Okaz/Saudi Gazette RIYADH — The Ministry of Defense has signed over 500 contracts with national companies to manufacture airplane parts. Assistant Defense Minister Mohammad Al-Ayish said the ministry held the armed forces exhibition to empower national manufacturing of plane parts. "The ministry has already qualified 600 national companies for manufacturing plane parts. The exhibition showcases the capabilities and qualifications of the Saudi armed forces. The Ministry of Defense used the exhibition as a platform to empower national manufacturing of plane parts," said Al-Ayish. He also said national manufacturing costs only 3 percent of imports in most plane parts. "National manufacturing will improve the economy of the Kingdom. The ministry is starting with the manufacturing of plane parts but it plans to expand its national manufacturing over the years. The Kingdom will then become more independent with its own resources and stronger as a self-standing country," said Al-Ayish. He added the ministry has signed 500 contracts with national private companies. "The ministry has also devised a plan to encourage international companies to cooperate with national companies, raising the nationalization of manufacturing rate to 70 percent," said Al-Ayish. Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry head Abdulrahman Al-Zamil said 600 national factories were qualified for high quality manufacturing. "The ministry has contracted with 250 of the 600 factories and has signed over 500 contracts already. If the Ministry of Finance were to facilitate the financial process, the ministry would have been able to sign even more contracts," said Al-Zamil. He added in order to empower national manufacturing other ministries must cooperate and facilitate their processes.
