Industry Ministry developing policies for advanced manufacturing: Official

Deputy Minister for Industrial Development, Al-Badr Fouda

The ministry also launched the Future Factories Program initiative, which focuses on producing innovative products, and the Industrial Beacons Program, aimed at supporting advanced factories and putting them on the global industrial map.

Speaking on the sidelines of the Future Minerals Forum, Fouda highlighted the remarkable transformation and momentum in industrial sector investments, fuelled by 136 initiatives under the National Industrial Strategy (NIS).

These initiatives include accelerating the sector's digital transformation and integrating the Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies, including the Future Factories Program Initiative designed to transition 4,000 factories to automation technologies and increase production efficiency.

Fouda noted that the number of factories in Saudi Arabia grew significantly from approximately 8,000 to nearly 12,000. Similarly, the industrial workforce expanded from 500,000 to around 800,000.

He said a tripartite agreement was signed during the conference with Germany’s Deutsche Messe and Riyadh Exhibitions Co. to launch the Industrial Transformation Exhibition in Saudi Arabia in December 2025.

The official also said the Hannover Messe exhibition is one of the world’s leading and longstanding industrial events since the 1940s, which enjoys widespread attendance at its headquarters in Germany and other countries.

Fouda described the agreement as a significant step in supporting and transforming the industrial sector in the Kingdom. He emphasized the importance of equipping factories with advanced machinery, equipment and software, as well as seeking expertise from specialized consultancies to support transformation of the factories.

The conference seeks to attract service providers both domestically and internationally, extending its reach across the region and globally.

Fouda encouraged local industry players to actively participate in the upcoming exhibition, positioning it as a cornerstone event for advanced manufacturing and production.

He concluded by expressing the ministry’s vision to establish the exhibition as an annual event under the “Industrial Transformation in Saudi Arabia” theme.