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Saudi Industry Investments Exceed $346 Billion

A panel discussion tackled the role of national industry in facing risks, during the Budget 2023 Forum in Riyadh. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
A panel discussion tackled the role of national industry in facing risks, during the Budget 2023 Forum in Riyadh. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Industry Investments Exceed $346 Billion

A panel discussion tackled the role of national industry in facing risks, during the Budget 2023 Forum in Riyadh. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
A panel discussion tackled the role of national industry in facing risks, during the Budget 2023 Forum in Riyadh. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The value of investments in the Saudi industrial sector amounted to 1.3 trillion riyals ($346.6 billion), with the imminent activation of the Kingdom’s National Strategy for Industry by the beginning of 2023.

Eng. Ahmed Al-Ohali, Governor of the General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI), pointed to the rapid and qualitative growth of military industries in the Kingdom.

Since the formation of the Authority, the total number of establishments reached 156, with an estimated investment volume of 40 billion riyals ($10.6 billion), Al-Ohali said on Monday.

The establishments employ 21,000 people, including Saudis who receive the best training opportunities to enhance knowledge and expertise in this vital sector, he told a panel discussion on the role of national industry in facing risks. The panel was part of the Budget 2023 Forum in Riyadh.

Organized by the Ministry of Finance, the forum concluded its two-day sessions on Monday at the King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center (KAPSARC), with the participation of senior officials from the public and private sectors.

Deputy Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Eng. Osama Al-Zamil noted that the value of investments in the industrial sector amounted to 1.3 trillion riyals.

He revealed that the National Strategy would offer more than 800 investment opportunities worth one trillion riyals ($266 billion), in addition to increasing exports of advanced technical products by about six times and creating tens of thousands of jobs.

Al-Zamil added that the sector has succeeded in attracting investments worth more than 21.8 billion riyals, while the number of manpower has doubled to reach 47,125 workers, with a localization rate of more than 42%.

Another session, entitled “The Impact of the Budget on Empowering Women”, touched on the women’s empowerment initiative and the relevant reforms adopted by the government and the private sector to promote the role of women in the Kingdom.

In this context, Dr. Hala Al-Tuwaijri, head of the Saudi Human Rights Commission, stated that the Kingdom has taken a comprehensive reform approach to empower women and increase their participation in the labor market.

She emphasized Saudi Arabia’s commitment to international agreements, including the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women, known as CEDAW.

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Egypt Makes Progress in its Nuclear Energy Project

Construction work at the El-Dabaa nuclear power plant. (Egyptian Nuclear Power Plants Authority)
Construction work at the El-Dabaa nuclear power plant. (Egyptian Nuclear Power Plants Authority)
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Egypt Makes Progress in its Nuclear Energy Project

Construction work at the El-Dabaa nuclear power plant. (Egyptian Nuclear Power Plants Authority)
Construction work at the El-Dabaa nuclear power plant. (Egyptian Nuclear Power Plants Authority)

Egypt has reported significant progress in the construction of the El-Dabaa nuclear power plant in the country’s northwest, a project being developed in cooperation with Russia. The government announced on Tuesday that more than 20% of the project has been completed.

Egypt and Russia signed a cooperation agreement on November 19, 2015, to establish the nuclear power station at a cost of $25 billion, funded through a Russian government loan. The final agreements for El-Dabaa were signed in December 2017.

The plant will consist of four nuclear reactors with a total generation capacity of 4,800 megawatts, each producing 1,200 megawatts. The first reactor is scheduled to begin operations in 2028, with the remaining units coming online gradually as part of Egypt’s energy mix.

In its quarterly performance report, the Egyptian government stated that the project aligns with efforts to expand the peaceful use of nuclear energy within the national power grid.

President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi emphasized in November the importance of executing energy projects efficiently and on schedule, calling them a pillar of Egypt’s development strategy. He underscored the need to adhere to the project timeline while ensuring the highest standards of execution and workforce training.

Also in November, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly reaffirmed Egypt’s commitment to the project, stating that El-Dabaa would enhance renewable energy capacity and stabilize the national power grid.

In early March, Russia’s Atomstroyexport announced that construction on the second reactor at El-Dabaa had progressed ahead of schedule. According to the Egyptian Nuclear Power Plants Authority, the second tier of the inner containment structure had been installed at the reactor building.

Egypt experienced widespread power outages last summer, which ended in late July after securing sufficient fuel supplies for its power plants.

The El-Dabaa project is part of Egypt’s strategy to diversify its energy sources, generate electricity to meet domestic demand, and reduce reliance on imported gas and other fuels.

On Tuesday, the government also announced an additional 200 megawatts of private-sector solar power capacity as part of its efforts to expand renewable energy. Officials said the move would support energy diversification and advance the country’s sustainable development strategy.