Al-Hogail Participates in Saudi-Spanish Business Forum’s Launch in Madrid, and meets with Deputy Prime Minister

The Saudi Minister of Municipal, Rural Affairs, and Housing, Majid bin Abdullah Al-Hogail, participated in today’s Saudi-Spanish Business Forum launch in Madrid. The Federation of Saudi Chambers and the Spanish Chamber of Commerce organized the forum to discuss investment opportunities between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Kingdom of Spain. The participants reviewed ways to strengthen partnerships in areas such as construction technologies, smart cities, and urban planning. The event was attended by Her Highness Princess Haifa bint Abdulaziz bin Ayyaf Al Muqrin, the Ambassador of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to the Kingdom of Spain, as well as the President of the Saudi-Spanish Business Council, Engineer Khalid bin Abdullah Al-Hogail, along with dignitaries and leaders of Saudi-Spanish investment companies.

At the forum, Al-Hogail expressed gratitude for the launch of the Saudi-Spanish Business Forum. He highlighted that the forum reflects the deep historical relations between Saudi Arabia and Spain as two friendly countries. He pointed out that the forum aims to discuss and explore investment opportunities and ways to enhance practical cooperation and partnership between the two countries in several vital fields and sectors, including municipal and housing sectors.

Al-Hogail noted that the mutual relations between the Kingdom and Spain, spanning over seven decades, have achieved many positive outputs that have reflected their impact on development, investment, and service development, including the construction sectors, civil engineering, financial activities, energy, and water desalination. He also pointed out that Saudi Arabia and Spain are witnessing a rapid development renaissance and tangible development in all fields. This makes investment and trade exchange opportunities between them a catalyst and attractant.

The Saudi Minister affirmed that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is working according to clear plans and targets set out by its Vision 2030 that have constituted a roadmap for all development sectors contributing to the economic and social sides and tangible results. The goal is to achieve more successes and achievements for a vibrant society, an ambitious nation, and a prosperous economy.

He elaborated that investments between both countries are witnessing a significant development movement. The value of Spanish investments in the Kingdom exceeded $3 billion during the past ten years, 40% of which is related to the real estate sector. The minister stressed the importance of continuing cooperation and exchanging expertise to serve this vital sector as the Kingdom welcomes any extending bridges of cooperation with successful international expertise and benefiting from the distinguished houses of expertise.

Al-Hogail announced signing of a real estate development agreement next month with one of the Spanish development companies. The agreement aims to implement residential units within integrated residential communities and suburbs that take into account the quality of life standards. The goal is to contribute to raising the homeownership rate to 70% by 2030. He expressed the ministry's aspiration to strengthen partnerships with developers and investors in the construction, roads, and recycling sectors, in addition to engineering and consulting companies.

After the forum, Al-Hogail met with the Vice-President of the Government of Spain and the Minister for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge, Teresa Ribera, in the presence of the Ambassador of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to the Kingdom of Spain. They discussed ways of cooperation in the fields of humanizing cities, urban development, and employing artificial intelligence technology in sustainable urban development. The minister highlighted the Kingdom's efforts to apply quality-of-life standards in municipal and housing projects. He also discussed the Ministry of Municipal, Rural Affairs, and Housing projects, including the "Bahjah" project, which aims to raise the quality of life in Saudi cities, and the Green Suburbs Project, which aims to plant more than 1.3 million trees in 50 housing projects.

Al-Hogail also met with the President of the Spanish Association of Infrastructure Contractors and Concessionaires, Julián Núñez. They reviewed the most prominent investment opportunities in the Saudi real estate sector.