Jeddah’s 3rd industrial city to get 40 m sq. meters more area: Khaled

Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal announced that an area of 40 million square meters would be added to the third industrial city in Jeddah so as to make its total area 60 million square meters. He made the remarks while opening the 5th Industrial Forum, organized by the industrial committee at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) on Saturday evening.
Minister of Commerce and Industry Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, as well as several prominent industrialists and businessmen and women attended the event held at Laylati Hall. The forum called for setting up of an industrial city in Bahra and to give priority to industries that highlight the identity of Makkah (made in Makkah).
In his inaugural speech, Prince Khaled emphasized that the Kingdom’s wise leadership is keen to improve the services and facilities being extended to both citizens and foreigners through launching a number of projects in the sectors of knowledge, economy, industry and administration. “We are not mere spectators of what are taking place in our country but are part of this great boom. The world as a whole is watching us and appreciate the level of tremendous progress and development that we achieved in all walks of life,” he said while voicing regret over the attitude of some Saudi writers and analysts who highlight only the consumption aspect of the Saudi society. “Consumption is enough for us, and so concentrate on production,” he said while addressing industrialists.
Addressing the gathering, Tawfiq Al-Rabiah highlighted the Kingdom’s remarkable industrial development. He lauded the efforts being made by Prince Khaled to promote the region’s industrial sector as well as to remove hurdles in front of businessmen. “The industrial cities are to witness massive expansions in future, in a way realizing aspirations of industrialists and fulfilling their requirements,” he said.
There were four sessions at the forum that discussed topics such as transfer of technology to industry, role of financial firms in supporting industry, financial impediments faced by industries, and the problem of youths and the future of industry.
An agreement to ensure Saudi youths’ involvement in industrial sector was signed on the sidelines of the forum. Abdullah Al-Mobti, chairman of the Council of Saudi Chambers of Commerce and Industry, and Saleh Kamel, chairman of JCCI inked the agreement, which aimed at supporting youths to enter the industrial sector as investors.