22 Aug 2024
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia is aiming to leverage US expertise to boost efficiency in its municipal and housing sectors after a government official met with American firms.
During his visit to the US, Saudi Minister of Municipalities and Housing Majid bin Abdullah Al-Hogail held talks with infrastructure firm Parsons Corp. to discuss using data to improve project execution, site safety, and technology integration for better service access and connectivity to residential areas.
Al-Hogail also met with representatives from waste management systems company HDR, where he and his accompanying delegation reviewed the firm’s global projects and discussed potential collaboration opportunities in specialized areas.
The minister commenced his US tour on Aug. 18, primarily aiming to attract prominent companies to the Saudi market, focusing on real estate development, financing, and supply chains, as well as modern construction technologies and urban infrastructure.
In a post on his X account, Al-Hogail said his meetings with Parsons Corp. and HDR took place “in the context of searching for innovative and integrated solutions and models for city management.”
He also said he wanted to “enhance the efficiency of work in the municipal and housing sectors and attract the best experiences and solutions.”
The meetings are part of Saudi Arabia’s initiative to integrate smart technology into urban development, with the Kingdom aiming to have at least 10 of its cities rank among the top 50 in the world.
The minister also met with the Saudi-US Business Council team to review their scope of work and explore investment opportunities. He expressed interest in collaborating with the council to support his ministry’s municipal and housing initiatives and programs.
In another post, Al-Hogail said he held talks with leaders of the US Chamber of Commerce to discuss enhancing cooperation with Saudi Arabia and American firms.
“We focused on building effective partnerships and sharing expertise among specialized companies. We reviewed investment opportunities in the Kingdom and explored possibilities for strategic agreements in infrastructure, public health, and other areas.” the minister said.