Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Begins Official Visit to France
Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, Mr. Bandar bin Ibrahim Al-Khorayef, embarked on an official visit to France today, intended to last until May 7th. This diplomatic mission includes visits to the capital city of Paris, in addition to the cities of Marseille and Toulouse. The minister leads a high-level delegation representing the industrial and mining sectors of Saudi Arabia.
The primary aim of this visit is to strengthen the economic ties between Saudi Arabia and France while enhancing cooperation between the two nations in the industrial and mining sectors. The discussions will also focus on exploring shared investment opportunities in promising strategic sectors that Saudi Arabia aims to localize. Among the priorities are the aerospace and food industries, which are critical for both nations.
During his visit, Minister Al-Khorayef is scheduled to hold a series of bilateral meetings with key government officials and leaders of prominent French companies engaged in mining, aerospace, and food production. Notably, he will engage in discussions with Mr. Eric Lombard, France’s Minister of Economy, Finance, and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty. These meetings are expected to address the expansion of collaborative efforts between Saudi Arabia and France in the industrial and mining sectors. The conversations will also focus on attracting high-quality investments to the Kingdom and establishing effective partnerships that leverage the promising opportunities presented by specialized industrial clusters in Saudi Arabia. Additionally, the talks will highlight the incentives and support that the Kingdom offers to potential investors.
Part of Minister Al-Khorayef’s itinerary includes a tour of Airbus manufacturing facilities located in Marseille and Toulouse. During this visit, he will gain insights into their industrial operations and production lines. The trip is also anticipated to culminate in the signing of memorandums of understanding with French companies, aimed at promoting joint investments, sharing expertise, and transferring knowledge within these promising industrial sectors.
The economic relationship between Saudi Arabia and France is robust, reflected in the figures for non-oil exports, which exceeded 1.91 billion riyals in 2024. The leading export sectors include machinery, electrical equipment, organic chemical products, and aluminum and its derivatives. In contrast, France’s non-oil imports from Saudi Arabia reached 18.20 billion riyals in the same year, with essential sectors such as aromatic oils, electrical devices, and pharmaceuticals prominently featured in import statistics.
Minister Al-Khorayef’s official visit to France aligns seamlessly with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 objectives, which emphasize developing international partnerships to enhance the competitiveness of the Saudi industrial sector. Through initiatives aimed at transforming the Kingdom into a global industrial powerhouse, the focus is on localizing advanced strategic industries, particularly in the fields of aerospace and food production. The overarching goal is to attract quality investments as well as foster the transfer of knowledge, technology, and innovation in these vital areas.
This visit underscores the commitment of both nations to fostering a dynamic economic partnership, with an eye toward mutual growth and development in key industries. As the Kingdom positions itself as a leader in industry and mining, the collaboration with France is anticipated to yield significant benefits for both countries, opening avenues for innovation, investment, and economic prosperity.
