GE Saudi Arabia has earned top recognition for its all-round performance and the team's commitment to strengthen in-country partnerships, drive localized innovation and boost Saudization. This follows the launch of a number of long-term initiatives by GE to support its Saudi partners in achieving stronger operational efficiency and productivity under its ‘Saudi 2020 Sustainability' program. Hisham Bahkali, GE's President & CEO for Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, received the prestigious Chairman's Award from GE Chairman & CEO Jeffrey Immelt on behalf of the entire GE Saudi team at the recently held annual GE Global Leadership Meeting. Bahkali said: "The award is a testament to our successful operations in the Kingdom in 2015. We focused on supporting our partners in promoting their operational efficiency and productivity. Our commitment to introducing digital industrial technology, investing in localized manufacturing, promoting home-grown innovation and strengthening Saudization reflects the government's vision to enhance the role of the private sector in driving all-round growth." He added: "The team work of our different businesses in the Kingdom, especially in the oil and gas, healthcare, aviation, power and water sectors, has enabled us to achieve significant milestones. It has positioned Saudi Arabia on GE's global map as one of the fastest-growing markets, and also underlined the Kingdom as a great place for investment. "Our investment in localized manufacturing for ‘Made in Saudi' products has helped create a dynamic local supply chain that supports local SMEs, creates new jobs for Saudis and promotes exports. Building on our 80 years of presence, we will focus on delivering stronger outcomes for our customers in 2016 and build powerful partnerships in our country." Among GE's milestones in 2015 were the Saudi GE Technology & Innovation Center in Dhahran Techno Valley joining the family of GE's Global Research Centers, which will accelerate the pace of localized research and the adoption of Industrial Internet technologies in the Kingdom. GE Oil & Gas also marked the first phase expansion of its Pressure Control facility in Dammam that locally manufactures a range of wellhead systems and advanced flow control solutions for the oil and gas sector. The facility has expanded its workforce three-fold and achieved 70% Saudization. And GE Power added value to the 1,300MW Wad Al Shamal power plant of Saudi Electricity Company with the planned delivery of heavy duty gas turbines. This builds on GE's track-record of generating more than half the Kingdom's power supply with more than 550 installed GE gas turbines. One of the turbines for the Wad Al Shamal plant is fully produced at the GE Manufacturing & Technology Center (GEMTEC) in Dammam, underlining GE's commitment to localization. GEMTEC already exports parts and services to more than 70 customers in some 40 countries. In 2016, GEMTEC will also mark the fully localized manufacturing of GE's heavy duty gas turbine, the world's largest and most efficient turbine that leads in output while using less gas-per-megawatt than any other turbine. Taking the Industrial Internet application to the next level, GE is working with Ministry of Commerce & Industry to deploy the ‘Brilliant Factory' technology that will help optimize manufacturing operations and reduce unplanned downtime. GE's ‘Saudi 2020 Sustainability' Program aims to double its workforce to 4,000 by 2020; double its Saudi supplier base from 150 to 300 to strengthen the Saudi supply chain; and double training offered in energy, healthcare, and localized research to cover 10,000 Saudi professionals. GE's focus is to achieve $100 million in the value of exports of products and services from the Kingdom to different parts of the world including USA and Europe. With a presence of over 80 years, three offices and seven facilities, Saudi Arabia accounts for the largest GE workforce in the Middle East with over 2,000 employees driving the healthcare, transportation, power, oil & gas, water and aviation businesses.
