Saudi Arabia's Contractors Authority (SCA) is seeking to strengthen partnerships with leading French construction companies and gain access to advanced building technologies as part of its efforts to boost the competitiveness of the kingdom's contracting sector, said a report.

A delegation led by SCA Board Chairman Mohammed Al Ajlan met representatives of the French Building Federation to discuss cooperation between contractors in Saudi Arabia and France, including potential partnerships and joint ventures, reported SPA.

The delegation also visited Scale One, a construction technology centre operated by Bouygues Construction, to examine technologies, materials and solutions tested in simulated real-world construction environments.

The visit included discussions on innovation and technologies aimed at improving construction efficiency and sector competitiveness, it stated.

Saudi Arabia's contracting sector is experiencing rapid growth driven by the scale of infrastructure and development projects across the kingdom, remarked Al Ajlan during the meeting.

Strengthening international ties would support knowledge transfer and help Saudi contractors adopt modern technologies, business models and construction practices, he noted.

The SCA is working to connect Saudi contractors with counterparts in international markets to facilitate expertise-sharing, identify business opportunities and strengthen the capabilities of domestic companies, he added.

The Saudi delegation visit forms part of the Authority's efforts to expand international partnerships and prepare local contractors to participate in future projects as the kingdom pursues its economic diversification agenda under Vision 2030.