Invitation from the Economic Block of the Government of the Orenburg Region

A delegation from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia visited the Orenburg Region for the first time. The delegation arrived at the invitation of the economic block of the regional government, where they learned about the investment and cultural potential of the region. The visit of Ahmed Tawfiq Al-Kaseer, board member of the Saudi consortium "Ajlan Global", and Hussein Mohamed Hussein Mustafa Gaafar, Chairman of the Global Development Fund, followed agreements reached with Orenburg representatives last February during the "INNOPROM" International Exhibition in Riyadh, the capital of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. "Governor Yevgeny Solntsev set the goal of expanding our circle of international partners. As part of the regional export development program until 2030, we have drawn up a plan containing specific steps to expand markets for our manufacturers' products. The second goal is to create favorable conditions for establishing joint ventures with foreign partners in the region. This will contribute to creating new jobs and increasing tax revenues for the regional budget," commented Anton Efimov, Deputy Governor of the Orenburg Region for Economic and Investment Policy, on the meeting with the Saudi delegation. The region has previously established trade relations with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; last year, we exported ferrous metals to the Kingdom. Given the growing interest of Saudi companies in the industrial and logistical capabilities of our region, promising cooperation can be established. The Saudi side is showing particular interest in Orenburg building materials and agricultural products. Anton Valeryevich added that mutually beneficial projects could also be developed in the tourism sector. The Saudi delegation visited the Caravan-Saray and the Tatar Drama Theater. The guests watched the play "The Red Pasha", which tells the story of Karim Khakimov, the first Soviet plenipotentiary representative to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Entrepreneurs from Orenburg are planning a trade mission to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia this year. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has been invited to join the BRICS intergovernmental group, and this accession represents an important turning point for the Orenburg Region towards enhancing cooperation. The BRICS Investment Center, created under the direction of the Governor, operates in our region, and its project portfolio includes about twenty proposed projects for foreign investors. The projects have broad prospects for development, as the region offers opportunities for joint ventures with sites in the Orenburg Special Economic Zone, as well as over 200 investment sites. Last year, the region ranked among the top 15 regions of the Russian Federation in the national investment attractiveness rating. Photo: Press Service of the Government of the Orenburg Region