Saudi Gazette report
RIYADH — Assistant Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources for Planning and Development Dr. Abdullah Al-Ahmari said that more than 100,000 women are currently working in the Saudi industrial sector within more than 12,000 licensed factories.

He made the remarks while attending the main dialogue session titled: “Empowering women and transforming industry: Leading for a sustainable future,” on the third day of the 21st General Conference of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the Global Manufacturing and Industrialization Summit in Riyadh on Wednesday.

The session focused on empowering women and enhancing their presence in industrial transformation paths, as the Kingdom presented its comprehensive strategy to increase women's participation and expand their leadership roles in the industrial sector.

In his speech, Al-Ahmari emphasized that Saudi Arabia is making clear strides in building a more inclusive industrial environment that empowers women across various industrial disciplines, particularly in the technology and advanced sectors.

He noted that the current phase focuses on rehabilitating industrial facilities and expanding their capacities to accommodate additional female talent, in cooperation with local and international partners committed to developing women’s skills and enhancing their participation.

The “Women’s Empowerment Day” events commenced with a number of sessions addressing comprehensive industrial policies, the role of women in future industries, and removing obstacles hindering their increased participation in STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). Other sessions focused on enhancing women’s participation in industrial value chains and showcasing the Saudi experience as a regional model that can be built upon internationally.

The conference also featured concurrent sessions addressing global challenges facing women in industry, the Gulf experience in enhancing their industrial presence, and discussions on the role of creative sectors and supply chains in consolidating gender equality.

One session focused on career guidance and networking as tools to promote women's advancement in industrial leadership roles, while a closing session emphasized the need to move from pledges to clear action mechanisms that include performance indicators and implementable programs.

The third day concluded with the "Orange Hour" event, coinciding with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women during which representatives from 170 countries reaffirmed their commitment to promoting women's safety and expanding their empowerment across various economic and social sectors.

The summit's outcomes highlight a growing conviction that the future of global industry will not be possible without the effective integration of women in leadership, production, and innovation, and that international partnerships can transform the slogan "Women at the Heart of Global Industrial Transformation" into a tangible reality.