Latest news with #PetraMenander
Asharq Al-Awsat
3 days ago
- Business
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Swedish Ambassador: Swedish Companies Planning on Setting up Regional Headquarters in Saudi Arabia
Relations between Saudi Arabia and Sweden are witnessing rapid development with the expansion of cooperation in the fields of innovation, logistics and services and others. Swedish Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Petra Menander told Asharq Al-Awsat that the Saudi-Swedish joint committee is currently working on further deepening relations. 'In November last year, we agreed on 45 activities across four sectors to improve our cooperation, half of which have been implemented,' she added. 'Sweden and Saudi Arabia are natural partners in the global transition toward a more sustainable, knowledge-based economy,' she remarked. 'The presence of approximately 60 Swedish companies in the Kingdom, many of which are expanding their operations, demonstrates strong confidence in the Saudi market and its long-term potential,' she stressed. 'Saudi Arabia is Sweden's largest trading partner in the Middle East and North Africa. While trade volumes vary year to year, the overall trajectory is one of steady growth. Our bilateral trade grew almost 5 % last year and has increased by more than 90% since 2018,' the ambassador went on to say. Moreover, Menander added: 'As the European Union, we are Saudi Arabia's most important partner for investments and trade and that is a relationship that can grow deeper. Sweden is one of the strongest supporters of free trade within the European Union and we believe that there is a great potential to further increase trade between our countries.' 'Half of the Swedish companies have or are planning to set up regional headquarters in Saudi Arabia, many of them are engaged in local manufacturing in the Kingdom and they invest in research and in training the thousands of young Saudi talents they employ,' she said. She added that Sweden has a strong desire to expand in green energy and smart climate solutions. Swedish companies, such as Hitachi Energy, ABB and Systemair, are contributing to energy efficiency, electrification, and renewable infrastructure. In the fields of logistics and infrastructure, she noted that 'Swedish engineering and design firms are contributing to the planning and execution of major infrastructure projects and have a strong track record in delivering leading solutions for major projects, including within road, rail and air transport with companies such as Sweco, Volvo Trucks and Scania.' Healthcare and life sciences are among the foundations of cooperation. 'Swedish firms such as Diaverum, Getinge, and AstraZeneca are delivering high-quality care and conducting clinical research in the Kingdom,' said Menander. Furthermore, she revealed that Swedish companies, such as Epiroc and Quant, are helping to modernize and decarbonize the mining sector through advanced technologies. Sweden is also a global leader in digital maturity and connectivity. Companies like Ericsson are not only advancing 5G and 6G technologies but also investing in local R&D partnerships, added the ambassador. In terms of smart industry and automation, she said: 'With companies like Tetra Pak, Roxtec and SKF, Sweden supports the development of sustainable and efficient industrial ecosystems.' These areas reflect Sweden's strengths in innovation, equality, and long-term thinking essential for building resilient and future-ready economies, added the ambassador. Furthermore, Menander described ties between Saudi Arabia and Sweden as excellent. 'They are grounded in mutual respect, shared ambitions, and a commitment to long-term partnership. Our kingdoms are united by a forward-looking vision - one that embraces creativity, working together towards sustainability and growth,' she told Asharq Al-Awsat. 'In foreign policy our positions align om many key areas, as was seen during political consultations in Stockholm between Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Eng. Waleed bin Abdulkarim El-Khereiji and State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Dag Hartelius.' She also noted the 'close cooperation between Saudi and Swedish business sectors, where there are great opportunities to enhance the partnership between our two countries.' 'I attended the executive meeting of the Saudi-Swedish Joint Business Council in Stockholm in May, where leading private companies from our two kingdoms discussed new economic initiatives,' she said. 'There about 60 Swedish companies with a presence in Saudi Arabia feel at home and are committed to strengthening their ties with the Kingdom. According to a Business Climate Survey which was conducted among Swedish companies and just published, 91% view the business climate as good or very good and 74% plan to increase their investments.' 