Saudi Arabia competes in various industrial sectors: Vice Minister

Khalil bin Salamah, Vice Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources for Industrial Affairs.

Saudi Arabia is competitive across nearly all industrial sectors, with a particular focus on key industries widely prioritized globally — such as consumer goods derived from plastic manufacturing — said Khalil bin Salamah, Vice Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources for Industrial Affairs.

In an interview with Argaam on the sidelines of the UNIDO conference, bin Salamah said the Kingdom has also entered advanced industries that were difficult to access until recently, including aircraft components, automotive industries and their parts, maritime industries, and pharmaceuticals.

He noted that Saudi Arabia is leveraging the UNIDO platform to strengthen industrial partnerships and expand the exchange of manufactured goods, especially with African countries that are still in the early stages of industrial development.

He added that the Kingdom’s support for the industrial advancement of these countries increases the consumption of plastic products manufactured in Saudi Arabia, representing an investment in the future of these products.

The vice minister explained that the Kingdom produces these materials thanks to its oil and gas output, and they are used daily in vital industries such as aviation and automotive manufacturing in many countries.

Bin Salamah pointed out the importance of boosting demand in target markets, such as certain African nations, by effectively linking value chains and products with the countries that consume them.

He said the Kingdom’s priorities for strengthening industrial partnerships with less-developed countries include building a sustainable industrial model that maximizes added value.

This model ensures that products move from one country to another with value added at each stage—not only in the exporting or consuming countries—creating stable supply chains in the medium and long term and giving products greater preference and identity in the market.

He noted that Saudi Arabia, as an exporting country, can rely on other nations as sources for its products in export markets, which enhances global supply chain stability, supports sustainable growth, and ensures a fair distribution of added value.

He explained that the Kingdom’s hosting of the UNIDO General Conference reflects its leadership in the industrial sector—not only as a forward-looking vision, but also as an opportunity to showcase achievements over the past six years.

During this period, the industrial sector has witnessed major leaps in industrial output, the number of operational factories, industrial zones under development, and targeted factories through 2035.

He highlighted that the conference recorded a milestone attendance of more than 5,000 registered participants, 40% of whom were from the private sector.

He added that the election of Minister Bandar Alkhorayef as President of the organization for the next two years reflects the confidence of member states in the Kingdom’s role and its potential contributions to the industrial sector.