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Saudi Arabia Seeks to Promote 4th Industrial Revolution Technologies to Raise Productivity

The LEAP 2023 conference kicked off in Riyadh on Monday. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The LEAP 2023 conference kicked off in Riyadh on Monday. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia Seeks to Promote 4th Industrial Revolution Technologies to Raise Productivity

The LEAP 2023 conference kicked off in Riyadh on Monday. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The LEAP 2023 conference kicked off in Riyadh on Monday. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi ministers have revealed the Kingdom’s determination to harness technology in diversifying the economy, with the launching of new investments and activating the full potential of the fourth industrial revolution technologies in various sectors.

Speaking during a session held on the first day of the LEAP 2023 conference in Riyadh, Saudi Minister of Investment Eng. Khaled Al-Falih said that innovation was the key to unleashing the full potential of the 4th industrial revolution technology, in order to meet the challenges and implement a sustainable economic transformation.

Al-Falih emphasized the importance of partnership between the public and private sectors, and the role of SMEs and start-ups as engines of innovation, as well as the contribution of women in science, technology, and knowledge and data exchange.

Saudi Arabia is determined to become a center for supply chains between the world’s continents, he said, by investing in its location and resources.

The minister added that the Kingdom also sought to employ the technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the uses of artificial intelligence, automation, robots and large-scale computing, in support of the various sectors.

For his part, Bandar Al-Khorayef, the Saudi Minister of Industry, said that the LEAP 2023 conference was a clear example of Saudi Arabia’s endeavor to attract the main players in technology and strengthen its position as a regional and international hub in various sectors.

Al-Khorayef noted that the private sector had a valuable opportunity to advance better in the field of advanced technologies.

“It takes us being brave enough to support the technological transformation; we have a privileged position and tremendous resources, in addition to the talent that is the most valuable asset,” he underlined.

Faisal Al-Ibrahim, the Saudi Minister of Economy and Planning, said that the current global challenges should not be dealt with unilaterally, but rather be looked at in a comprehensive manner.

According to the minister, increasing the efficiency of the industrial process to reduce costs and carbon emissions also requires strengthening partnerships and international cooperation, as well as harvesting the benefits of the fourth industrial revolution and investing in advanced digital technologies.

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Saudi Business Sector Achieves Trillions in Revenue Thanks to Government Incentives

King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) in Riyadh (SPA)
King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) in Riyadh (SPA)
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Saudi Business Sector Achieves Trillions in Revenue Thanks to Government Incentives

King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) in Riyadh (SPA)
King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) in Riyadh (SPA)

Government incentives have played a pivotal role in enabling Saudi Arabia’s business sector to achieve operational revenues of SAR 5.3 trillion ($1.4 trillion), with operational expenditures reaching SAR 2.2 trillion ($586 billion).

According to the 2023 Comprehensive Economic Survey conducted by the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT), employee compensation totaled SAR 544.7 billion ($145 billion), while total fixed capital formation amounted to SAR 867.8 billion ($231 billion).

Legal and commercial expert Dr. Osama Al-Obaidi explained to Asharq Al-Awsat that the increase in operational revenues is largely due to government initiatives aimed at enhancing the private sector’s contribution to the national economy and GDP in line with Vision 2030. These efforts have driven innovation, localized technology, and established Saudi Arabia as a global investment destination while creating high-quality jobs that contribute significantly to wages and benefits.

Al-Obaidi emphasized that economic diversification under Vision 2030 has resulted in positive outcomes through incentives for investments in industry, mining, and strong construction activity. These efforts span residential, commercial, and investment projects while targeting key sectors like telecommunications, technology, artificial intelligence, electric vehicles, transportation, and logistics, as part of the Kingdom’s strategy to become a global logistics hub.

Additionally, Saudi Arabia’s focus on localizing technology, promoting innovation, and fostering tourism and entertainment has driven the growth of national industries and the service sector while boosting employment rates, Al-Obaidi noted.

The government’s commitment to creating a competitive environment, increasing non-oil sector contributions, and providing incentives has strengthened the Kingdom’s ability to attract foreign investments and create new job opportunities. This, in turn, has enhanced operational revenues and improved efficiency, productivity, and quality across industries and services.

Gross Domestic Product Impact

Economist Ahmed Al-Jubeir told Asharq Al-Awsat that the government is offering comprehensive incentives to private sector players, including small and medium enterprises (SMEs), to capitalize on available initiatives and programs. These efforts are designed to promote business growth and help companies achieve their goals, ultimately benefiting Saudi GDP and the broader economy.

The initiatives and programs cover various private sector activities, providing low-interest loans and opportunities to participate in strategic and large-scale projects in health, tourism, real estate, and more. Specialized programs for construction and equipment sectors are also part of these efforts, Al-Jubeir added.

The latest data from the General Authority for Statistics confirms the government’s ongoing support for the private sector, which recorded operational revenues of approximately SAR 5.3 trillion last year.

Moreover, data indicates that the manufacturing sector contributed 30% of total operational revenues, followed by mining and quarrying at 21.8%, and wholesale and retail trade at 16%. Together, these sectors accounted for 67.8% of total revenues. Other sectors, including construction, finance and insurance, information and communications, and transportation and storage, contributed smaller shares.

Operational Expenditures

The report also revealed that manufacturing represented 41.5% of total operational expenditures, followed by wholesale and retail trade at 22.3% and construction at 7.6%. Collectively, these sectors accounted for 71.4% of operational expenditures, with other sectors like information and communications, mining and quarrying, and finance and insurance contributing the remaining shares.

Fixed Capital Formation

Total acquisitions of fixed assets reached SAR 1.5 trillion ($399.5 billion), while sales of these assets amounted to SAR 646.2 billion ($172 billion). Wholesale and retail trade had the highest contribution to total fixed capital formation at 22.6%, followed by manufacturing at 22.4%, mining and quarrying at 14.9%, and construction at 12.2%.

Other sectors, including information and communications, transportation and storage, and finance and insurance, contributed smaller shares.

According to GASTAT, total salaries and wages amounted to SAR 461.1 billion ($122.8 billion), representing 84.6% of total employee compensation. Meanwhile, benefits and allowances totaled SAR 83.6 billion ($22 billion), making up 15.4% of total compensation.