عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Business

Discussions Underway for Transferring Regional HQs of Danish Food Companies to Saudi Arabia

Jorgen Christensen, CEO of the Danish Dairy Board, and Denmark's ambassador Ole Moesby at the launch of the Danish Organic Dairy program, at Panorama Mall, Riyadh, Asharq Al-Awsat
Jorgen Christensen, CEO of the Danish Dairy Board, and Denmark's ambassador Ole Moesby at the launch of the Danish Organic Dairy program, at Panorama Mall, Riyadh, Asharq Al-Awsat
TT
TT

Discussions Underway for Transferring Regional HQs of Danish Food Companies to Saudi Arabia

Jorgen Christensen, CEO of the Danish Dairy Board, and Denmark's ambassador Ole Moesby at the launch of the Danish Organic Dairy program, at Panorama Mall, Riyadh, Asharq Al-Awsat
Jorgen Christensen, CEO of the Danish Dairy Board, and Denmark's ambassador Ole Moesby at the launch of the Danish Organic Dairy program, at Panorama Mall, Riyadh, Asharq Al-Awsat

Discussions are underway to transfer the regional headquarters of some Danish international companies to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, a senior Danish official revealed.

Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, Denmark’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Ole Moesby said that the Kingdom is one of the largest countries in the world that receives Danish exports in general.

At the same time, Saudi Arabia and Denmark share four partnerships that span key sectors like water, food, renewable energy, pharmaceuticals, and healthcare.

“Our products are witnessing a steady expansion and increase in the Saudi market,” Moesby told Asharq Al-Awsat.

The diplomat clarified that many international Danish companies, including water firms, intend to transfer their regional headquarters to Saudi Arabia.

According to Moesby, these companies will soon start their business in terms of manufacturing and exporting Danish products to the Kingdom. Also, they will start distribution work to export from the Kingdom’s land regionally and globally.

“We have a historic relationship with Saudi Arabia that extends for more than four decades... We are currently trying to keep pace with development and change in Saudi Arabia,” said Moesby, pointing out that Danish projects in the Kingdom will continue in the long-term.

The business delegation currently visiting Saudi Arabia will work to discuss new opportunities, revealed the diplomat.

In addition to exchanging expertise regarding the production and industry of organic food, the delegation will review ways of enhancing the participation of Danish companies in environmental and renewable energy sectors in the Saudi market.

According to Moesby, the market share of organic products in Denmark is the largest in the world and is growing annually.

In other news, the Danish embassy, with the cooperation of the Danish Dairy Board and the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration, launched a three-year program in Saudi Arabia to improve nutrition and public health in the Kingdom.

Most Viewed

 
 
Business

Saudi Arabia Brings Together WIPO’s Intellectual Property Community Outside Geneva for 1st Time

CEO of the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Suwailem addresses the audience. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
CEO of the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Suwailem addresses the audience. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
TT
TT

Saudi Arabia Brings Together WIPO’s Intellectual Property Community Outside Geneva for 1st Time

CEO of the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Suwailem addresses the audience. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
CEO of the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Suwailem addresses the audience. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia is gathering the global intellectual property community in Riyadh to shape the future of design rights at the Diplomatic Conference for the Design Law Treaty. This event marks the first time in over a decade that the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) has held a diplomatic conference outside Geneva, and it is also the first such event hosted in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East.

The conference represents the final phase of negotiations to establish a treaty aimed at simplifying design protection processes by standardizing international registration requirements.

Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Swailem, CEO of the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property (SAIP), emphasized that the Kingdom is working towards an international treaty setting core standards for registering industrial designs. This aligns with Saudi Arabia’s strategic goals under the National Intellectual Property Strategy, launched by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, which aims to position Riyadh as a global hub for intellectual property.

Since SAIP’s establishment, investments in design in Saudi Arabia have increased by 161%, reflecting growth driven by ambitious projects like NEOM and Qiddiya, which demand advanced design protections.

Al-Swailem described the conference as “diplomatic and negotiation-focused,” with member states striving to create a unified registration process, which would allow designers to protect their work across all member countries, making global design protection more accessible.

In his opening remarks, Al-Swailem highlighted that this conference is a pivotal moment—the first time in 25 years the international intellectual property community has convened to collectively support global design innovation.

He noted that Saudi Arabia is contributing actively to international IP organizations and is committed to enhancing global cooperation to support creators and innovators.

Through SAIP, the Kingdom has launched its first National Intellectual Property Strategy, a comprehensive framework to foster innovation and creativity across the nation, according to Al-Swailem. Last year, the Crown Prince announced a $340 million investment to support this strategy, reinforcing the Saudi commitment to intellectual property advancement. These efforts have led to Saudi Arabia’s rise of 18 positions in WIPO’s Global Innovation Index since 2021, placing it 46th globally and among the world’s top 50 innovation leaders.

WIPO Director General Daren Tang praised the event as a “historic moment,” applauding Saudi Arabia’s rise in the Global Innovation Index due to its concentrated efforts on intellectual property.

The proposed Design Law Treaty aims to establish a standardized legal framework for the registration and protection of design rights, covering essential elements like application details, imaging requirements, and filing and publication dates.

WIPO, comprising 193 member states, has administered international treaties on intellectual property since 1982, when Saudi Arabia joined. The organization currently oversees 26 treaties, including those on industrial property and copyright.