"Go Global with UN support | Workshop: Investing in Saudi Arabia" was successfully held in Shanghai
On May 21, 2025, the "Go Global with UN support | Workshop: Investing in Saudi Arabia," hosted by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization Investment and Technology Promotion Office Shanghai, and co-organized by Mazaya (Beijing) International Consulting Co., Ltd. and Shandong Qunfeng Heavy Industry Technology Co., Ltd, was successfully held at the Shanghai Tower. Over 30 Saudi government and corporate representatives from Saudi ministries and large enterprises, including Saudi Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture (MEWA), Saudi Water Authority (SWA),
National Privatization Center (NCP), Local Content and Government Procurement (LCGPA), and National Center of Waste Management (MWAN) traveled to Shanghai to present Saudi Arabia's economic prospects.
Ms. Zhao Xiaolei, head of UNIDO ITPO Shanghai, delivered the opening remarks, welcoming the Saudi delegation and introducing UNIDO and the role of ITPO Shanghai. She emphasized the complementarity and timeliness of aligning China’s Belt and Road Initiative with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, noting that this workshop marked the starting point for collaboration. She expressed hopes to organize Chinese delegations for on-site exchanges in Saudi Arabia and called for building cooperative bridges under the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Mr. Ahmed J. Fallatah, director of the Recycling Sector of the Ministry of Investment (MISA), outlined Saudi Arabia’s strategic plans and investment potential in water and waste management under Vision 2030 and the 2060 Carbon Neutrality Goal. He highlighted Saudi Arabia’s efforts to reduce oil dependence and prioritize environmental management for sustainable development. He emphasized opportunities in seawater desalination, sewage treatment, and solid waste recycling, inviting Chinese enterprises to contribute innovative technologies and jointly build a sustainable industrial ecosystem.
Mr. Feng Ji, secretary-general of the Shanghai Pudong Service Center for Overseas Investment, deputy director of the Department of Economic Development (Headquarters Services Department) of China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone Lujiazui Administration Bureau, stated that Pudong leverages the Free Trade Zone policy advantages and Lujiazui’s financial resources to provide a "one-stop" service platform. He pledged continued support for enterprises expanding overseas.
Mr. Sylvan Zhang, CEO of PEAKS-ECO, shared insights into Saudi Arabia’s green projects, including smart urban sanitation, resource recycling, and waste management. He highlighted China’s mature expertise in these fields and positioned this workshop as a critical platform for synergizing "Chinese solutions" with "Saudi opportunities."
A dedicated one-on-one discussion zone allowed companies like Shanghai Environment Group Co., Ltd, to showcase waste treatment equipment. Over 70 Chinese enterprises held direct talks with Saudi representatives, discussing technology transfers and equipment supply. The Saudi delegation highly commended Chinese companies’ technical capabilities, with multiple preliminary cooperation intentions reached. This workshop advanced the alignment of the Belt and Road Initiative with Vision 2030, fostering high-quality collaboration to support Saudi Arabia’s green transition and elevate the China-Saudi comprehensive strategic partnership.
