Minister of Investment: Saudi Arabia is one of the pillars of restructuring global supply chains

Note Supply chains into regionally connected industrial clusters benefit from this shift to Attracting investments and increasing its industrial importance.

He stressed that the Kingdom is moving steadily towards greater industrial competitiveness thanks to its strategic location, qualitative resources and ambitious economic reforms, noting that the Kingdom has today become one of the basic pillars in reshaping global supply chains.

This came in a speech he delivered during the work of the twenty-first session of the General Conference of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization UNIDO, held in Riyadh under the name "Global Industry Summit 2025"

Middle East region

He explained that the conference comes at a crucial moment in which the global economy is witnessing changes in trade and investment patterns, an acceleration in industrial technology, and a rise in sustainability requirements, which represents a challenge and an opportunity at the same time.

He pointed out that the Middle East region includes about half of the world’s oil reserves and 40% of proven gas reserves, in addition to huge mineral resources that include 79% of cobalt, 44% of manganese, and 21% of manganese. Graphite and various deposits of vital minerals.

He pointed to the change that included the Middle East, as it transformed from a region that was seen as a source of energy and capital to a region that is steadily progressing to be an attractive platform for industrial and technical investment, based on the enormous human, natural and financial resources it possesses, drawing attention to the fact that the Middle East and North Africa region represents about 6% of the world’s population, 5% of global trade, and 4% of the global gross domestic product, but the percentage of global investments in it 3%.

Diversifying sources of income and growth

The Minister of Investment stated that economic diversification represents an important axis, stressing that the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 is based on diversifying sources of income and growth, promoting innovation, and empowering young people, who constitute two-thirds of the population, who are digitally connected to the world and full of the spirit of entrepreneurship.

He reviewed the most prominent strategic transformation paths in the Kingdom, such as: advanced manufacturing, mining, and downstream petrochemicals, in addition to developing sectors. Mining, as the value of latent mineral reserves is estimated at approximately 2.5 trillion dollars, and it is possible to benefit from them with the support of low-emission energy, noting the special economic zones, the green neighborhood initiative, and the national initiative for global supply chains that enhance the Kingdom’s competitiveness and its ability to attract advanced industries.

He stressed the Kingdom’s progress in the fields of clean energy and blue and green hydrogen, the development of one of the most competitive renewable energy assets in the world, and its goal to be one of the most prominent countries in the world in the field of artificial intelligence by the year 2030, with the digital economy expected to contribute to 19% of the gross domestic product, citing the Kingdom’s leadership in technology and communication indicators globally.

The Entrepreneurship System

Al-Falih pointed to the remarkable growth in the entrepreneurship system, as venture capital activities increased by 158% to reach $1.3 billion in the third quarter of the year, in addition to the issuance of more than 2,500 records for innovative entrepreneurs from various countries of the world to work in Kingdom.

He said: "The Kingdom is witnessing a rapid expansion in promising sectors such as tourism, hospitality, culture, and heritage, through major international projects such as Al-Ula, Diriyah, and Red Sea Global, which have become an essential source of economic growth and the generation of quality jobs. The Kingdom also supports joint regional growth through broad partnerships with neighboring countries such as Egypt, India, Pakistan, and the Levant region, in addition to the regional headquarters program that attracts international companies to establish their business centers in the Kingdom.

The Minister of Investment addressed the strength of the Saudi financial markets, explaining that the head of the The Kingdom’s sovereign wealth amounts to about $1.5 trillion, and the gross domestic product has doubled since the launch of Vision 2030.

Non-oil activities

The contribution of non-oil activities also rose to 56%, and gross fixed capital formation doubled, exceeding the strategy’s goals by 50%, while foreign direct investment flows and its balance quadrupled.

Al-Falih pointed to the success of major national companies, such as SABIC and ACWA Power, in enhancing the presence The Kingdom globally through its foreign investments and expanding its scope in industry, energy and water, which contributes to consolidating the Kingdom’s position in global supply chains.

He stressed that the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 was based from the beginning on partnerships, and that international organizations – led by UNIDO – were an influential partner in building capabilities, strengthening industrial policy, and accelerating development across various sectors.

The Minister of Investment concluded his speech by emphasizing that the best way to build the future is to invest in it with courage, responsibility, and partnership. Expressing the Kingdom’s pride in its relations with its international partners, and its aspiration to continue joint work towards a more prosperous and sustainable future.

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