JEDDAH, 9 May 2008 — Nearly 100 engineering and consultancy firms from Saudi Arabia and Malaysia met in Riyadh recently and explored new avenues of cooperation between the two countries.
The occasion was Saudi-Malaysia Forum (SMF), which met in the Saudi capital for two days and deliberated issues of mutual interest. It was the second meeting of the forum. The Saudi Council of Engineers (SCE), the main organizer of the forum, and Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) during the meeting to expand their cooperation in engineering activities.
“The forum was a big success as it attracted more than 50 companies each from both countries,” Dr. Abdul Rahman Alrabiah, chairman of SCE, told Arab News. “It helped engineers and executives in both countries know each other through a person-to-person meeting and explore opportunities in the two countries.” The first forum, which was held in Kuala Lumpur on July 9-10 2007, was organized jointly by SCE and BEM in association with the Federation of Engineering Institutions of Islamic Countries (FEIIC). This year’s forum focused on opportunities and expertise in such areas as energy, water, infrastructure, transportation, ICT and education.
“The participation of a large number of companies reflects the importance of the forum,” said Alrabiah, its main architect. “The Riyadh forum discussed new opportunities, transfer of technology and cooperation in carrying out large-scale engineering projects,” he added.
“We also agreed to have a sort of exchange program for newly graduated Saudi and Malaysian engineers giving them exposure to different work environment,” the SCE chief said. “Engineers and consultants in both the countries have much to learn from each other. Saudi companies are strong in oil and gas technology,” he said. The forum helped Malaysians know the size and strength of Saudi economy and the vast opportunities it offers, he added.
Alrabiah emphasized SCE’s intent to establish similar cooperation with engineering companies in other countries. “We have already developed such cooperation with India and Greece. German companies have also shown interest to forge alliance with us,” he pointed out.
SMF has already become an important platform for Saudi and Malaysian engineering business networking. The Dammam-based Saudi Engineering Group International (SEGI) was one its beneficiaries. “SEGI has secured a joint venture partnership with a Malaysian design engineering company and we are in final discussions to forge tie-ups with two other renowned Malaysian EPC engineering firms,” said Rafeek Younus, its general manager.
Younus said SEGI has opened an office in Kuala Lumpur, adding that many Malaysian companies have expressed their desire to establish alliance with SEGI to secure EPC contracts in the Kingdom’s construction, property development, oil and gas and infrastructure sectors. Younus, who has been instrumental in promoting Saudi Arabia as an ideal place for engineering business, had attended the last forum in Kuala Lumpur along with Alrabiah.