Ministry of Industry issues 152 licenses worth SAR 6.2B in January

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The Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources issued 152 new industrial licenses in January, at a total investment value of SAR 6.2 billion, according to a statement.
 

The new licenses covered five industrial activities, with 27 licenses issued in the food production sector, 20 in the manufacturing of non-metallic mineral products, 19 in the casting of metals sectors. The ministry also issued 18 licenses in the activity of rubber and plastics production, followed by the manufacturing of chemical products with 14 licenses.
 

In terms of recipients, small-sized enterprises received most of the new licenses in January, accounting for 89.47% of the total. Medium-sized enterprises followed with 8.55%, then large enterprises (1.32%).
 

By investment type, national factories made up 75.66% of the new licenses, followed by foreign establishments (14.47 %) and joint investments (9.87%).
 

The ministry also confirmed that 79 factories started actual production in the same month, with total investments of SAR 1.3 billion. Food production factories took the lead with 13, followed by manufacturing of casting metals (11), rubber and plastics (9), paper factories (7), furniture and alkali metals (6 each).
 

National factories constituted 78.48% of the total plants that commenced actual production in January, followed by foreign factories and joint-investment plants at 12.66% and 8.86%, respectively.

The number of existing and under-construction factories reached 11,672 by month-end, with total investments of SAR 1.53 trillion, it added.