SABB committed to trade finance development in KSA

SABB received the ‘Best Bank for Commodity Finance’ award during the event.
Updated 04 December 2019
Follow

SABB committed to trade finance development in KSA

SABB presented important insights about the future of trade finance in Saudi Arabia during the 7th Annual Saudi Trade Finance Summit.

The event, held in Riyadh, was attended by a group of decision-makers, senior experts, professionals, and leaders in the trade finance sector from various governmental and private institutions.

SABB, which was the platinum sponsor of the summit, participated in providing solutions, exchanging ideas to develop trade finance tools, discussing the laws, strategies, and trends of trade finance, during the summit sessions.

SABB also received the “Best Bank for Commodity Finance” award.

The annual summit is considered to be one of the most important events in the Kingdom’s trade finance sector.

Ahmad Alalawi, head of origination and client advisory at SABB, participated with a working paper titled “Saudi Trade Finance Trends and Challenges in 2020,” where he discussed effects of the global trade wars on Saudi trade, the new opportunities in changing the local regulatory environment, and new trade products and the value they can add to the Saudi market.

Another working paper was presented by Sean Bowey, head of global trade and receivables finance products at SABB, titled “Saudi Trade Market Digitization as a Part of an International Trend,” where he stressed that trade finance is coming to unprecedented growth, pointing out to the benefits to banks and customers in Saudi Arabia as an outcome. He also highlighted the importance of developing global standards and digital products in relation to finance, and emphasized the importance of digitization as an important factor to increase transparency, and developing the secondary market.

SABB has launched several products and services aimed at promoting the role of trade finance, in an effort to stimulate the economy and business development in order to achieve the objectives of Vision 2030.


Schneider Electric launches academy in Saudi Arabia to build future-ready talent

Updated 04 February 2026
Follow

Schneider Electric launches academy in Saudi Arabia to build future-ready talent

Schneider Electric has announced the launch of the Energy Tech Academy Middle East and Africa in Saudi Arabia, a regional capability platform dedicated to skilling, upskilling, and knowledge sharing.

The launch comes at a critical moment as the Kingdom accelerates energy transition, industrial localization, and human capability development under Vision 2030. The academy reinforces the Kingdom’s leadership role in building future-ready talent while supporting industrial and energy transformation across the wider Middle East and Africa region.

The Energy Tech Academy Middle East and Africa is not a traditional training center; it is a regional platform translating Schneider Electric’s global energy technology expertise into applied capability for Saudi Arabia and the broader region. Anchored in Riyadh, the academy is designed to serve as a benchmark for skills development and enablement across the MEA.

The launch reflects Schneider Electric’s long-term commitment to investing in people and capabilities, and to supporting national priorities across energy, industry, and digital infrastructure.

Mohamed Shaheen, cluster president of Schneider Electric Saudi Arabia and Yemen, said: “This launch reflects our long-term commitment to Saudi Arabia and to building capability that lasts. After more than 40 years in the Kingdom, we continue to invest where impact matters most: in people. Launching the Energy Tech Academy Middle East and Africa from Riyadh underscores our belief that sustainable transformation is built on local capability and trusted partnerships.”

The academy directly supports Saudi Arabia’s focus on human capability development, localization, and Saudi-made outcomes by enabling the skills behind advanced energy systems, industrial automation, and digital infrastructure. Capabilities developed through the academy will support Saudi manufacturing, national projects, and resilient supply chains, while also strengthening regional industrial ecosystems.

“The Energy Tech Academy Middle East and Africa is designed to enable real outcomes,” said Walid Sheta, zone president for the MEA at Schneider Electric. “By equipping talent with future-ready skills across electrification, automation, and digital intelligence, we are strengthening Saudi and regional capability to design, operate, and lead the energy and industrial systems of the future.”

The launch event in Riyadh brought together senior government representatives, industry partners, customers, and Schneider Electric’s leadership, highlighting the importance of cross-sector collaboration in aligning education, skills development, and labor market needs.

Designed as a long-term platform, the Energy Tech Academy Middle East and Africa will continue to evolve through partnerships, programs, and continuous capability development, reinforcing Saudi Arabia’s role as a regional hub for skills, knowledge, and industrial enablement.