Saudi Arabia And France Sign 21 Agreements Across Major Projects

Dubai (PlantAndEquipment.com) - Saudi Arabia and France have signed 21 agreements during a recent high-level meeting, boosting joint efforts across infrastructure, transport, tourism, industrial localisation, technology and investment.

Among the main project agreements is a €434 million investment in Jeddah Port's Terminal 4, which is estimated to increase yearly capacity by about 2.6 million TEUs and boost the Kingdom's marine and logistics infrastructure.

Alstom has secured a €500 million deal for additional trains for Riyadh Metro Lines 3 and 6, indicating further investment in Saudi Arabia's transportation industry. Plans also include establishing an Alstom metro train assembly factory in Saudi Arabia for the future Line 7, which would increase local manufacturing and knowledge transfer.

The Saudi-French cooperation for AlUla has been extended until 2035, to assist more tourist and development projects, while a separate wastewater joint venture will target two treatment units for a major Saudi entertainment development, with a contract valued at $150 million.

The deals also include AI and computer technology, and Qiddiya plans a €6 billion entertainment investment in Cergy-Pontoise, France.

As projects progress, the new infrastructure, port, rail, tourism, and utility projects provide another pipeline of potential work for Saudi Arabia's construction and heavy equipment market, including earthmoving machinery, cranes, concrete equipment, material-handling machines, and specialized construction equipment.