Saudi Arabia announces the establishment of a General Authority for military industries

[The SC]

Saudi Arabia announced the establishment of a General Authority for Military Industries to regulate and develop the military industries sector in the Kingdom.

The Saudi cabinet held a number of amendments to the rules governing the organization of the Radio and Television Authority, which stipulates that the Minister of Culture shall be the Chairman of the Authority and shall be appointed and exempted by a decision of the Board of Directors. - The official Saudi news agency.

These decisions came at a meeting chaired by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and a number of resolutions were issued concerning cooperation with some countries.

http://www.elbalad.news/2892399

 

[Saif al-Arab]

Excellent news. It's been nothing but excellent news (almost) lately (past few months). Hard not to be very optimistic especially considering all the changes and achievements in the past 1.5 year already while knowing that this is just the very beginning. Baby steps and all.

 

[The SC]

11 targets and tasks for the General Authority for Military Industries

14 August 2017

The Council of Ministers, headed by the Deputy Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, issued today the establishment of the General Authority for Military Industries, after reviewing the recommendation prepared by the Council of Economic Affairs and Development.

The Authority aims to regulate the military industries sector in the Kingdom and to develop and monitor its performance. It can do whatever is necessary in order to achieve its objectives. The Authority enjoys legal personality and financial and administrative independence. Its headquarters are located in Riyadh.

The Authority's objectives and tasks include:

1- Proposing policies, strategies and regulations related to the military industries sector and complementary industries.

2- To manage the military procurement operations of arms, ammunition, equipment, supplies, military uniforms, maintenance and operation contracts for arming the security and military authorities in the Kingdom and to participate in the examination and acceptance of products and services to ensure compliance with the required specifications.

3. Issuing manufacturing licenses for the public and private sectors, local and external, for the establishment of military industries and complementary industries in the Kingdom and establishing the relevant controls and procedures.

4 - Setting specifications for military industries and complementary industries.

5. Establish monitoring mechanisms for the military industry sector and its complementary industries and follow up their application.

6. Managing and developing the economic balance program for the military industries and complementary industries, negotiating with foreign companies to transfer technology and increasing local content.

7. To manage all R&D operations in the military industries and complementary industries, including the allocation of research and development budgets, technology transfer and management of research and development projects, utilizing research centers and universities - internal and external - and establishing research centers as needed.

8 - Coordinate with the relevant authorities to match the outputs of education and technical training with the needs of the military industries sector and complementary industries, and work to attract technical expertise to the sector.

9. Develop incentives for the development of the military industry sector.

10. Support local manufacturers by transferring technology, taking into account the distribution of projects among local companies, promoting the sector internally and externally, contributing to the rehabilitation of local manufacturers, providing infrastructure and supporting the export of domestic military products.

11 - Strategic partnerships with the public and private sectors locally and abroad to achieve their objectives.


The Authority shall have a Board of Directors chaired by His Highness the Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, and the membership of:

1- Minister of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources.
2- Minister of Finance.
3- Minister of Commerce.
4- Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Company for Military Industries.
5. Representative of the Ministry of Defense.
6. Representative of the Ministry of the Interior.
7. Representative of the Ministry of National Guard.
8- Three specialists in the field of the work of the Commission, appointed by a decision of the Council of Ministers on the proposal of the President of the Council and their (three) years membership can be renewed once.

http://www.spa.gov.sa/1656683

@Sharif al-Hijaz

 

[Hakikat ve Hikmet]

Excellent news. It's been nothing but excellent news (almost) lately (past few months). Hard not to be very optimistic especially considering all the changes and achievements in the past 1.5 year already while knowing that this is just the very beginning. Baby steps and all.

"A journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step" - a Chinese proverb
"The world belongs to the dissatisfied" - a Turkish proverb

 

[The SC]

More Analysis

Development of a new phase in strategic industries:

This body is part of the desire to launch a new stage for this strategic industry, as it has been prepared to enter more developed areas in line with the vision of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 2030 aimed at the localization of military industries, in part.

The supreme approval was issued to convert the military factories into a general institution for military industries, which enjoys an independent entity and a board of directors, in preparation for a new phase of its most important features:

- Flexibility in dealing with global war manufacturing sources, ensuring the development of these industries and keeping abreast of the latest global production.

- To develop the technical framework for industrial integration with the national private sector in order to strengthen cooperation between them in the service of these industries and to invest the energies and capabilities available in the private national industries in support of developing existing industries and introducing new industries.

Developing the base of Saudi military industries:

In accordance with the vision of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 2030, the Authority contributes to the development of the integrated industrial base located in the military industries sector, thus contributing to the establishment of the industrial renaissance and the diversification of industrial production to serve the economic and national objectives through the transfer of the latest levels of industrial technology, And conducting research and studies in areas related to military industries.

In its new concept, the Authority seeks to achieve industrial integration with the national private sector and to cooperate with it in establishing joint industries in support and development of the military industries, and investing in the capacities and capabilities available in the national private industries to serve the military industrialization and the introduction of new industries.

In addition to contributing to building a base of national technical and administrative manpower capable of dealing with modern industrial technology, operation, maintenance and management of large industrial projects, promoting the Saudi citizen, raising its cultural and social level and providing good and comfortable life in line with national goals.

Technical and Industrial Development:

The support and care received by the military industries represented in the productive projects established and in the modernization of existing industries and the provision of state-of-the-art technology for the development of the product and means of production; and thus the flow of developed production in the national arena to meet the needs of the military sectors and self-sufficiency.