Deputy industry minister says working to improve condition of factories without harming investors, citizens

The Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources is studying the conditions of factories, located within and outside the urban area, in cooperation with a number of related entities and specialists, state news agency SPA reported, citing deputy minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, Osama bin Abdulaziz Al-Zamil.

He emphasized that there are operating rooms created to find a radical solution within the urban area of cities to allocate land that is suitable for small and medium-sized industries, enabling Saudi women to invest in such places, as it will help to create new investment opportunities.

The Ministry and its partners have finalized standards in order for the implementation to begin next year.

More than 9,500 factories are now operating in the Kingdom, out of which 8,000 are classified as medium and small industries. More than half of them are located outside industrial cities, which entails the ministry to find solutions to the obstacles faced - the most important of being the factories should be characterized under complete Saudi specifications, standards and related accreditations in terms of product quality, application of food and drug conditions, environment protection, health and safety.

As for the supporting industries such as concrete plants and others that are located near cities and the importance of improving their conditions, Al-Zamil noted that this is common matter between the ministry and its partners, as it is now working to correct the course of these plants, away from harming the investor or citizen and resident whose interests have been affected by the proximity of these facilities.

One of the most important steps initiated by the ministry is to monitor plants that fall within the urban planning for cities, and the extent of their commitment and obligation to protect the environment. There is a clear reference to these plants licensed by the ministry, which is now working to move those plants and improve their conditions, the deputy minister concluded.