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Saudi Arabia invests $4 billion to boost rail industry and create 3,000 jobs

The program is expected to create significant opportunities for citizens, generating up to 3,000 jobs.

Saudi Arabia invests $4 billion to boost rail industry and create 3,000 jobs
[Source photo: Krishna Prasad/Fast Company Middle East]

Saudi Arabia has announced a $4 billion investment to strengthen its domestic rail industry and create thousands of jobs. The initiative, launched by the Ministry of Transport and Logistic Services, aims to boost local content and promote economic diversification.

The Asasat program, a collaboration between Saudi Railways (SAR) and the Local Content and Government Procurement Authority (LCGPA), will open investment opportunities for local suppliers and manufacturers.

The initiative seeks to enhance operational efficiency, improve production capacity and quality, and develop local human capital. It aims to meet Vision 2030’s local content targets, increasing local content in SAR’s operations to 60% by 2025 while also focusing on developing skilled workers within the kingdom.

The program is expected to create significant opportunities for citizens, generating up to 3,000 jobs and driving economic growth.

It highlights SAR’s commitment to advancing national industry and empowering SMEs to compete in the railway sector by adopting global best practices, improving operational efficiency, and enhancing production capacity and quality.

The initiative was unveiled by Eng. Saleh Al Jasser, Minister of Transport and Logistic Services, during the Saudi Rail Conference and Exhibition in Riyadh.

Al-Jasser also highlighted the kingdom’s advancements in rail infrastructure, noting that the network now spans over 5,500 kilometers.

He pointed to key routes, including the North Network, which connects Riyadh to the Jordanian border, and the East Network, linking Riyadh to the Arabian Gulf coast.

He also spotlighted the Haramain High-Speed Railway (HHR), a state-of-the-art electric rail system connecting Makkah and Madinah. The HHR has become one of the world’s fastest railways, serving over 20 million passengers since its launch in 2018.

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