Vice Minister for Industrial Affairs Opens Riyadh International Industry Week 2026
H.E. Eng. Khalil bin Ibrahim bin Salamah, Vice Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources for Industrial Affairs, opened Riyadh International Industry Week 2026 today at the Riyadh International Convention & Exhibition Center. Held under the patronage of the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources and organized by Riyadh Exhibitions Company Ltd., the event runs until June 24.
Speaking during the opening ceremony, the vice minister said the week, through its events and specialized exhibitions, represents an important platform for highlighting the development of national industry and its transformation toward adopting the latest Fourth Industrial Revolution solutions.
He said the event also supports efforts to attract high-value industrial investments and highlight the Kingdom’s leadership in the manufacturing sector as part of ambitious plans to benefit from natural resources and transform raw materials into value-added products. These efforts contribute to developing non-oil exports, diversifying the national economy, and positioning the Kingdom as a global industrial hub.
The vice minister said Saudi Vision 2030 has placed the goal of building a competitive and resilient industrial economy capable of adapting to global changes at the heart of its objectives. He said this goal draws on the Kingdom’s strategic strengths, including its unique geographic position linking three continents, its advanced infrastructure, and its integrated logistics ecosystem.
He added that the Kingdom has used these strengths to enhance the resilience and integration of supply chains locally and regionally, strengthen readiness and rapid crisis response, and help ensure the efficient and reliable flow of goods and services.
He concluded by emphasizing that the Kingdom’s industrial ecosystem has made major efforts to support the industrial sector, ensure the stability of supply chains, and secure the availability of industrial inputs and raw materials, particularly in vital sectors linked to national, food, and pharmaceutical security, while also facilitating access for Saudi exports to regional and global markets.
Mohammed Al-Hussaini, CEO of Riyadh Exhibitions Company Ltd., said in a speech delivered on behalf of HRH Prince Saud bin Turki Al-Faisal, Chairman of Riyadh Exhibitions Company Ltd., that Riyadh International Industry Week 2026 builds on the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources’ efforts to highlight investment opportunities and reinforce the Kingdom’s role as a regional industrial hub.
He said the event aligns with Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to diversify the economy and increase the industrial sector’s contribution to GDP, supporting sustainable development and further advancing the Kingdom’s industrial standing.
Al-Hussaini said the existing partnership between Riyadh Exhibitions Company and Messe Düsseldorf, a leading company in the organization and management of specialized industrial exhibitions, has helped develop the exhibition into one of the Middle East’s leading specialized events in these fields.
He added that this year’s edition features 337 local and international companies from 17 countries. The exhibition also coincides with the launch of an accompanying international conference featuring a number of specialized panel discussions and more than 40 local and international speakers from 12 countries, including experts and executives in manufacturing, supply chains, and industrial digital transformation.
The vice minister toured the exhibition pavilions, where he reviewed the latest technologies, industrial solutions, and products presented by participating entities, as well as innovations showcased by local and international companies in manufacturing, plastics and petrochemicals, printing and packaging, and smart logistics.
The vice minister also witnessed the signing of a cooperation agreement between National Plastic Factory Company (NPF) and the Spanish company Figueras to manufacture stadium and theater seating locally, with an investment of SAR 10 million in the first phase. The agreement will help transfer industrial knowledge, increase local content, and support industrial localization objectives. The agreement was signed under the sponsorship of the National Industrial Development Center.
Riyadh International Industry Week is being held as part of efforts to support the growth of the industrial sector, strengthen links among manufacturers, suppliers, and investors, and showcase the latest industrial solutions and technologies. These efforts aim to improve supply-chain efficiency and enhance the competitiveness of national industry, in support of Saudi Vision 2030’s objective of building a more competitive and sustainable industrial sector.
