More than 120 Saudi, including representatives of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), attended the second GE Saudi Supplier Conference, held to help them become part of the growing local GE supply chain across Saudi Arabia.

The daylong conference held in the industrial city of Dammam, featured presentations outlining opportunities across a wide range of sectors and industries, including oil and gas, power and water, renewable energy and nuclear energy.

The speakers provided the SME business leaders with insights into the supply chain needs of each sector, as well as trends locally and globally that are impacting the local supply chain.

The speakers presented details of GE’s procurement processes and how to qualify as a certified Saudi supplier. The audience also learned about the GE global supplier program, which allows certified participants to supply GE projects globally.

“The annual Saudi Supplier Conference provides an exciting and invaluable opportunity for us to meet face to face with hundreds of Saudi SMEs and entrepreneurs, and invite them to become part of the state-of-the-art manufacturing, maintenance and repair work we do to support our customers in critical areas across the Kingdom’s economy,” said Robert Papp, sourcing manager at GE Power & Water.

Hisham Albahkali, GE’s president & CEO for Saudi Arabia and Bahrai, said: “By working to incorporate more Saudi companies into our local supply chain, we help them gain confidence, technical know-how and experience. This, in turn, helps strengthen the Kingdom’s manufacturing sector by improving quality systems and standards among our supplier network.”

Today, GE has qualified 290 Saudi suppliers and 140 SMEs to support GE’s activities in the Kingdom. In the power sector, 55 percent of the suppliers to GE Manufacturing Technology Center in Dammam are Saudi companies.

Saudi Aramco SME Business Development has recognized the tremendous value in partnering on the initiative to boost the local supply chain.