MANUFACTURING-
A new factory for Pert hair care products in town: German consumer goods manufacturer Henkel has opened a new factory in Riyadh that will produce hair care products for its Pert brand, according to a statement picked up by Zawya. The new facility positions Henkel as a local production hub and is expected to boost its regional exports, backed by a strong portfolio of locally-manufactured products, including the Persil laundry detergent and DAC disinfectant products. The company has another factory in the Saudi capital (for laundry- and home-cleaning products) and two (for adhesives) in Dammam.
INFRASTRUCTURE-
Saudi-Egypt grid interconnection 60% complete: The project connecting Saudi and Egypt’s power grids is 60% complete with electrical conduits currently being installed in the Gulf of Aqaba to convey 8 submarine cables, Asharq Business reported, citing an unnamed Egyptian government source. The 3 GW interconnection project is scheduled to be completed in two phases. The source estimated that the first 1.5 GW phase is set to go live in July 2025 and the second one in early 2026.
EDUCATION-
Inftah’s online platform to get a makeover by Sure Global Tech: IT solutions provider Sure Global Tech has signed a SAR 52 mn contract with the Entrustment and Liquidation Center (Infath) to revamp the independent governmental agency’s digital platform, a disclosure to Tadawul showed. The three-year contract will also see Sure provide technical support to Inftah and help accelerate liquidation procedures for its customers.
CEMENT-
Tadawul-listed Umm Al Qura Cement has joined the government’s industrial sector competitiveness program to help cut its production costs, it said in a disclosure to Tadawul. It said the program would help it raise the efficiency and quality of energy sources used in its facilities, bringing the financial hit from the increase of production costs due to rising fuel prices to 9% from an earlier 11%.
About the program: Launched by the Industry and Mineral Resources Ministry, the program offers financing to factories operating in vital economic sectors to help improve their operational efficiency by transitioning to more efficient fuels to lower the financial impact of energy and water price adjustments. It has earmarked some SAR 15 bn to provide financial solutions for the targeted sectors.
INFRASTRUCTURE-
An advanced veterinary laboratory will be set up in Riyadh under a SAR 175 mn contract signed between the Environment, Water and Agriculture Minister Abdulrahman Al Fadhli and an unnamed specialized, state news agency SPA reported. The laboratory will study and monitor the spread of animal diseases and develop veterinary vaccines for local disease strains. It is set to be a regional reference laboratory for the Middle East.
ELECTRICITY-
Another transmission project by Keir International: Nomu-listed Keir International signed a contract with Saudi Electricity Company to install high-voltage underground cables, it said in a disclosure to Tadawul. The SAR 78.8 mn contract will see the company provide high-voltage underground cables connecting two stations in Wadi Al Dawasir.