Saudi Arabia and the Netherlands Forge Stronger Industrial Partnerships
Saudi Arabia is taking bold steps to enhance its industrial and mining sectors by forging closer ties with the Netherlands. A recent visit by Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Industry, Bandar Alkhorayef, to the Netherlands underscores the Kingdom’s commitment to developing robust partnerships with leading Dutch manufacturing firms.
Exploring New Horizons in Medical Devices and Dairy Production
During his visit, Minister Alkhorayef toured the Philips Medical Devices facility in Eindhoven, where discussions with Edwin Paalvast, Philips’ executive board member and head of international markets, centered on expanding cooperation in the medical devices sector. The aim is to localize this crucial industry within Saudi Arabia, thereby fostering growth and innovation.
The minister also engaged with FrieslandCampina, a key player in dairy products. Conversations with Marchel Gorselink, the general manager of research and development, focused on the possibility of establishing a research and development center in Saudi Arabia. This initiative aims to boost local production quality and advance food processing technologies.
Advancing Food Security and Sustainability
In a meeting with David Haines, CEO of Upfield, the focus shifted to consumer products and plant-based food production. The exchange of expertise is expected to contribute significantly to Saudi Arabia’s food security objectives and environmental sustainability efforts.
The visit is part of Saudi Arabia’s broader strategy to enhance the industrial and mining sectors’ role in the national economy. It also seeks to attract high-quality investments and increase Saudi non-oil exports’ presence in Dutch and European markets.
Strengthening Bilateral Trade and Strategic Partnerships
Minister Alkhorayef’s visit included meetings with prominent Dutch officials, such as Liesje Schreinemacher, Minister of Foreign Trade and Development, and Micky Adriaansens, Minister of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy. Discussions focused on fortifying trade relations and exploring new cooperation avenues in industry, mining, trade, and investment.
The talks also delved into potential strategic partnerships in sectors like manufacturing, advanced technology, and renewable energy. The visit highlighted Saudi Arabia’s unique capabilities and opportunities in these areas, alongside its environmental and climate change initiatives through the Saudi Green and Middle East Green Initiatives.
Further discussions at the Dutch Port of Rotterdam explored enhancing logistics cooperation. Saudi Arabia’s role as a key supplier of vital minerals in the global supply chain was emphasized, along with potential investment collaborations with Dutch companies in metal processing and recycling.
Earlier, in a demonstration of its strategic commitment, Saudi Arabia’s General Authority for Survey and Geospatial Information played a pivotal role in the Geospatial World Forum. This global event underscored the importance of geospatial information in decision-making within Saudi Arabia’s rapidly expanding economy, as highlighted by Mohammed Al-Sayel, the authority’s president, during the opening session.
