Saudi Arbia’s Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources (MIM) has issued 53 new industrial licenses across seven different industrial activities in April.
The licenses were distributed over seven different industrial activities, topped by food processing with 9 licenses. It was followed by the manufacturing of formed metal products and other non-metallic mineral products with 8 licenses each, Saudi Gazette newspaper wrote in a report.
Four licenses were issued for various activities related to the manufacture of basic metals, paper and paper products, rubber and plastics products, and water collection, treatment, and supply, the report noted.
According to National Center for Industrial and Mining Information under the MIM, the ministry had issued 385 industrial licenses from the beginning of 2023 until the end of April. By the end of the same month, the number of existing and under-construction factories in Saudi Arabia reached 10,873, representing an investment value of SR1.440 trillion.
Regarding the investment value of the new ventures licensed in April, the report disclosed that it amounted to SR5.8 billion. Small enterprises accounted for the majority of new licenses during April, constituting 94.34%, followed by medium enterprises at 5.66%.
In terms of the type of investment, national factories held the highest share of the total number of licenses at 66.04%, followed by foreign enterprises at 11.32%. Joint investment enterprises accounted for 22.64%.
The report highlighted that 24 factories commenced production in April, with a total investment value of SR155 million. Of these, four factories were dedicated to rubber and plastic units, while two factories were established for the manufacture of paper, non-metallic minerals, wood, and formed metals, respectively.
Among the factories that began production in April, national factories constituted the largest percentage at 85.71%, while joint investment factories and foreign factories accounted for 7.14% each.
The Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources, in collaboration with the National Center for Industrial and Mining Information, regularly publishes monthly reports containing the most significant industrial indicators that shed light on the nature of industrial activity in Saudi Arabia.
These reports also provide updates on changes in the sector’s volume and highlight new industrial investments and factories that have commenced production.