The 5th Al Ahsa Investment Forum 2019 recommended establishing a new airport in al-Ahsa that contributes to fostering economic development and meets current and future individual and business sector needs.
The forum, which concluded on Thursday, also recommended supporting efforts that aim to safeguard Al-Ahsa Oasis from the environmental threats, pushing forward the development of the infrastructure of Al-Ahsa's 2nd Industrial City, promoting investment initiatives in the tourism sector and resuming vital projects, including Al-Uqair project.
A concluding statement called for an overall revision of the organizational environment of the municipal sector. The review would grant privileges to municipalities and enable them to upgrade the quality of their services, lead sustainable development and form an independent government authority.
The forum urged the establishment of an international center for exhibitions and conferences to host and attract international and local events. This will contribute to the development of the services and economic sectors and reinforce the historic, cultural and economic status of Al-Ahsa.
It underpinned the importance of developing the forum to become a global platform through establishing an independent secretariat general in cooperation with the Al-Ahsa Chamber.
Secretary-General of Al-Ahsa Chamber of Commerce and Industry Abdullah al-Nashwan said that the forum focused on opportunities of investment and privatizations in the energy sector, future jobs in the Kingdom, the fourth industrial revolution, the investment environment, agricultural investment and Al-Ahsa becoming a capital for Arab tourism in 2019.
Mohammed Qahtani, senior VP for Upstream at Saudi Aramco, said that Aramco determined 140 investment opportunities in nine industrial sectors worth around USD16 billion. He noted that Aramco prioritizes localizing the manufacturing of products and consumer services and adding value to oil, gas, and petrochemicals that it produces.
Moreover, Antoni Vives, chief executive officer of NEOM, revealed that the NEOM project will inaugurate several basic infrastructure facilities by the end of this year. They comprise 16 economic sectors that offer mega opportunities to investors worldwide, he said during the forum.
