The first Saudi forum and exhibition on petrochemical and mineral downstream industries is taking place at the Movenpick Hotel in Yanbu Industrial City.

The chairman of the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu, Prince Saud bin Abdullah bin Thunayan, described the show as the largest gathering of industrial and investment leaders.

“It will contribute to projecting Saudi Arabia’s role in supporting petrochemical industries, discuss opening of new markets, identify investment opportunities, decide the costs of transferal industry projects and the elements of the transferal and mineral industries in the country,” he said.

The forum will review new investment opportunities and basic infrastructure projects open for foreign investment, he added.

Prince Saud will deliver the keynote speech at the opening session to be followed by a speech by former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Muhammad.

More than 500 participants from the Kingdom and abroad will attend the forum, he added.

Prince Saud pointed out that the forum is in line with the government’s policy aimed at keeping pace with Saudi Arabia’s development plans for petrochemical and mineral industries, attracting local and foreign capital. It also aims to encourage concerned parties to create more job opportunities for young citizens through the establishment of new projects and opening the door for investments in the transferal industries in Al-Jubail and Yanbu .

The prince said the forum would also highlight Saudi Arabia’s role as a catalyst for global economic growth. Industry leaders, investors and top government representatives are taking part in the two-day event.

The forum will also analyze new technologies, opportunities and challenges facing the petrochemical and mineral industry, he said.