US giant General Electric has announced it will invest an additional $150m in a new regional manufacturing hub in Saudi Arabia to build equipment for the energy industry.
The hub will support more than 2,000 GE jobs, in addition to catalysing the growth of ancillary industries that support the facility, the company said in a statement.
The announcement came as General Electric opened its Energy Manufacturing Technology Centre in Dammam, which offers services to the energy value chain in the wider Middle East region, Europe and Africa.
The new centre is one of the largest of its kind in the world and shows GE’s commitment to Saudi Arabia, Ali Saleh Al Barrak, president and CEO of Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) said.
It includes a manufacturing facility of high technology equipment for the power, water and oil and gas industries; a service and repair centre for advanced turbine equipment; and a training centre that will offer the latest technology and managerial courses for college students, field engineers and other power industry professionals throughout the
Al Barrak added: “As part of GE’s commitment to Saudi Arabia, we are looking forward to this high quality integrated service facility where GE can repair advanced technology gas turbine-related parts locally, rather than send them out of the country, to save time and cost.
“We are also pleased to see the realization of GE’s promise to expand the training of young Saudis and giving them the opportunity to know more about the operation and maintenance of the GE units with the advanced training center. We look forward to the future of more cooperation and partnership with GE.”
John Krenicki, vice chairman, GE said: “As Saudi Arabia forges ahead with its ambitious development plans, the opening of the Energy Manufacturing Technology Centre underscores GE’s commitment to be closer to our customers.
“The additional investment we have announced is designed to accelerate the localisation of our capabilities, boost the manufacturing and export sectors of the kingdom and empower Saudi youth with promising career opportunities. This centre is another step forward in our energy partnership with the region and a milestone towards its continued growth and success.”
The new technology center is developed in association with Ali A Tamimi Co, GE’s long-term joint venture partner.
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