Director of Industrial City in Aleppo Calls on Syrian Investors to Return

The Industrial Zone in Sheikh Najjar in Aleppo.
The Industrial Zone in Sheikh Najjar in Aleppo.
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Director of Industrial City in Aleppo Calls on Syrian Investors to Return

The Industrial Zone in Sheikh Najjar in Aleppo.
The Industrial Zone in Sheikh Najjar in Aleppo.

Hazem Ajjan, director of the industrial city in Sheikh Najjar in northern Syria, called Saturday on Syrian expatriates to invest in the industrial city in Aleppo.

He stressed that all the encouraging factors for production have improved, especially the availability of a 24-hour electricity supply.

Speaking at the Expatriates Forum held in Khan al-Harir market in the old city of Aleppo, Ajjan said 810 establishments have already started operation. Half of the firms are funded by expatriates.

In a statement to the official Tishreen newspaper, Ajjan noted that the administration of the industrial city in Sheikh Najjar, in cooperation with the concerned authorities, is working seriously and vigorously for the return of industrialists who were forced during the war to move their factories and work to other countries.

Fares al-Shihabi, the head of the Aleppo Chamber of Industry, called on Syrian industrialists abroad to return to Syria, where they could restore and rehabilitate their factories. He stressed basic elements, such as energy, electricity and water, are available to run the facilities.

Al-Shihabi then confirmed that the industrial sector is gradually improving.

The electricity supply in Aleppo improved remarkably after President Bashar Assad made this month his first visit to the northern city since his forces recaptured it in 2016.

He reopened a thermal power plant that is expected to generate 200 megawatts of electricity.

However, with power returning to Aleppo, owners of generators have expanded towards other provinces, such as Latakia, Hama, Homs and Damascus, where they are now allowed to invest after previously being barred.

Sources said this is a sign that the electricity crisis in Syria is nowhere close to being resolved.

A solution was only found in Aleppo, which will rely on thermal power from Iran that had preempted Assad’s visit by repairing the plant, giving the impression that it controls the electrical sector and not the regime.

Indeed, the Iranian Cultural Chancellery in Damascus said in a statement that an Iranian company had repaired the station.

Responding to calls for investors to return to Aleppo, sources said electricity is one of a number of complex problems hindering investment, among them is loss of trust in the regime and its officials that have destroyed the industrial and agriculture sectors.

Moreover, the security and military forces have imposed their authority over industrialists and merchants, set up checkpoints across cities and forced them to may tariffs.

They also cited the unjust tax policies and the tight measures imposed on the movement of funds, the banning of the use of foreign currency, in addition to the high cost of transporting and shipping goods due to the fuel crisis.



Vision 2030 Progress Accelerates Saudi Arabia’s Economic Growth

The Saudi capital Riyadh. SPA
The Saudi capital Riyadh. SPA
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Vision 2030 Progress Accelerates Saudi Arabia’s Economic Growth

The Saudi capital Riyadh. SPA
The Saudi capital Riyadh. SPA

Saudi Arabia is nearing the end of the second phase of its Vision 2030 plan (2021-2025), a period that has seen strong growth and expanding opportunities across multiple sectors, with key economic indicators reflecting the Kingdom’s progress.

Performance data for 2024 shows that Saudi Arabia, the Arab world’s largest economy, is firmly on course to meet its Vision 2030 targets, with a significant number of metrics exceeding initial projections.

According to the latest figures, 93% of the tracked indicators have been either fully or partially achieved. A total of 299 indicators have met their goals entirely.

Meanwhile, data on Vision 2030 initiatives show that 85% have either been completed or remain on schedule, with 674 initiatives fully implemented and another 596 progressing according to plan, out of a total of 1,502 active initiatives.

Saudi Arabia’s economy continued to expand in 2024, with real non-oil GDP rising by 3.9% year-on-year, driven by a 4.3% increase in non-oil sectors. The non-oil private sector Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) also posted a strong performance, climbing to 58.1 points in the fourth quarter.

The Kingdom’s unemployment rate among Saudi citizens fell to a record low of 7% in 2024, achieving the Vision 2030 target six years ahead of schedule, compared to 12.3% in 2016.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia maintained inflation at 1.7% by the end of 2024, one of the lowest rates among G20 nations, supported by balanced economic policies.

Boosting Competitiveness

Saudi Arabia advanced to 16th place in the 2024 IMD World Competitiveness Ranking, up from 36th in 2017, reflecting ongoing reforms to improve the business environment.

Global credit rating agencies also reaffirmed their confidence in the Kingdom’s economic outlook. Moody’s maintained Saudi Arabia’s rating at “A1” with a stable outlook, Fitch Ratings assigned it “A+” and S&P Global rated the Kingdom at “A/A-1.”

A Vibrant Society and Ambitious Nation

Saudi Arabia recorded major achievements on the social and cultural fronts. The number of UNESCO World Heritage sites in the Kingdom rose to eight, reaching the Vision 2030 target ahead of schedule.

The number of foreign Umrah pilgrims hit a record 16.92 million in 2024, surpassing the year’s target of 11.3 million.

Homeownership among Saudi families reached 65.4% in 2024, exceeding the year's target of 64%.

In digital governance, Saudi Arabia climbed to sixth place globally in the United Nations E-Government Development Index, rising 25 spots and nearing its Vision 2030 goal of fifth place.

Volunteerism also surged, with the number of volunteers exceeding 1.2 million, surpassing the Vision 2030 target of one million volunteers and reflecting a growing culture of civic engagement.

Positive Growth Outlook

International institutions forecast a strong outlook for Saudi Arabia’s economy in 2025.

The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) projects growth of 3.8%, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) expects 3% growth, and the World Bank forecasts an expansion of 3.4%. Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Finance projects a higher growth rate of 4.6%.

The sustained economic momentum and rapid transformation under Vision 2030 have strengthened Saudi Arabia’s position as an attractive investment destination and a rising hub for promising opportunities.