Experts discuss ways to tighten industrial security

The Sixth International Conference and Exhibition for Industrial Security (ICEIS) will tackle security, fire and industrial safety issues. Minister of Interior Prince Mohammad bin Naif inaugurated the three-day event on Sunday.
The Higher Commission for Industrial Security has organized the conference in collaboration with IFSEC & OSH Arabia. The event showcases the latest technology and solutions in security and prevention of crime with the participation of 15 countries.
Heads of participating countries, government figures and senior executives of public and private sector will address the sessions that begin on Monday morning at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center.
The Higher Commission for Industrial Security is an advisory arm of the Ministry of Interior that provides guidance on security requirements. According the organizers, the exhibition takes place in the backdrop of security expenditure rising from $150 billion (SR563 billion) in 2010 to $400 billion (SR1.5 trillion) now.
In his previous statement, HCIS’s Secretary-General Khalid bin Saad Al-Aqeel said the booming geographical region goes from strength to strength, with the commercial and industrial security, fire and safety markets for Saudi Arabia and the GCC currently valued at 4 billion euros (SR20 billion).
Al-Aqeel said the interior minister recognizes the importance of communication and exchange of experience between global experts and specialists in the area of security, fire-fighting and safety.
“This will be a platform where we learn from cutting-edge equipment and the latest security applications that contribute to providing a safe environment, especially in the oil and industrial sector and various services in the Kingdom,” he observed.
Since the 1970s, Saudi Arabia has invested over $1 trillion (almost SR4 trillion) in the expansion and upgrading of the Kingdom’s infrastructure. Government sources estimate that the Kingdom’s future development will call for a further investment of $1.4 trillion (over SR5 trillion) through to 2020, with 26 percent of the world’s share of current oil production.
Major Saudi firms sponsored the event, including Saudi Aramco, Saudi Basic Industries Corp. (SABIC) and Ma’aden and Security Controls, with the participation of a large number of foreign companies.