Riyadh: The Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources has concluded the inaugural edition of the Industrial Transformation Saudi Arabia 2025 Exhibition, held from December 1 to 3, organized in partnership with Deutsche Messe and Riyadh Exhibitions Company under the theme "Empowering the Future with Technology".
According to Saudi Press Agency, on the sidelines of the exhibition, Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef held bilateral meetings with senior executives of leading global companies specializing in automation and advanced technology solutions. The discussions centered on investment opportunities in the Kingdom, particularly in the localization of smart manufacturing technologies, semiconductor production, and programs supporting industrial innovation and workforce development.
During the exhibition, the ministry launched a set of strategic initiatives to support the Kingdom's industrial transformation and accelerate the adoption of advanced technologies. These included a strategic initiative in partnership with King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) to strengthen applied research and localize industrial innovation, the launch of the Innovative Industrial and Mining Products Program Platform, and an initiative enabling entrepreneurs to enter the additive manufacturing market through specialized digital modeling and manufacturing programs.
The initiatives also included the provision of several industrial robots valued at SAR4 million, which will be distributed to universities and capability centers under the Advanced Manufacturing and Production Center (AMPC). The robots aim to enhance hands-on training, research, development, and innovation. This initiative forms part of the strategic partnership between AMPC and the Chinese company Virtual Mind Holding (VMH). Additionally, the ministry announced the establishment of the Machinery and Equipment Association, a non-profit organization.
A series of high-impact agreements and memoranda of understanding were signed during the exhibition between public- and private-sector entities, both local and international. These partnerships aim to strengthen cooperation in advanced manufacturing, technology, supply chains, research and development, and industrial services-advancing industrial investment collaboration and supporting the localization of advanced technologies in the Kingdom.
The ministry also honored companies that won the Fourth Industrial Revolution Solutions Award, presented by AMPC, and recognized 36 Saudi factories that received the 2025 Quality Awards for meeting international ISO standards and achieving excellence in operational quality. The recognition further included winners of the Microsoft Intelligent Manufacturing Award (MIMA) in the Middle East, which highlights groundbreaking initiatives in artificial intelligence and digital transformation.
The conference accompanying the exhibition delivered a comprehensive program featuring more than 16 panel sessions and workshops, with the participation of over 50 speakers from Saudi Arabia and abroad. Discussions explored global trends in smart manufacturing, talent development, and investment opportunities in emerging technologies.
The exhibition also attracted significant international participation, bringing together more than 266 companies specializing in advanced industries, artificial intelligence, industrial IoT, smart supply chains, automation, and digitization solutions.
As the first event of its kind in the region, Industrial Transformation Saudi Arabia 2025 comes as an extension of the global Hannover Messe exhibitions. It provides a vital platform that connects factories with world-class providers of advanced manufacturing technologies, accelerating the Kingdom's industrial transformation and reinforcing its position as a leading regional and global industrial hub in line with Saudi Vision 2030.