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Saudi Arabia's military industries geared toward self-sufficiency
An official explains the highlights of some of the exhibits to Deputy Defense Minister Prince Khaled bin Sultan at the armed forces exhibition for materials and spare parts in Dammam on Saturday. (AN photo)
(MENAFN - Arab News) Deputy Defense Minister Prince Khaled bin Sultan yesterday expressed confidence that Saudi Arabia will soon achieve self-sufficiency in military equipment and spare parts.
"We look forward to exporting some of our products," he said while opening an armed forces exhibition for materials and spare parts.
"The efforts being made by different government departments including the armed forces as well as the private sector, companies involved in the Economic Offset Program and research centers reflect the desire to achieve self-sufficiency and reduce expenditure," the minister told the gathering of prominent businessmen, defense officials, and government representatives at the Dhahran International Exhibition Center.
Eastern Province Deputy Gov. Prince Jelawi bin Abdul Aziz bin Musaed and Saudi Royal Air Force Commander Gen. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ayesh were among those who were present at the event.
The exhibition, which will run until Dec. 13, has been organized by the Department of Defense in strategic partnership with the Asharqia Chamber. The exhibition aims to promote communication between the armed forces and national factories to set up industry for manufacturing spare parts for armed forces' materials.
Asharqia Chamber chief Abdul Rahman Al-Rashed said the Kingdom has a fantastic industrial base. "Our total investment in the industrial sector exceeds SR 1.8 trillion, and this gives our industries the added advantage of exporting their stuff," he said.
According to Al-Rashed, Saudi firms are already exporting spare parts that may be used in military equipment. "For instance, our firms are exporting heavy equipment, radiators, silencers " all these spare parts can also be used in military equipment," he told Arab News.
Prince Khaled said new military industries would help generate job opportunities for young men and women. He commended local efforts in the field of military engineering to ensure efficiency of high-tech equipment and devices. Prince Khaled urged Saudi researchers and producers not to violate intellectual property rights and industrialization rights. "We should not steal others thoughts and efforts. Honesty is the basis of success," he added.
Prince Khaled commended the efforts made by relevant authorities to classify and number national military industries and for registering them at national and international levels. He praised the contributions made by Prince Sultan Institute for Advanced Research and Military Engineering Department at King Saud University. A working team of various military sectors has been formed to coordinate with the Central Industrialization Committee and the private sector to achieve the Defense Ministry's strategic goals. "All these efforts will lead to achieving self-sufficiency and then strengthening our capability to export," he said. Prince Khaled emphasized the importance of upholding quality. Authorities have rejected 120 industries and refused to accept 170 spare parts as they failed to fulfill quality conditions. Prince Khaled praised the late Prince Sultan, former defense minister, for promoting cooperation between the various defense sectors and the private sector and encouraging national industries to support the armed forces and transfer of technology.
"Prince Sultan was confident in the capabilities of Saudi civilians and military officers in confronting challenges and overcoming difficulties," he said, adding that he had given priority to national interests.
Gen. Al-Ayesh, who is chairman of the central committee for industrialization, highlighted the importance of transfer of technology for achieving sustainable development.
On the sidelines of the exhibition, lectures and seminars are being held for the exchange of information, opinions, ideas, suggestions and experiences to serve the local manufacturing industry with the participation of government agencies, universities, research centers and the private sector and other stakeholders.
The exhibition is set to open channels of a joint cooperation between the armed forces, businesses and local factories and the private sector. It will inform the private sector on the needs and requirements of the armed forces such as materials and spare parts which can be manufactured locally.
http://www.menafn.com/menafn/1093587371/Saudi-Arabias-military-industries-geared-toward-selfsufficiency
An official explains the highlights of some of the exhibits to Deputy Defense Minister Prince Khaled bin Sultan at the armed forces exhibition for materials and spare parts in Dammam on Saturday. (AN photo)
(MENAFN - Arab News) Deputy Defense Minister Prince Khaled bin Sultan yesterday expressed confidence that Saudi Arabia will soon achieve self-sufficiency in military equipment and spare parts.
"We look forward to exporting some of our products," he said while opening an armed forces exhibition for materials and spare parts.
"The efforts being made by different government departments including the armed forces as well as the private sector, companies involved in the Economic Offset Program and research centers reflect the desire to achieve self-sufficiency and reduce expenditure," the minister told the gathering of prominent businessmen, defense officials, and government representatives at the Dhahran International Exhibition Center.
Eastern Province Deputy Gov. Prince Jelawi bin Abdul Aziz bin Musaed and Saudi Royal Air Force Commander Gen. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ayesh were among those who were present at the event.
The exhibition, which will run until Dec. 13, has been organized by the Department of Defense in strategic partnership with the Asharqia Chamber. The exhibition aims to promote communication between the armed forces and national factories to set up industry for manufacturing spare parts for armed forces' materials.
Asharqia Chamber chief Abdul Rahman Al-Rashed said the Kingdom has a fantastic industrial base. "Our total investment in the industrial sector exceeds SR 1.8 trillion, and this gives our industries the added advantage of exporting their stuff," he said.
According to Al-Rashed, Saudi firms are already exporting spare parts that may be used in military equipment. "For instance, our firms are exporting heavy equipment, radiators, silencers " all these spare parts can also be used in military equipment," he told Arab News.
Prince Khaled said new military industries would help generate job opportunities for young men and women. He commended local efforts in the field of military engineering to ensure efficiency of high-tech equipment and devices. Prince Khaled urged Saudi researchers and producers not to violate intellectual property rights and industrialization rights. "We should not steal others thoughts and efforts. Honesty is the basis of success," he added.
Prince Khaled commended the efforts made by relevant authorities to classify and number national military industries and for registering them at national and international levels. He praised the contributions made by Prince Sultan Institute for Advanced Research and Military Engineering Department at King Saud University. A working team of various military sectors has been formed to coordinate with the Central Industrialization Committee and the private sector to achieve the Defense Ministry's strategic goals. "All these efforts will lead to achieving self-sufficiency and then strengthening our capability to export," he said. Prince Khaled emphasized the importance of upholding quality. Authorities have rejected 120 industries and refused to accept 170 spare parts as they failed to fulfill quality conditions. Prince Khaled praised the late Prince Sultan, former defense minister, for promoting cooperation between the various defense sectors and the private sector and encouraging national industries to support the armed forces and transfer of technology.
"Prince Sultan was confident in the capabilities of Saudi civilians and military officers in confronting challenges and overcoming difficulties," he said, adding that he had given priority to national interests.
Gen. Al-Ayesh, who is chairman of the central committee for industrialization, highlighted the importance of transfer of technology for achieving sustainable development.
On the sidelines of the exhibition, lectures and seminars are being held for the exchange of information, opinions, ideas, suggestions and experiences to serve the local manufacturing industry with the participation of government agencies, universities, research centers and the private sector and other stakeholders.
The exhibition is set to open channels of a joint cooperation between the armed forces, businesses and local factories and the private sector. It will inform the private sector on the needs and requirements of the armed forces such as materials and spare parts which can be manufactured locally.
http://www.menafn.com/menafn/1093587371/Saudi-Arabias-military-industries-geared-toward-selfsufficiency
