JEDDAH: The Ministry of Defense and several state-owned firms will be offering 20,000 opportunities for the manufacturing sector to supply it with equipment, spare parts, medical equipment and tools, which is part of the government’s efforts to boost the manufacturing industry and diversify the economy.

The opportunities would be made available at the Armed Forces Exhibition for Diversification (AFED) that will take place at the Riyadh International Convention Center from Feb. 22 to 28, according to a report in a local publication on Thursday.

Attiya bin Saleh Al-Malki, spokesman of the exhibition and director general of the department overseeing the localization of manufacturing, said that Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, second deputy premier and defense minister, is overseeing the event.

Al-Malki said the exhibition, over 15,000 square meters, is part of the economic reforms announced by the government recently, which aims to stimulate investment, support non-oil exports and develop a knowledge-based economy.

He said the exhibition would be divided into four major sections. The first includes the Defense Ministry, Saudi Aramco, Saudi Basic Industries Corporation, Saudi Electricity Company and the Saline Water Conversion Corporation. They will offer firms opportunities to manufacture equipment for them, he said.

The second section includes international companies that signed manufacturing contracts with the Defense Ministry. The companies would display the parts that would eventually be used by the Saudi military, he said.

The third section showcases the manufacturing capabilities of Saudi factories; while the fourth section will include other related government agencies including the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology and the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority.

Al-Malki said there would be lectures and workshops during the event. He said it would be a good opportunity for manufacturers and investors to identify business opportunities.

This is the third AFED event, the first being held in Riyadh and the second in the Eastern Province. It has already seen 250 local firms contracted to produce high quality spare parts for government ministries and state-owned enterprises.