'We also see an exciting dialogue in new areas, for instance through Swedish participation in the recent Arab European Cities Dialogue, where participants from Sweden saw many similarities when two regions came together to discuss governance, urban planning, and digitalization for a better future,' stressed Menander. 'We see that the numbers of visitors in both directions between our countries are going up, and we see new partnerships budding almost every day. We see more Saudi film and music appearing in Sweden and we increasingly see Swedish fashion, music and gaming in Saudi Arabia,' she remarked. 'In fact, I often meet young Saudis who know about Sweden because they work for Swedish companies like Ikea and H&M.' 'Finally, we see a great interest in deeper cooperation in the field of innovation. Sweden ranks among the most innovative countries in the world and Saudi Arabia makes impressive investments into building an innovative ecosystem with close links between research and entrepreneurship,' she noted. 'We are happy to see that the cooperation is flourishing, including through institutional cooperation and by visits of start-ups both from Saudi Arabia to Sweden and from Sweden to Saudi Arabia,' continued Menander. 'Our cooperation spans a wide range of sectors where Swedish expertise and values align closely with the ambitions of Vision 2030. During our recent national day celebration, some of our companies displayed examples of how they contribute to these goals,' she said. 'These investments are aligned with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, focusing on sectors such as green transition, healthcare, logistics and smart manufacturing and in many cases also include investments into research and development in Saudi Arabia,' the ambassador stated. 'In parallel, we see a growing interest in collaboration between Swedish and Saudi incubators, particularly to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).' 'In May, Business Sweden, the Swedish Trade and Invest Council in Riyadh, organized two trade delegations to Saudi Arabia. The first focused on infrastructure projects and included Swedish companies specializing in digital solutions, construction equipment, energy, waste management, and air and water treatment solutions. These companies explored how Swedish expertise could contribute to Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 by engaging with several giga projects,' Menander explained.
Trade Arabia
12-03-2025
- Business
- Trade Arabia
Tetra Pak kicks off deal to digitalise Al Rabie factory
Tetra Pak, a world-leading food processing and packaging solutions company, today kicked off a significant project with Al Rabie, a leading Saudi player in juices, nectar, still drinks (JNSD) and dairy food products packaged in cartons, following an agreement that was signed recently. The major deal which will be implemented across three years, sets out to completely modernise and digitise Al Rabie's production facilities by leveraging Tetra Pak's innovative technology and sustainability initiatives in Saudi Arabia, said Tetra Pak. Having visited the Al Rabie production plant and witnessed the signing of the deal, Eng. Fahd Al Jubairy, Assistant Deputy Minister for Sectoral Strategies and Regulations, MISA, said: "It is inspiring to see a Saudi company taking the lead in implementing cutting-edge technologies in the kingdom. Their commitment to digitisation and next-generation technologies sets a remarkable example for the ongoing transformation of the industrial sector in the kingdom.' On the same visit, Petra Menander, Swedish Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, noted: "The cooperation we see today between a Swedish multinational company and a Saudi company marks a significant step towards sustainable development and cross country partnerships. I look forward to seeing more partnerships that mirror this collaboration." The project was officially launched by Chief Executive Officer of Al Rabie, Bassem Sabra and Managing Director of Tetra Pak Arabia Area, Konstantin Kolesnik. The ambitious project involves a complete overhaul of Al Rabie's production facilities to meet and surpass the latest industry standards with the ambition to be a 'Next Generation Factory'. It aims to eliminate equipment obsolescence through maximising existing assets for optimal performance. It also seeks to digitalise the entire value chain for smoother operations, adopting Industry 4.0 technologies to support digital transformation and improve resource efficiency in line with Saudi Vision 2030. Modernising Al Rabie's factory will save up to 36 million litres of water in cleaning operations annually and reduce electricity and utilities consumption, while increasing the plant's production capacity. These measures will boost profitability and lower the environmental footprint of Al Rabie whilst also transforming the factory into a Tetra Pak centre of excellence. Kolesnik said: "This agreement marks a significant advancement in our long-standing partnership with Al Rabie. Combining Tetra Pak's