RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing Majid Al-Hogail convened a meeting in the Chinese capital, Beijing, with several heads of Chinese banks, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.
The meeting was held to discuss potential investment and development opportunities in infrastructure projects within the municipal and housing sectors in Saudi Arabian cities.
During the meeting, Al-Hogail engaged in discussions with the heads of the Export-Import Bank of China, China Development Bank, and Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Limited.
They focused on Saudi Arabia’s housing plans and programs, which entail providing housing schemes and improving the quality of the housing sector.
They also covered aspects regarding master plans for building technologies and project sustainability and plans that encompass financing and refinancing programs from banks to facilitate housing development.
Al-Hogail explored opportunities for joint cooperation and collaborated on various financing models for infrastructure projects in Saudi Arabia.
He expressed his keenness to open new horizons and avenues for Saudi-Chinese investment and to strengthen partnerships with Chinese banks and companies that specialize in urban infrastructure development, housing, and financing.
Al-Hogail is currently serving as patron of the Saudi-Chinese Business Forum, which is set to launch in Beijing on Wednesday and will be attended by officials from the ministry, Saudi investors, Chinese companies, and businessmen.
The forum is designed to review investment opportunities and advantages provided by the Kingdom, particularly within the areas of infrastructure and housing.
“The ultimate goal is to attract the best Chinese companies for investment and foster stronger partnerships between the two nations,” SPA said.
Saudi Arabia and China sealed 35 investment agreements worth around $30 billion during the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to the Kingdom last December. Among these was an action plan to activate the housing memorandum of cooperation provisions, signed by Al-Hogail and Wang Wentao, China’s commerce minister.
Last month, Al-Hogail visited Turkiye, where he attended the launch of the Saudi-Turkish Business Forum in Istanbul. He also met with several Turkish officials, businesspeople, and investors.
The visit to Turkiye also sought to enhance cooperation opportunities with Turkish companies in urban and real estate development, construction, contracting and smart cities.
Saudi minister explores green industrial complex plans during China visit
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Saudi minister explores green industrial complex plans during China visit
Jordan’s industry fuels 39% of Q2 GDP growth
JEDDAH: Jordan’s industrial sector emerged as a major contributor to economic performance in 2025, accounting for 39 percent of gross domestic product growth in the second quarter and 92 percent of national exports.
Manufactured exports increased 8.9 percent year on year during the first nine months of 2025, reaching 6.4 billion Jordanian dinars ($9 billion), driven by stronger external demand. The expansion aligns with the country’s Economic Modernization Vision, which aims to position the country as a regional hub for high-value industrial exports, the Jordan News Agency, known as Petra, quoted the Jordan Chamber of Industry President Fathi Jaghbir as saying.
Export growth was broad-based, with eight of 10 industrial subsectors posting gains. Food manufacturing, construction materials, packaging, and engineering industries led performance, supported by expanded market access across Europe, Arab countries, and Africa.
In 2025, Jordanian industrial products reached more than 144 export destinations, including emerging Asian and African markets such as Ethiopia, Djibouti, Thailand, the Philippines, and Pakistan. Arab countries accounted for 42 percent of industrial exports, with Saudi Arabia remaining the largest market at 955 million dinars.
Exports to Syria rose sharply to nearly 174 million dinars, while shipments to Iraq and Lebanon totaled approximately 745 million dinars. Demand from advanced markets also strengthened, with exports to India reaching 859 million dinars and Italy about 141 million dinars.
Industrial output also showed steady improvement. The industrial production index rose 1.47 percent during the first nine months of 2025, led by construction industries at 2.7 percent, packaging at 2.3 percent, and food and livestock-related industries at 1.7 percent.
Employment gains accompanied the sector’s expansion, with more than 6,000 net new manufacturing jobs created during the period, lifting total industrial employment to approximately 270,000 workers. Nearly half of the new jobs were generated in food manufacturing, reflecting export-driven growth.
Jaghbir said industrial exports remain among the economy’s highest value-added activities, noting that every dinar invested generates an estimated 2.17 dinars through employment, logistics, finance, and supply-chain linkages. The sector also plays a critical role in narrowing the trade deficit and supporting macroeconomic stability.
Investment activity accelerated across several subsectors in 2025, including food processing, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, mining, textiles, and leather, as manufacturers expanded capacity and upgraded production lines to meet rising demand.
Jaghbir attributed part of the sector’s momentum to government measures aimed at strengthening competitiveness and improving the business environment. Key steps included freezing reductions in customs duties for selected industries, maintaining exemptions for production inputs, reinstating tariffs on goods with local alternatives, and imposing a 16 percent customs duty on postal parcels to support domestic producers.
Additional incentives in industrial cities and broader structural reforms were also cited as improving the investment climate, reducing operational burdens, and balancing consumer needs with protection of local industries.
