Riyadh – Sharikat Mubasher: Saudi Arabia launched the first edition of the Heavy Equipment Connect Forum & Expo (HEC) as part of its efforts to strengthen industrial localization and attract investment into strategic manufacturing sectors. The forum was inaugurated on Monday by Khalil bin Salamah, Deputy Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources for Industrial Affairs, at the Dhahran Expo, and will run until 4 February. The event brings together industry leaders, investors, and local and international experts to discuss developments in the heavy equipment sector.

Bin Salamah said the forum comes at a pivotal time as Saudi Arabia’s heavy equipment market continues to expand, driven by rising demand from large-scale projects across construction, infrastructure, mining, and energy. He noted that the Kingdom has emerged as the largest regional market for heavy equipment, supported by policies focused on industrial localization, strengthening supply chains, and attracting high-quality investments in line with the National Industrial Strategy.

The launch of the forum coincided with the announcement of a new package of industrial licenses aimed at supporting machinery and equipment manufacturing and accelerating the shift from planning to execution.

During the event, the National Industrial Development Center revealed 16 investment opportunities across the heavy equipment value chain, with total investments exceeding SAR 8 billion, covering manufacturing activities ranging from finished equipment to core components and spare parts, and aimed at expanding private sector participation in the sector.