RIYADH: In preparation for the Armed Forces Exhibition for Diversification of Local Manufacturing (AFED), which will be held on Feb. 25, Maj. Gen Attiya bin Saleh Al-Malki, spokesman of the exhibition and director general of the department overseeing the localization of manufacturing, explained that the exhibition will have local companies that produce merchandise of high standards with the employment of Saudis, thus creating jobs and helping the economy.
The first AFED exhibition was launched in 2010 in Riyadh exclusively for the armed forces. The second exhibition was held in Dhahran in partnership with Saudi Aramco and Saudi Basic Industries Corp. (SABIC). The third exhibition was held in Riyadh in 2016 with Saudi Aramco, SABIC and many other companies.
During a press conference in Riyadh on Wednesday, Al-Maliki said: “We have made much headway and progress in sector and more is expected in this exhibition.”
When Arab News inquired about the timefame for total localization, Al-Maliki said: “We started in 2013, and since then we have a planned vision and goals. Before Vision 2030, our goals were long term, but now with Vision 2030, we can see ourselves executing our goals of Saudi industrialization of military supplies in a much shorter timeframe.”
The vision and aim of the exhibition is to locally manufacture the arms needed by the country so that the nation’s factories may benefit from sales, rather than buying them from abroad.
Al-Maliki said there would be lectures and workshops during the event. He said it would be a good opportunity for manufacturers and investors to identify business opportunities.
Earlier, Al-Maliki said the exhibition is part of the economic reforms announced by the government, which aims to stimulate investment, support non-oil exports and develop a knowledge-based economy.
The AFED management hopes it will open vast opportunities for job employment and boost the local economy, furthering more factories and companies to upgrade their standards and work toward achieving a higher quality of merchandise that may even be sold on the international market in the future.
Armed forces exhibition to help localize Saudi military industry
Armed forces exhibition to help localize Saudi military industry
Saudi Arabia highlights expanding trade ties at Thailand International Mega Fair
- Exhibition features more than 150 leading Thai brands across sectors including food and beverages, health and wellness, tourism, fragrances and oud, smart agriculture, automotive components, decor, construction materials, and business solutions
- Fair also offers cultural performances, interactive displays, and new opportunities to deepen commercial ties between the Kingdom and Thailand
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia underscored its growing economic ties with Thailand as the Kingdom took part in the Thailand International Mega Fair 2025 in Riyadh this week.
Majid Al-Qasabi, representing minister of commerce and chairman of the board of the General Authority for Foreign Trade, and Abdulaziz bin Omar Al-Sakran, the authority’s deputy governor for international relations, attended the fair’s inauguration on Sunday.
The event brought together senior officials from both countries, including Kirida Bhaopichitr, vice minister for commerce of the Royal Thai Government; Darm Boontham, Thailand’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia; and Osama Qoqandi, chairman of the Saudi–Thai Business Council, alongside public and private sector representatives.
Speaking at the ceremony, Visit Limlurcha, vice chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce and the Board of Trade of Thailand, highlighted the significant progress in Thai-Saudi relations since the full restoration of diplomatic ties in 2022.
He said the fair serves as a key government-backed platform to expand cooperation in trade, investment, tourism, and emerging industries, supporting long-term economic collaboration between the two nations.
Al-Sakran said in a statement that years of joint efforts have strengthened partnerships between the Saudi and Thai private sectors, noting that bilateral trade over the past five years has reached nearly $40 billion, with an average annual growth rate of about 9 percent.
He added that the Saudi–Thai Joint Business Council has been restructured to provide an improved channel for communication, joint initiatives, and broader commercial and investment cooperation.
He said Saudi Arabia’s participation in the event reflects the Kingdom’s commitment to creating new avenues for economic collaboration and supporting Saudi and Thai companies in exploring promising investment opportunities.
The effort, he noted, aligns with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 to diversify the national economy and enhance the Kingdom’s position as a leading regional and global trade hub.
Organized in strategic partnership with the Thai Chamber of Commerce and the Board of Trade of Thailand, the Thailand International Mega Fair 2025 is supported by the Royal Thai Embassy in Riyadh, the Federation of Saudi Chambers, the Saudi–Thai Business Council, and the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce.
The three-day exhibition features more than 150 leading Thai brands across sectors including food and beverages, health and wellness, tourism, fragrances and oud, smart agriculture, automotive components, decor, construction materials, and business solutions.
Held at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center, the fair also offers cultural performances, interactive displays, and new opportunities to deepen commercial ties between the Kingdom and Thailand.
