Russia exploring possible supply of planes to Saudi Arabia

RIYADH: Russia and Saudi Arabia have expressed interest in boosting bilateral commercial links, with Russia expressing an interest in supplying Russian-made passenger planes to Saudi Arabia, according to Vasiliy Osmakov, Russia’s deputy minister of industry and trade.
“Russian Railways is also negotiating to participate in two railway projects,” said Osmakov, while speaking to Arab News on the sidelines of the high-profile Saudi-Russian Business Meeting at the Council of Saudi Chambers (CSC), on Thursday.
The deputy minister said: “Saudi and Russian officials discussed potential areas of cooperation in their joint meetings.”
The two sides, he said, are working to collaborate in sectors like “oil and gas; oil equipment supply to Saudi Aramco; railways; Russian investment in Saudi industrial cities, including NEOM; and supply of Russian-made aircraft.”
He added: “Russia is exploring the possibility of supplying MS-21 aircraft to the local market here. Russia has produced its new MS-21 medium-range aircraft, which is its first post-Soviet mainline passenger plane.”
Asked about the prospects of cooperation in the railway sector, Osmakov pointed out that “Russian Railways is negotiating the construction of two railroads in Saudi Arabia, whose tenders will be announced soon.”
Referring to the growing commercial ties between the Kingdom and Russia, Osmakov said: “We foresee strong prospect for Saudi-Russian cooperation … A slew of deals were signed during King Salman’s visit to Russia, and we are working on several agreements during this business meeting to be signed in the near future.”
Osmakov pointed out that the Saudi and Russian officials also discussed potentials of cooperation in the renewable energy sector including supply of solar technology and panels.
This is in addition to a large number of areas of cooperation discussed by the two sides including supply of trucks, beef, goat and sheep meat after approval from the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA).