During a meeting that was organized by Asharqia Chamber on Sunday, Al-Skeet is looking at local business initiatives to support local content and improve the business environment in the Kingdom.
The Head of Local Content and Private Sector Development (Namaa) HE Fahad Bin Mohammed Al Skeet reviewed a number of initiatives aimed at developing local content in partnership with the private sector, during a meeting that was organized by Asharqia Chamber on Sunday 25 November 2018, at the headquarter of the Chamber in Dammam.
The meeting was directed by the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Asharqia Chamber, Abdul Hakim bin Hamad Al-Ammar Al-Khalidi, and was attended by board members Ibrahim bin Mohammed Al Sheikh, Chairman of the Industry and Energy Committee, Salah bin Abdul Hadi Al Qahtani and Saadoun bin Khalid Al Khalidi, the Secretary General of the Chamber Abdul Rahman bin Abdullah Al-Wabil, and the Chairman of the Strategic Sectors Committee Khalid bin Abdullah Al Zamil,
During the meeting, Al-Skeet explained that the Unit is keen to meet with the business sector in different regions to discuss ideas and initiatives that will contribute to supporting the increase of local content and improving the business environment of the private sector to achieve the goals of Vision 2030 and to strengthen the national economy among global economies.
He added that the Unit will continue to be the driving force for development in the private sector and local content by empowering and stimulating the private sector to imporve and reach its full potential, boost domestic spending and improve the balance of payments of the Kingdom.
He said that the business sector in the Eastern Region is keen on excellence by offering quality initiatives to meet with officials and specialists in order to be a hand in hand from government sectors in order to raise local content through the use of its services in several areas such as consulting and technical studies and researches.
For his part, AlKhalidi said that the empowerment of local content, whether in the recruitment of local human resources or procurement, services and manufacturing, opens the way for the development of the national economy.
It aims to achieve the objectives of Vision 2030 by diversifying its rules, with the local content offering great economic and social benefits.
AlKhalidi pointed out that the Kingdom pays great attention to the preference of the local product within the procurement and projects of government agencies and major companies such as the issuance of the royal order preference for the local product "The Local Content Unit of the Economic and Development Council" and the coming on the list of priorities of Vision 2030 to strengthen the local component of the national economy.
However, the local component still needs to be strengthened by "A comprehensive strategic plan for the settlement of purchases of government agencies and large companies" in order to achieve the desired objectives in the short, medium and long term in line with the target of the vision 2030 in this regard.
Al Khalidi pointed out that the meeting is a step in the right direction towards a comprehensive and integrated dialogue on the challenges of the stage and requirements, and certainly explores the future prospects of the local component in the Kingdom, which is of great importance through the patronage of ownership.
It was expressed by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques in his recent speech to the Shura Council by insisting on continued support to the private sector, which, as representatives of the sector, makes us do more to be responsible.
For his part, Al-Sheikh said that our country is currently facing a number of major economic developments in accordance with the vision of 2030 and the giant projects emanating from it, which were announced by our good government, as all of which makes the presence of local content in them and in detail, especially in the industrial sector, which is a fundamental and pivotal issue. The feasibility of a project does not carry value added to the community.
It is to provide a career opportunity for the citizen, and an investment opportunity for the institution and the national company, and thus provide a national commodity to achieve self-sufficiency in a field.
Al-Sheikh presented two proposals that the Unit should have an effective presence in all governmental and civil services, such as having a specialized department or departments in each governmental and private institution that to be effective in providing views and suggestions and follow-up processes and control the application of local content in all, in these departments and institutions, in addition to the media presence, awareness and education, which aims to emphasize the importance of the presence of the product, the commodity and the national idea in all our activities, especially in the industrial sector.
AlZamil said that the ambitions of the business sector in the region, especially those in the industrial sector, are in line with the direction of the leadership represented by the local content Unit. He also stressed the need to improve the local product and ensure that its specifications are competitive and in line with international standards.
At the end of the meeting, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Asharqia Chamber Abdul Hakim bin Hamad Al-Ammar Al-Khalidi honored the Head of the Local Content and Private Sector Development (Nama) Division, HE Fahd Bin Mohammed Al Skeit with a commemorative plaque.
