Saudi Industrial Investments Grow to $346 Bn

An industrial city in Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
An industrial city in Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
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Saudi Industrial Investments Grow to $346 Bn

An industrial city in Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
An industrial city in Saudi Arabia. (SPA)

The total investments of the industrial sector in Saudi Arabia have reached $346 billion, after investments in 2021 stood at $21 billion, according to figures issued by the National Industry Information Center (NIIC).

A detailed bulletin on mining indicators in Saudi Arabia revealed 2,100 valid licenses, of which 775 licenses were issued in 2021, varying between 579 building materials quarries licenses, 164 exploration licenses, and 32 survey licenses.

The Center highlighted the investment index of factories that started production for the year 2021, which exceeded $19 billion, in addition to the number of new licenses for the same year, which totaled 954 licenses.

The total factories that started production in the same period amounted to 820 factories.

The Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources publishes the "monthly bulletin for industry and mining," which sheds light on the top indicators of the industrial and mining activities in Saudi Arabia.

The bulletin highlights the top figures, information, and statistics on the industrial and mining sectors, in addition to the essential services that the ministry provides to highlight investment opportunities offered by the two industries.



Starbucks Workers Expand Strike in US Cities Including New York

Starbucks workers hold signs as they picket during a strike in front of a Starbucks to demand collective bargaining agreements in Burbank, California on December 20, 2024. (AFP)
Starbucks workers hold signs as they picket during a strike in front of a Starbucks to demand collective bargaining agreements in Burbank, California on December 20, 2024. (AFP)
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Starbucks Workers Expand Strike in US Cities Including New York

Starbucks workers hold signs as they picket during a strike in front of a Starbucks to demand collective bargaining agreements in Burbank, California on December 20, 2024. (AFP)
Starbucks workers hold signs as they picket during a strike in front of a Starbucks to demand collective bargaining agreements in Burbank, California on December 20, 2024. (AFP)

Starbucks workers have expanded their strike to four more US cities, including New York, the union representing over 10,000 baristas said late on Saturday.

The five-day strike, which began on Friday and initially closed Starbucks cafes in Los Angeles, Chicago and Seattle, has added New Jersey, New York, Philadelphia and St. Louis, Workers United said in a statement. It did not say where the New Jersey walkout was occurring.

Starbucks did not immediately respond to a request for comment outside regular business hours.

Talks between the coffee chain and the union hit an impasse with unresolved issues over wages, staffing and schedules, leading to the strike.

The union is striking in 10 cities, also including Columbus, Denver and Pittsburgh, during the busy holiday season that may impact the company's Christmas sales.

Workers United warned on Friday that the strike could reach "hundreds of stores" by Tuesday, Christmas Eve.

Starbucks began negotiations with the union in April. It said this month it had conducted more than eight bargaining sessions, during which 30 agreements had been reached.

The company operates more than 11,000 stores in the United States, employing about 200,000 workers.