The final statement of the Al-Ahsa Forum 2023, which was held on February 15-16, at Al-Ahsa Intercontinental Hotel, under the title “Al-Ahsa: The Economy of the Future”, recommended that Al-Ahsa city be adopted as a centre for logistics services. Especially as it connects the east and west of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the Gulf countries, and to become part of the Kingdom’s plan to transform into a global logistics centre. The Ministry of Transport and Logistics has announced the initiative to expand and develop Al-Ahsa International Airport, and is looking forward to other complementary initiatives that enhance the competitiveness of the transport and logistics system in Al-Ahsa. The forum was organised by the Al-Ahsa Chamber in co-operation with the strategic partner Aramco.
The Ministry of Investment is to prepare a study to explore and identify investment opportunities that exploit the comparative and competitive advantage of Al-Ahsa to determine the investments and giant projects and the incentives required to attract them.
The statement called for working with the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources and Aramco, in co-ordination with the Al-Ahsa Chamber and under the supervision of the Al-Ahsa Development Authority, and to commission one of the specialised houses of expertise to prepare a study of investment trends and opportunities in the industrial sector in Al-Ahsa. It is in the context and directions of the national strategy for industry, by targeting the oil and gas service industries, manufacturing industries, clean energy and industries. In the medical and vital industries, food and nutrient industries, the identification of strategic investments funded by the state’s investment arms is seen to enable the success and competitiveness of these industries.
The recommendations stressed the importance of sustaining the agricultural drive by maximising the economies of farms within the scope of the agricultural oasis.