RIYADH - The Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources issued 59 new industrial licenses last May, with a capital of 532 million riyals, while the factories that started production during the same period amounted to about 33 factories.

A report issued by the National Center for Industrial Information confirmed that 97% of the total industrial licenses issued were of national investment, while small factories accounted for nearly 75% of the new licenses, while the activity of making food products issued the new licenses issued by 17% of the total licenses Issued last May, the Riyadh region was the most prominent with (22) industrial licenses during the month, followed by the Eastern Province with (12) licenses.

Regarding the number of jobs created by the industrial sector during the last month, the National Center for Industrial Information revealed that 6,753 job opportunities were provided with a localization rate of up to 60%, as the number of Saudi jobs during this month reached 4,320 jobs.

The report indicated that 33 factories started production during the month of May 2021 AD, with a capital estimated at 1,229 billion riyals, while the activity of making rubber and plastics products was the most prominent in the factories that started production with (6) factories, while Makkah Al-Mukarramah topped with (15) factories. Production started during the same period, while the small factories that started production during this period constituted (76%) of the total, as well as (97%) of the total factories that started production were factories with national investment.

The report of the National Center for Industrial Information indicated that the number of existing industrial establishments by the end of May had reached 10,070, and the total volume of investments in them exceeded 1,134 trillion riyals.