RIYADH, 22 March 2006 — Governor of Riyadh Prince Salman inaugurated the new headquarters for the Grain Silos and Flour Mills Organization (GSFMO) here yesterday.
Several Saudi officials including the Minister of Agriculture Fahd Balghunaim and Mayor of Riyadh Abdul Aziz Al-Ayaff attended the ceremony.
“This organization — which we see today — is the fulfillment of the dream every Saudi citizen used to have in the past. It was established 34 years ago. I am satisfied with its accomplishments. And there is no doubt that it has a strategic importance in the Kingdom,” said Prince Salman.
In his opening speech, General Manager of GSFMO Saleh Al-Suleiman said when the organization was established in 1971 it did not have office building in the capital and was operating via small offices at the Ministry of Commerce. The organization then rented a building.
Al-Suleiman said the organization has opened 10 industrial complexes for wheat processing in various parts of the Kingdom.
He said that after the activities of the organization have increased, it became essential that it construct its own headquarter building which reflects the role it plays in the economy.
The total cost for constructing the building was SR98 million, which included the cost of the land at SR13 million. The funds were allocated in the 2002 budget.
“It took 36 months to complete the whole project,” said Mohammed Ataur Rahman, the project manager who supervised the construction on behalf of Zuhair Fayez Partnership Consultants for Architecture, Engineering and Information Systems.
The building has 10 floors including three basements. A modern auditorium that seats up to 360 persons has been built for meetings and conferences. The complex includes a prayer area that can accommodate more than 200 worshippers and a parking lot.
Speaking on new projects of the organization, Al-Sulieman said that currently a new industrial complex is being constructed in Madinah and another in Al-Jouf at a combined cost of SR440 million.
He said that the organization deals directly with 25,000 farmers in the Kingdom. He also said that it deals directly with bakeries, biscuit factories, macaroni factories and suppliers to meet their demand for flour. In addition, the organization provides the necessary poultry and cattle feed to various farms.
According to the general manager, the organization produced 2.5 million tons of wheat last year. He said it sent 181 Saudis abroad for training to replace foreign workers. He also said the organization welcomed students who are graduates of universities or technical colleges.
— Additional input by Mohammed Rasooldeen
