ֱ

More than 70 Saudi firms travel to Poland, Slovakia to boost trade ties

More than 70 Saudi firms travel to Poland, Slovakia to boost trade ties
The objective is to explore investment opportunities and sign several agreements and commercial partnerships.
Short Url
Updated 18 November 2024

More than 70 Saudi firms travel to Poland, Slovakia to boost trade ties

More than 70 Saudi firms travel to Poland, Slovakia to boost trade ties

JEDDAH: Representatives from 72 Saudi firms are part of a group visiting Poland and Slovakia in a bid to increase trade with the European countries.

Delegates from Federation of Saudi Chambers are also part of the trip, which will see high-level economic meetings involving senior government officials and private sector representatives. Their objective is to explore investment opportunities and sign several agreements and commercial partnerships.

The delegation, led by Chairman of the Federation of Saudi Chambers Hassan bin Mujib Al-Huwaizi, includes over 72 business representatives from various economic sectors, along with governmental entities and authorities, according to the Saudi Press Agency.

In August, the Kingdom and Poland established a joint business council for the 2024-2028 term to boost trade and investment between the two countries. The move is part of the nation’s broader strategy to deepen economic ties with Europe, with a particular focus on Poland, one of the continent’s largest economies.

Poland has seen impressive growth in its agri-food sector, with exports reaching a record €47.9 billion ($51.1 billion) in 2023 — a €10 billion increase from the previous year.

In 2023, ֱ’s trade exchange with Poland reached SR33.7 billion. The Kingdom’s primary exports to Poland include mineral products and plastics, while Poland’s main exports to the Arab country consist of tobacco, machinery, and mechanical appliances.

The relationship between ֱ and Slovakia has also witnessed growth following the official opening of the Slovak Embassy in Riyadh in recent years. Additionally, bilateral trade has increased significantly, highlighting untapped investment opportunities.

The delegation will begin its visit to Poland by holding the Saudi-Polish Business Council meeting, a joint forum, and bilateral meetings between representatives.

In Slovakia, the delegation will host the Saudi-Slovak Business Forum, conduct meetings between companies from both sides and sign an agreement to establish a joint business council.

Through its recent series of international visits to ten countries, the federation is leading efforts to open new markets and opportunities for the Kingdom’s backers and to boost trade and investment exchanges with countries worldwide, in alignment with the aspirations of Saudi Vision 2030.


ֱ, Canada explore ways to enhance cooperation in technology, innovation 

ֱ, Canada explore ways to enhance cooperation in technology, innovation 
Updated 04 November 2025

ֱ, Canada explore ways to enhance cooperation in technology, innovation 

ֱ, Canada explore ways to enhance cooperation in technology, innovation 

RIYADH: ֱ’s technology and innovation partnership with Canada is set to receive a boost after senior ministers met to explore new avenues of cooperation and strengthen trade ties. 

Saudi Minister of Investment Khalid Al-Falih said in a post on X that he met with Canada’s Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation Evan Solomon to discuss ways to strengthen relations between the countries and to build partnerships that contribute to mutual economic growth, particularly in priority investment sectors. 

This comes as trade between the two nations continues to expand. In February, ֱ exported SR641 million ($170 million) to Canada, marking an 86.6 percent increase from SR344 million in February 2024, according to data from the Observatory of Economic Complexity.

It also follows an agreement in January 2024 for both countries to re-exchange trade delegations to enhance economic relations and boost trade and investment flows. 

In a subsequent post on X, Al-Falih stated: “The dialogue took place between me and Anita Anand, the Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs, in the presence of the Saudi ambassador to Canada, Amal Yahya Al-Moallimi.” 

He added: “We discussed supporting and strengthening relations between our two countries, and facilitating investment exchange, in order to achieve more fruitful cooperation in the most important sectors, which will bring success to both peoples.” 

Artificial intelligence has become a central pillar of ֱ’s post-oil economic strategy, with the Kingdom leveraging advanced technologies to drive data-led industries and automation. 

Now at the halfway point of Vision 2030, the country is accelerating efforts to position itself as a global technology leader, balancing innovation with sustainability goals. 
Key initiatives — including the Project Transcendence program, valued at around $100 billion — aim to further establish ֱ as a global hub for AI innovation. 

Over the past five years, ֱ has made significant progress toward establishing itself as a regional artificial-intelligence hub. PwC projects that AI could contribute about $235 billion — or 12.4 percent — to the Kingdom’s gross domestic product by 2030.