Bandar Alkhorayef, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, recently held a high-level meeting with the CEO of Airbus Commercial Aircraft, Christian Scherer, and other Airbus leaders in the commercial aviation and satellite sectors.
The two sides discussed enhancing cooperation in the aviation and space industries, including opportunities to localize aircraft manufacturing and maintenance technology in the Kingdom.
The meeting, held in France, was attended by Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and French Nationals Abroad, Laurent Saint-Martin, CEO of Local Content and Government Procurement Authority, Abdulrahman Al Samari, and CEO of the National Industrial Development Center, Eng. Saleh Al-Solami.
Alkhorayef spotlights mutual investment opportunities
During the meeting, Alkhorayef underscored the deep strategic partnership between Saudi Arabia and Airbus, which spans nearly four decades and forms a crucial pillar for developing cooperation in aviation and satellite industries.
He also highlighted mutual investment opportunities, noting that localizing aviation manufacturing is a high priority in Saudi Vision 2030 and the National Strategy for Industry, which aims to enhance national industrial capabilities, boost global competitiveness and achieve economic diversification and sustainable development.
Saudi Arabia is currently working on developing an advanced industrial and investment environment for the aviation industry, fostering innovation, supporting supply chain integration and attracting quality investments.
Alkhorayef also outlined the enablers and incentives to attract global aviation companies, including Airbus. These encompass simplified government procedures for foreign investment, streamlined regulations, easy licensing, competitive access to key minerals like aluminum and titanium for aviation manufacturing, the Kingdom’s strategic global location as a trade hub connecting Europe, Asia and Africa, and a supportive investment climate with government-backed financial solutions and advanced infrastructure for business sustainability.
Kingdom’s mineral resources to address supply chain challenges
Alkhorayef further affirmed Saudi Arabia’s readiness to enhance cooperation with Airbus in addressing supply chain challenges in the aviation industry by leveraging its vast mineral resources, advanced logistics networks and skilled workforce for mutual benefits and increased joint investments to support the localization of aviation manufacturing.
For his part, Scherer said Saudi Arabia is a strategic partner for Airbus in the Middle East, praising Vision 2030, which supports economic transformation and diversification, and achieves sustainable development. He emphasized Airbus’s commitment to deepening its relations with the Kingdom through knowledge and expertise exchange and enhanced cooperation in advanced technologies that contribute to the development of the aviation and satellite sectors.
Saint-Martin also highlighted the strong economic ties between Saudi Arabia and France, underscoring the importance of strengthening industrial cooperation, particularly in aviation and satellite technology, to advance shared development goals.
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Alkhorayef tours Airbus facilities
Alkhorayef and his delegation visited Airbus’s main manufacturing plant and its commercial aviation and satellite facilities. Airbus leaders provided comprehensive presentations on the company’s global operations, expansion and cutting-edge technologies and innovative solutions for aircraft manufacturing. He also visited Airbus’s assembly lines, observing the company’s advanced manufacturing processes and operational excellence.
The visit also included a tour of Airbus’s satellite manufacturing facilities to explore its capabilities in space industries and innovative technologies that support communication development and enhance global security.
Alkhorayef’s meeting with Airbus leaders is part of his official visit to France, which aims to strengthen industrial and mining cooperation and explore joint opportunities in strategic industrial sectors that the Kingdom seeks to localize and develop, primarily aviation and food industries.
