Saudi Arabia attracts global manufacturers with Vision 2030 industrial drive

Saudi Arabia is solidifying its position as a crucial hub for international manufacturers, driven by the ambitious Vision 2030 industrial transformation. The Kingdom's appeal lies in its robust infrastructure, strategic geographic location, and policies designed to enhance the competitiveness of local production.

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Saudi Arabia has been one of the company’s largest export markets worldwide for about 15 years.

Riyadh International Industry Week 2026 highlights this momentum, featuring over 400 manufacturing companies from more than 20 nations. Sebastian Walter, business development director for BBM, a German engineering and machinery firm, noted that Saudi Arabia has been a top export market for the company for about 15 years. He observed that the surge in local manufacturing and industrial investment is fueling demand for packaging solutions and industrial components, particularly within the automotive sector.

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Saudi Arabia is among the global markets with the highest number of BBM machines installed.

Walter emphasized that Saudi Arabia is among the global leaders in installed BBM machines. The nation's shift from importing finished goods to prioritizing local production has significantly boosted the demand for packaging solutions and other industrial components. He also pointed to the automotive industry as a promising area for future collaboration, citing the increased local production by companies like Lucid and Ceer, which is expected to foster an integrated industrial value chain.

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The shift toward local manufacturing, instead of importing value-added products, has strengthened demand for packaging solutions.

Furthermore, Walter highlighted the improved investment climate in Saudi Arabia over the past two decades. He cited the availability of full foreign ownership, easier access to skilled Saudi talent, competitive energy prices, and the Kingdom's advantageous location for accessing African and Asian markets. BBM considers Saudi Arabia a stable and strategic market, its most important in the Arab region and one of its most significant globally.

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Saudi Arabia’s investment environment has become far more open than it was two decades ago.