25 French companies in the Kingdom after the signing of MOU between the two countries in the field of transportation.
Riyadh- – After the signing of memorandum of understanding in March 2022 between the French and Saudi transportation ministries to enhance cooperation in railway issues, innovations, and new transportation methods, this subject is once again brought to the table after a visit by a delegation of French companies specialized in this sector to the Kingdom.
Business France organized ysterday, Wednesday, May 15th , a seminar entitled “French Saudi Rail & Mobility Days” in collaboration with the French Embassy in Riyadh, under the patronage of the Ministry of Transport and Logistics Services, Investment, the National Industry Development and Logistics Program “NIDLP,” and the Saudi Railway Company “SAR,” in the presence of the French Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Ludovic Pouille, the Vice Minister of Transport and Logistics Services and Chairman of the General Authority for Transport in Saudi Arabia Dr. Rumeih Al Rumeih , in addition to the CEO of NIDLP Sulaiman Al Mazroua, and a representative from the ministry of industry, and the responsible for implementing major railway projects in the Kingdom, such as NEOM, Qiddiya, the royal commissions for Riyadh, Al-Ula, Makkah Al-Mukarramah and the Holy Sites, Jubail and Yanbu, in addition to Al-Mabnani Company and some companies responsible for bus projects such as SAPTCO.
This conference, held at the Crown Plaza Hotel – Digital City, was an opportunity to revisit French-Saudi cooperation in the railway sector, especially after a visit by a delegation composed of 25 innovative French companies specializing in engineering, operation, maintenance, and digital transformation of railways, which lasted for two days. On the first day, they met with Saudi decision-makers in this field and with Saudi companies specialized in this sector, and on the second day, they have the chance to participate in workshop sessions with the Saudi Railway Company “SAR” and the Royal Commission for Riyadh City.
The first edition of this seminar addressed various topics concerning both the public and private sectors, including smart mobility and how major projects in the Kingdom can create a new generation of mobility, in addition to innovations in the public transportation sector. The first day concluded with bilateral meetings between French and Saudi companies to discuss cooperation opportunities in this field.
It is worth mentioning that some French companies had already started working in the Kingdom on developing the railway sector, especially “RATP-DEV,” the leading public transport operator in the Middle East and North Africa, which is currently implementing several important projects such as the Riyadh and Al-Ula metros and has been supporting major public transport projects in Saudi Arabia since 2014.
This company, present in more than 15 countries worldwide, has years of experience that perfectly align with the Kingdom’s vision and is well-equipped to support Saudi Arabia in designing these projects, ensuring their proper implementation from the outset and from an operational perspective.
“RATP-DEV” focuses on setting high safety standards to ensure safe and reliable transport services, as well as on managing and restructuring current networks in line with the aspirations and resources of regulatory authorities. In line with its goal of ensuring the success of transport initiatives designed to fit the Vision 2030 context, this company also commits to contributing to the development of sustainable cities, prioritizing equitable transport, efficient resource utilization, inclusivity, vitality, and integration within regions.
Transport and mobility are among the key sectors in Vision 2030, where the project aims to develop new, innovative, environmentally friendly means of transportation and triple the Saudi railway network by adding 8000 kilometers of new railway lines by 2030. Serious work on developing this sector in the Kingdom began in 2023 after allocating over $9 billion to it, highlighting its strategic importance.
In collaboration with the French company Alstom, the Saudi Railway Company “SAR” had introduced the world’s first hydrogen-powered passenger train in October last year, representing a significant technological advancement and the Kingdom’s commitment to sustainable transport.
It is not surprising that French companies contribute to the development of this sector in the Kingdom, especially since France is a leader in the railway sector, with sales amounting to €4 billion. France ranks third globally in the railway industry and is currently focusing all its attention on decarbonization and digitization of the railway sector as a priority in France’s 2030 investment plan, with an amount of €75 million.
