Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — The General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI) recently organized a first-of-its-kind workshop that saw a number of leaders and members from the National Industrial Committee and local manufacturers in attendance. Held in Riyadh, the workshop focused on strategies and policies of Saudi Arabia’s military industries sector, GAMI’s role and mandate, and the procedure of issuing licenses and permits for the military industries and services. The workshop also discussed the main components of the strategy aimed at supporting and contributing to the national priorities.

Welcoming the attendees, GAMI Governor, Ahmed Bin Abdulaziz Al-Ohali, highlighted the significance of the workshop in terms of its purpose as well as the content and objectives. He briefly explained the role of the authority in localizing and stimulating military industries and stressed on the importance of the topics discussed during the workshop.

The workshop shed light on the key components of the strategy of military industries in the Kingdom, as outlined in the Vision 2030. The first component dealt with the process of localizing military industries by issuing manufacturing and exporting licenses, setting industry standards, creating strategic partnerships between the public and private sectors, creating stimulants for developing the sector, building a monitoring mechanism, and organizing exhibitions and seminars.

The second component, focusing on research, development, and technology, highlighted the need for a greater emphasis on research and development in military industries and identifying priority technologies, in addition to developing the sector’s talents by creating specialized educational and training programs. It also included the establishment of national research centers and laboratories specialized in military industries.

The third component, which is related to military procurement, included setting policies, strategies and regulations, enhancing the efficiency and management of military procurement operations for defense and security entities, and managing and developing the Economic Offset Program, which would enable GAMI to transfer technology and support local manufacturers.

During the workshop, participants also had the opportunity to learn about various types of military licenses, industrial permits and services, and ways to issue licenses. In this context, the workshop referred to the enhanced licensing mechanisms, under which three main types of licenses for military activities were identified, namely license to manufacture military equipment, license to provide military services, and license to supply military products or services.

The workshop concluded with a fruitful discussion, during which a number of ideas and suggestions were presented. In addition, GAMI team answered queries from members of the National Industrial Committee and local manufacturers.

GAMI aims to achieve 50% localization of the Kingdom’s spending on military equipment and services by developing industries, facilitating research and technologies, developing national human capital, and enhancing exports through long-term planning of military purchases.

GAMI also aims to enable the military industries sector to become a key component of the Kingdom’s economy and to contribute to providing job opportunities for Saudi youth. The Authority also aims to propel the Kingdom’s development by generating non-oil revenues, in addition to achieving five key national priorities, namely increasing military readiness, enhancing strategic autonomy, enhancing interoperability within and across entities, developing a sustainable local military industries sector, and increasing transparency and efficiency of spend.