GE Oil & Gas said that it was recently honoured at the In Kingdom Total Value Add (Iktva) Excellence Awards program that marked the first anniversary of the launch of Iktva, Saudi Aramco’s value creating contribution to Saudi Vision 2030 and the National Transformation Program.

GE Oil & Gas was awarded with the ‘Best in Supplier Development’ recognition, said a statement from the company.

The iktva Excellence Awards recognise demonstrated excellences in local value creation, and value added local content in Saudi Arabia.

Awardees are recognised local value creation partners of Saudi Aramco.

HRH Prince Saud bin Nayef Al-Sa’ud presented the award to Rami Qasem, president and CEO, GE Oil & Gas, Middle East, North Africa and Turkey, and Rod Christie, CEO, Turbomachinery Solutions, GE Oil & Gas.

Among GE’s key initiatives that supported the goals of iktva in strengthening the Saudi supply chain are the opening of the second phase of the GE Manufacturing Technology Center (Gemtec) in Dammam that manufactures heavy duty gas turbines in the kingdom.

GE Oil & Gas has already delivered 12 high-efficiency gas compression trains for the Phase 1 of Saudi Aramco’s Master Gas System expansion project, which were assembled fully at Gemtec.  

The GE Oil & Gas Pressure Control Manufacturing Facility at Modon in Dammam 2nd Industrial City is another investment by GE that supports the local supply chain. It already has the full competency to manufacture all ranges of wellhead equipment in the Kingdom to the highest specifications. The Pressure Control facility has now tripled its capacity to manufacture wellheads, valves and other equipment for the oil and gas sector in Saudi Arabia, as well as for exports.

GE Oil & Gas also contributes to the iktva program with the GE Oil & Gas Multi-Modal Manufacturing Center, a manufacturing, assembly, repair, services, and training facility in Dammam that will create 100 high quality jobs. It will serve as a hub for the full portfolio of businesses under GE Oil & Gas, including digital solutions, downstream technology solutions, turbomachinery solutions, subsea and surface, as well as all services of the recently acquired Alstom Grid business.

Further, GE, Saudi Aramco and Cividale SpA are jointly working to build the Mena region’s first-of-its-kind, world-class Forging & Casting manufacturing facility, which will supply the kingdom and global markets with forged and cast materials for the marine and energy industries. With a total investment of $400 million, the facility will be operational by 2020 and create over 2,000 new local jobs.
 
“Through this award, GE is recognised for its efforts in developing the capabilities of in-kingdom suppliers in a number of areas, such as technical capabilities, technology transfer, quality improvement and integration into the international supply chain. Other considerations included GE’s costs in supporting development of local supply-chain capabilities,” said the award citation by Saudi Aramco.

Qasem said: “Winning the first iktva Excellence Award is a great honour for us, and a strong testament to GE’s continued commitment to localisation not only in Saudi talents but also in building the SME ecosystem of the kingdom.”

“We empower our Saudi suppliers to strengthen their technical competencies, help build an assured market for their products, create new jobs for Saudi youth, and also drive exports growth, contributing to the increased competitiveness of the economy,” he added. – TradeArabia News Service