.