Saudi Arabia, Türkiye Announce Engineering Automation Project for the Middle East

The Saudi-Turkish Business Forum held in Riyadh called for boosting trade relations between the two countries. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The Saudi-Turkish Business Forum held in Riyadh called for boosting trade relations between the two countries. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia, Türkiye Announce Engineering Automation Project for the Middle East

The Saudi-Turkish Business Forum held in Riyadh called for boosting trade relations between the two countries. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The Saudi-Turkish Business Forum held in Riyadh called for boosting trade relations between the two countries. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Saudi-Turkish Business Forum has set a goal of exceeding $10 billion in the trade exchange between Riyadh and Ankara.

The event witnessed the signing of several cooperation agreements in industrial development, and announcement of the establishment of a joint engineering automation project that will be implemented in the Middle East.

The Saudi-Turkish Business Forum, organized by the Federation of Saudi Chambers, kicked off in Riyadh on Sunday. It was attended by several officials, and over 450 Saudi and Turkish companies, and government agencies from both countries are taking part.

Speaking at the form, Saudi Minister of Commerce Majid al-Qasabi affirmed that Saudi Arabia is undergoing an unprecedented renaissance and transformation thanks to the ambitious leadership and Vision 2030.

He explained that the Kingdom boasts six features that make it the land of opportunities, citing investment potential in minerals, tourism, housing, infrastructure, services, communications, and digitization in Saudi Arabia.

He added that the forum will contribute to finding new possibilities for economic cooperation with Türkiye.

Turkish Minister of Trade Mehmet Mus said Saudi Arabia and Türkiye are two emerging economic powers with significant competitive advantages and they have expressed their desire to increase trade volume to $10 billion in the coming years.

Mus also stated that the Turkish economy is expanding rapidly and that a comprehensive investment incentive system is in place, boasting a massive market with one billion consumers in Türkiye, the European Union, and the free trade zone.

The Minister pointed out that the volume of foreign investment amounted to $285 billion, which reflects a suitable investment environment, urging Saudi companies to enter the Turkish market and capitalize on the opportunities.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Saudi Chambers Hasan al-Hwaizy explained that Saudi-Turkish relations, which were formalized in 1929, are one of the best international models, which positively reflected in the formation of the Saudi-Turkish Council as a platform for cooperation.

In 2022, the two countries agreed to develop and diversify intra-trade and facilitate trade exchange, he added, indicating that 1,140 Saudi companies invested in Türkiye and 390 Turkish companies currently operate in Saudi Arabia in various sectors.

Trade exchange ranged between $4.5 billion and $6.1 billion from 2017 to 2022.

Head of the Turkish Foreign Economic Relations Board, Nail Olpak indicated that the recent visit by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to Türkiye pushed the bilateral economic relations forward.

Olpak also explained that the joint road map contributed to the rapid growth of trade and investments, noting that Turkish companies look forward to participating in Saudi projects.

The forum resulted in the signing of three commercial cooperation agreements between Saudi and Turkish business representatives to localize the manufacturing of welding equipment and supplies, as well as the production of high-tech trucks and tanks.

It also saw an agreement to launch a joint Saudi-Turkish automation and engineering project for the Middle East region.

Saudi Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing Majid al-Hogail met in Riyadh with the Turkish Trade Minister and several representatives of Turkish companies specialized in the construction and contracting sector.

The officials stressed the need to enhance cooperation between their countries in the municipal and housing sectors and the importance of exchanging experiences to achieve common interests.



Dell Drives Digital Transformation in Saudi Arabia Through 3 Decades of Innovation

Dell logos are seen at its headquarters in Cyberjaya, outside Kuala Lumpur in this September 4, 2013 file photo. REUTERS/Bazuki Muhammad/Files Purchase Licensing Rights
Dell logos are seen at its headquarters in Cyberjaya, outside Kuala Lumpur in this September 4, 2013 file photo. REUTERS/Bazuki Muhammad/Files Purchase Licensing Rights
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Dell Drives Digital Transformation in Saudi Arabia Through 3 Decades of Innovation

Dell logos are seen at its headquarters in Cyberjaya, outside Kuala Lumpur in this September 4, 2013 file photo. REUTERS/Bazuki Muhammad/Files Purchase Licensing Rights
Dell logos are seen at its headquarters in Cyberjaya, outside Kuala Lumpur in this September 4, 2013 file photo. REUTERS/Bazuki Muhammad/Files Purchase Licensing Rights

Saudi Arabia is leading the charge in digital transformation, with Dell playing a key role in the Kingdom’s technological growth over the past three decades.

The partnership between Dell and Saudi Arabia dates back to the early 1990s, and in the past 34 years, Dell has become a cornerstone of the kingdom’s digital infrastructure.

Adrian McDonald, President of Dell Technologies for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, reflected on the deepening of this relationship, highlighting Dell’s integration into Saudi society.

The company has been instrumental in supporting local businesses, government projects, and education initiatives, particularly by offering IT training programs in collaboration with leading universities and facilitating exchange programs that bring Saudi youth to the US for advanced training.

Dell aims to localize as many of these tech skills as possible, recognizing the growing demand for technology expertise in the future.

The launch of Saudi Vision 2030 has created a fertile environment for technological innovation.

McDonald revealed to Asharq Al-Awsat that Dell has expanded its operations over the past 18 months, including the establishment of its first integration and logistics center in Dammam, which handles up to 600,000 units annually to meet increasing customer demand.

The Dammam center also houses a secondary manufacturing plant to customize Dell servers to meet specific needs.

The facility prepares servers for deployment, reducing lead times and improving customer satisfaction. Additionally, Dell has moved its flat-panel display center to the Dammam facility, allowing for faster delivery times, which enhances operational efficiency.

This new center is part of Dell’s commitment to strengthening Saudi Arabia’s information and communications technology ecosystem and is the company’s fifth such facility in the Europe, Middle East, and Africa region, reinforcing its support for Vision 2030.

As Saudi Arabia positions itself as a leader in artificial intelligence (AI), Dell plays a critical role in this transformation.

McDonald highlighted the rapid changes in the AI sector, emphasizing Saudi Arabia’s goal to become a global leader in AI.

Dell’s investments are not just aimed at supporting local businesses but also at helping position Saudi Arabia as a global center for AI development.

Dell’s AI-powered solutions are transforming various industries, from finance to healthcare, where they are reshaping processes and driving innovation.

Looking forward, McDonald is optimistic about Saudi Arabia’s potential to become a regional and global hub for AI services.

He pointed out that the kingdom has taken a leadership role in building platforms for growth, with the resources and ambition to drive transformative change in the coming years.