French energy companies Areva and EDF are hosting a Suppliers Day in Jeddah today (October 1), targeting the industrial infrastructure in Saudi Arabia’s Western Province.

It is part of the Industrial Outreach Porgramme, which is one of two initiatives by the energy companies as part of the sustainable energy programme proposed by King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy (KACare).

The programme is aimed at contributing to industrial and technical development of the economic base of the kingdom and focuses on ‘localisation’ by utilising the existing network of local companies to develop nuclear and renewable technologies.

More than 200 companies are expected to participate with officials representing KACare, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and other industrial and service sectors.

Several other initiatives were launched including the first Suppliers Day in Riyadh in March, industrial roadshows and B2B meetings between French and Saudi companies in Riyadh and Al Khobar.

Amr Al Otaishan, supply chain developer at Areva Saudi, said: “The industrial outreach programme is key in having a strong relationship with local suppliers. This will help equip them with the fundamental and practical knowledge through training and direct partnership.”

“The close interaction that we are creating here results in important and concrete outcomes such as JV creations and will provide the local industry with high levels of localization and job creation,” said Otaishan.

The other initiative - the Educational Outreach Programme aims at contributing to human capacity building in the kingdom through the partnership with Saudi universities and technical and vocational centres.

As part of this programme, more than 15 participants attended first Sustainable Energy Study Tour in France in June, which offered an opportunity for Saudi universities and technical institutes to learn more about activities in nuclear and renewable energy by engaging with leading French industrial, educational and research entities.

Dr Noura Mansouri, manager of Strategy and Marketing at Areva Saudi, said: “Human capacity building is an important pillar for the sustainability of the future energy programmes. Through this programme, we have also offered more than 50 on-the-job training opportunities to young Saudi graduates in France, UK and Germany.” - TradeArabia News Service