Al Salem Johnson Controls (ASJC), a joint venture between the Saudi Arabia’s Al Salem Group and US-based Johnson Controls has laid the foundation stone for a new manufacturing facility and training centre at King Abdullah Economic City’s (KAEC) Industrial Valley.

The manufacturing facility, to be built on 203,783 sq m of land in KAEC in the Western Province, is expected to begin its first developmental phase immediately and become fully operational by 2017.

Al Salem Johnson Controls will be the first industrial company that provides integrated heating, ventilation and air-conditioning  (HVAC) solutions to establish its industrial facility and training centre in KAEC to further expand its scope in developing energy-efficient products, services and solutions in Saudi Arabia.

Fahd Al Rasheed, Group CEO and managing director of KAEC, said: "We are delighted to welcome Al Salem Johnson Controls to the ranks of the other leading international companies that have chosen KAEC’s Industrial Valley as their base for regional expansion. The presence of ASJC further diversifies the types of manufacturing operations in the Industrial Valley and adds significant value to both the city's and the kingdom’s economic progress and development.”

“We continue to be very successful in attracting leading national and international companies to invest in KAEC and the Industrial Valley, where they are creating clusters of manufacturing and other business operations that are contributing to the diversification of the kingdom’s economy,” he added.

Sheikh Saleh Binladen, executive board member of Al Salem Johnson Controls, said: “Our partnership with Johnson Controls through our first factory in Jeddah has given us a positive footprint in the industry throughout the kingdom, and our second new factory in King Abdullah Economic City is proof of our continuous growth and shared vision of engaging in the economic, social and urban development of the kingdom.”

Rayan Qutub, CEO of the Industrial Valley in KAEC, said: “The immense investment opportunities available at Industrial Valley being directly connected to King Abdullah Port, position it as the new manufacturing and logistics hub, and set it as the gateway to Saudi Arabia and the region, enabling investors to reach 250 million consumers in the Arab world in addition to East Africa.”

“Industrial Valley extends over an area of 55 million sq m, which constitutes nearly one-third of the city's total land area of the city offering its investors unique benefits and unmatched advantages with a world-class infrastructure. In addition, Industrial Valley includes ‘The Village’, which is specially designed to provide housing solutions for factory workers and supervisors.

“To date, we have signed with more than 93 national and global companies, of which eight are already in operation and 23 others are under construction, focusing on the six industrial clusters: FMCG (fast moving consumer goods)/foods, pharmaceuticals, logistics, plastics, building materials and the automotive sector.

“Industrial Valley continues to cater to the rapidly increasing demand on lease and freehold industrial lands in its second and third phase of development at a speed beyond expectations, where currently infrastructure is being developed for an area that exceeds 25 million sq m to cope with the increased demand and continue to be the first choice for new local and international companies,” Qutub concluded.

“When fully operational, this new factory will facilitate 1,000 employment opportunities, creating a growth-oriented environment that’s more efficient, more intelligent and more connected for our customers,” said Mohanad Alshaikh, CEO of Al Salem Johnson Controls.

The facility will use Johnson Controls’ manufacturing and quality control systems, and has been designed to produce integrated solutions that increase energy efficiency and operational savings. – TradeArabia News Service