KSA to take part in exhibition for green, untreated products

Final arrangements have been made for the Saudi Exhibition for green, untreated products in Berlin.
The Saudi Exhibition will be held in January with the participation of Saudi companies in the sector. They will exhibit various products such as dates, olives and mango.
Umar Bahlaiwah, secretary general of the Saudi Commission for International Trade Development at the board of Saudi chambers, said, “the Berlin Exhibition is part of the commission’s plans for engaging in product marketing and boosting Saudi exports to Europe. It also seeks to offer investment opportunities in various sectors.”
The commission is also planning for the organization of the third Saudi–US Economic Conference to be held in September in California. The first and second conferences were held in Atlanta and Chicago respectively.
“The California conference will create many investment opportunities in various sectors, especially in modern technology,” he said. “When we talk to people overseas, we stress the fact that Saudi Arabia is an oasis of security for investment. It is a stable and safe country. The latest events of the Arab Spring, the eurozone crisis, the global financial crisis and the energy shortages all prove that the Kingdom is a safe haven for any investment.”
“Saudi Arabia is the economic powerhouse of the region,” Bahlaiwah added. “It is the largest economy, with a GDP of $720 billion in 2012. The reforms, pioneered by King Abdullah since 1997, have attracted investments and now Saudi Arabia ranks the 12th among investment attracting countries.”
He said that the Saudi stock market attracted enormous amounts of money, which was estimated at $17 billion. Saudi Arabia attracts 39 percent of total investment of all Arab countries.
“The investment commission brings value added investments that will boost and help the local economy,” he said. “We are encouraging fresh ideas that do represent added value. We give them licenses even if they were small enterprises because they will attract modern technology and capital. This will surely help us maximize returns from the primary products and give us a competitive edge.”
He also said that, “Saudi Arabia is going through an industrial transitional stage. The government built many industrial parks, and is building more. This is an indication of an industrial renaissance and it is supported by competitive energy prices and the moves to alternated energy sources, like solar, nuclear, and thermal energy.”