global expertise with Al Rabie's market leadership will elevate the food and beverage industry in Saudi Arabia. Our partnership aims to enhance product availability, consumer engagement, and overall market positioning, enabling improved traceability from ingredients to production processes.' Sabra also expressed his enthusiasm for the deal and said: 'This project affirms our commitment to top quality and innovation. Enhancing our production capabilities allows us to meet the evolving needs of our consumers and further contribute to Saudi Arabia's food security and sustainability goals. Together, Tetra Pak and Al Rabie are on track to redefine the future of the food and beverage industry in Saudi Arabia, driving innovation, sustainability, and excellence.' Al Rabie has been playing a pioneering role in co-developing the Saudi Arabian food and beverage market with Tetra Pak. Since their initial partnership in 1980, the two companies have paved the way for advancements in the food and beverage industry, introducing many innovations at the manufacturing and consumer levels, Tetra Pak said. – TradeArabia News Service
Zawya
05-03-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Tetra Pak kicks off deal to digitalise Saudi's Al Rabie factory
Saudi Arabia - Tetra Pak, a world-leading food processing and packaging solutions company, today kicked off a significant project with Al Rabie, a leading Saudi player in juices, nectar, still drinks (JNSD) and dairy food products packaged in cartons, following an agreement that was signed recently. The major deal which will be implemented across three years, sets out to completely modernise and digitise Al Rabie's production facilities by leveraging Tetra Pak's innovative technology and sustainability initiatives in Saudi Arabia, said Tetra Pak. Having visited the Al Rabie production plant and witnessed the signing of the deal, Eng. Fahd Al Jubairy, Assistant Deputy Minister for Sectoral Strategies and Regulations, MISA, said: "It is inspiring to see a Saudi company taking the lead in implementing cutting-edge technologies in the kingdom. Their commitment to digitisation and next-generation technologies sets a remarkable example for the ongoing transformation of the industrial sector in the kingdom.' On the same visit, Petra Menander, Swedish Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, noted: "The cooperation we see today between a Swedish multinational company and a Saudi company marks a significant step towards sustainable development and cross country partnerships. I look forward to seeing more partnerships that mirror this collaboration." The project was officially launched by Chief Executive Officer of Al Rabie, Bassem Sabra and Managing Director of Tetra Pak Arabia Area, Konstantin Kolesnik. The ambitious project involves a complete overhaul of Al Rabie's production facilities to meet and surpass the latest industry standards with the ambition to be a 'Next Generation Factory'. It aims to eliminate equipment obsolescence through maximising existing assets for optimal performance. It also seeks to digitalise the entire value chain for smoother operations, adopting Industry 4.0 technologies to support digital transformation and improve resource efficiency in line with Saudi Vision 2030. Modernising Al Rabie's factory will save up to 36 million litres of water in cleaning operations annually and reduce electricity and utilities consumption, while increasing the plant's production capacity. These measures will boost profitability and lower the environmental footprint of Al Rabie whilst also transforming the factory into a Tetra Pak centre of excellence. Kolesnik said: "This agreement marks a significant advancement in our long-standing partnership with Al Rabie. Combining Tetra Pak's global expertise with Al Rabie's market leadership will elevate the food and beverage industry in Saudi Arabia. Our partnership aims to enhance product availability, consumer engagement, and overall market positioning, enabling improved traceability from ingredients to production processes.' Sabra also expressed his enthusiasm for the deal and said: 'This project affirms our commitment to top quality and innovation. Enhancing our production capabilities allows us to meet the evolving needs of our consumers and further contribute to Saudi Arabia's food security and sustainability goals. Together, Tetra Pak and Al Rabie are on track to redefine the future of the food and beverage industry in Saudi Arabia, driving innovation, sustainability, and excellence.' Al Rabie has been playing a pioneering role in co-developing the Saudi Arabian food and beverage market with Tetra Pak. Since their initial partnership in 1980, the two companies have paved the way for advancements in the food and beverage industry, introducing many innovations at the manufacturing and consumer levels, Tetra Pak said. Copyright 2024 Al Hilal Publishing and Marketing Group Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
