The 13th session of the Arab Steel Summit, organized by the Arab Iron and Steel Union under the title “Arab Steel Industry Beyond 2020”, was inaugurated today in the Jordanian capital, Amman, and diamond sponsorship from the National Iron and Steel Committee of the Council of Saudi Chambers, with the participation of major iron makers in the Arab world. .
The Jordanian Minister of Industry, Dr. Tariq Al-Hammoury, stressed that the steel summit constitutes an important initiative to confront the challenges facing this industry, which is witnessing increasing growth.
He added, at the opening of the summit, that the industry faces many problems and is greatly affected by political events and protectionist measures, noting that the steel industry in the Arab world helps to employ about 15% of the total workforce, in addition to helping it to raise growth rates significantly.
For his part, Chairman of the Council of Saudi Chambers, Dr. Sami Al-Obaidi, said that the Kingdom is betting on the steel industry in the process of national transformation aimed at achieving Vision 2030, which in turn aims to develop and diversify non-oil sources of income.
He called for the exploitation of the Arab world’s natural resources and its human financial capabilities and guidance according to a common unified vision in order to reach the desired economic integration of the Arab world, stressing the importance of the iron and steel industry as it is a strategic industry and an integral part of the economic security of Arab countries and peoples.
He announced the Kingdom’s hosting of the next summit, inviting all Arab brothers to participate in the work of the 14th Summit.
The summit activities also witnessed the presence of the Chairman of the National Iron and Steel Committee in the Council of Chambers, Eng. Raed Al-Ajaji, a number of members of the committee, and the Secretary-General of the Council, Dr. Saud Al-Mashari.
The committee participated in a pavilion held on the sidelines of the summit, which included many national iron and steel factories and companies representing the members of the committee, highlighting the Kingdom’s leading position and its effective role in developing this industry.
On the summit agenda, a special workshop was devoted to the iron and steel industry in the Kingdom, to be held tomorrow under the title “The Saudi Steel Industry between Present and the Future”, due to the importance of the role the Kingdom plays in the steel industry and its successful future vision in this industry.
The summit will be attended by a group of Arab and foreign steel companies, including rebar producers, flat and steel pipe producers, technology equipment suppliers, consultants, analysts, and major investors.
Saudi News Agency
