Minister of Commerce and Industry Dr. Hashim bin Abdullah Yamani said Tuesday that the application of the methodology of industrial integration will help increase the industrial sector's contribution to the gross domestic product to 20 percent by the end of 1441 H. In remarks he made upon patronizing a symposium on industrial integration here today, he said the number of working factories in the kingdom reached 3,986 factories until the end of the first half of 1428 H. and with a total finance of SR 306 billion. Of these, Small and medium industries represent the largest portion exceeding 80 percent. The minister said that metal industries rank first based on the number of factories. Their number reached 1,081 factories representing 27.7 percent of the total operational factories. Chemical industries and plastic products rank second with the number of factories reaching 895 factories representing 22.9%. Building materials, china-ware, ceramics and glass rank third with 618 factories representing 15.8%. Food stuffs industries rank fourth with 605 factories representing 15.5%.
