Riyadh, June (پاکستان پوائنٹ نیوز 23 يونيو 2026ء) This took place as part of the first day of the conference held alongside Riyadh International Industry Week 2026, hosted at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center from June 21 to 24.
Assistant Deputy Minister for Industrial Competitiveness and Advanced Manufacturing Ahmed Al-Zawawi affirmed during the opening session, titled “Saudi Industrial Transformation: Accelerating Innovation, Localization, and Global Competitiveness,” that the future of industry is no longer driven solely by the abundance of resources, but is now anchored in vision, innovation, and effective partnerships. He noted that the industrial sector has become a key driver of economic growth, competitiveness, and sustainable development.
Al-Zawawi revealed that 2025 witnessed the issuance of 1,660 new industrial licenses, with investments exceeding SAR76 billion, while more than 1,200 factories entered actual production. He explained that localization and the development of value chains represent a central pillar in the Kingdom’s industrial transformation journey, highlighting the importance of building integrated national capabilities that extend from research and development, design, and engineering to manufacturing, services, and maintenance.
He further emphasized that the Kingdom possesses a historic opportunity to build a unique industrial model that combines resources, infrastructure, investment capabilities, national talent, and technological ambition, thereby strengthening its position as an active partner in shaping the future of the global industrial sector.
The conference sessions also addressed the theme of “Industrial Enablers in Saudi Arabia and Their Role in Building a Globally Competitive Industry,” with the participation of a group of specialists and consultants in the sector. The discussions reviewed the role of the enablers adopted by the ministry in facilitating the investor journey, supporting factories and small and medium-sized enterprises, raising awareness of advanced manufacturing technologies, and connecting establishments with the appropriate financing programs and enablers.
The sessions also covered the investment incentives ecosystem and its consideration of investors’ needs across the various stages of their projects, in addition to the role of the National Industrial Development Center in supporting investors from the ideation stage through to actual project operation.
Under the theme of “Integrating Artificial Intelligence, the internet of Things, Robotics, and Big Data into Logistics Operations,” the sessions discussed the importance of transitioning toward Industry 4.0 technologies as a strategic necessity to enhance the competitiveness of the industrial sector and improve supply chain efficiency.
They also emphasized the role of automation and digitalization in achieving the objectives of the circular economy, and their contribution to improving sorting, collection, and processing operations, thereby enhancing operational efficiency and increasing the economic value of recycled materials. This was addressed during a panel discussion titled “Circular Polymer Economy: How Recycled Plastics Will Drive the Industries of the Future.”
The first day of the conference concluded by highlighting the packaging sector through the theme “Advanced Packaging Solutions for the food Industries Sector.” Participants affirmed that innovation in this sector now relies on three key pillars: performance, consumer experience, and sustainability. Participants also discussed the theme “Future Packaging Trends in Smart Supply Chains: IoT, Sensors, and Automated Tracking,” emphasizing the important role of technology and artificial intelligence in reducing costs and minimizing waste.
The week brings together three specialized national exhibitions simultaneously: the 21st edition of the Saudi Plastics and Petrochemicals Exhibition, the Saudi Print and Pack Exhibition, and the fourth edition of the Saudi Smart Logistics Exhibition.
The strategic partnership between Riyadh Exhibitions Company and Germany’s Messe Düsseldorf connects Saudi specialized exhibitions with three of the world’s leading exhibitions in their respective sectors: K, the world’s leading trade fair for plastics and rubber industries; Interpack for processing and packaging; and Drupa for printing technologies.
The conference is held as part of the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources’ commitment to supporting sustainable industrial development in the Kingdom, in alignment with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, which identifies the industrial sector as a strategic pillar for diversifying the national economy and increasing its contribution to GDP. This supports the Kingdom’s transformation into a leading industrial power and a global logistics platform.
