The Council of Saudi Chambers (CSC) has called for the establishment of an industrial authority to deal with the smooth implementation of the private sector industrial plans throughout the Kingdom.

The call was made at a meeting held last week at the CSC, chaired by President of the National Industrial Committee Saad Al-Moajil in the presence of Walid Abu Khalid, undersecretary to the Ministry of Commerce.

Besides urging for an industrial authority, the meeting touched on several issues of concerns to the industrial sector in the Kingdom, mainly the creation of a national network for natural gas to link industrial cities in the Kingdom, which could enhance the sector's performance and offer an energy alternative at reasonable prices. It would not only help national factories but also it could help reduce their operational costs, the committee said.

Stressing the importance of linking industrial cities with the internal railway network in the Kingdom, Al-Moajil said it would facilitate the process of transporting goods within the Kingdom saving costs and time for the industries.

Discussing the subject of proposed increase in electricity tariffs by the Electricity and Cogeneration Regulatory Authority, the committee said that such moves would affect the industrial sector by raising the prices of the products both internally and externally thereby weakening opportunities for foreign competition.

Assuring the ministry's support to promote national products, Abu Khalid assured that his ministry would extend its cooperation to overcome any challenges faced by the committee.