Saudi Arabia’s Industry Minister Explores Strategic Aviation and Space Partnership with Airbus in France

Photography: Courtesy of SPA.

Toulouse, May 7, 2025 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef held a high-level meeting on Tuesday in Toulouse, France with Christian Scherer, CEO of Airbus Commercial Aircraft, and senior Airbus leaders in the commercial aviation and satellite sectors. The meeting was also attended by French Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade Laurent Saint-Martin, CEO of the Local Content and Government Procurement Authority Abdulrahman Al Samari, and CEO of the National Industrial Development Center Eng. Saleh Al-Solami.

The discussions focused on deepening industrial cooperation in the aviation and space sectors, including opportunities to localize aircraft manufacturing and maintenance technologies in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Alkhorayef emphasized the strategic partnership between the Kingdom and Airbus, which spans nearly four decades. He described it as a cornerstone of Saudi Arabia’s efforts to advance its aviation and satellite industries under Vision 2030 and the National Industrial Strategy, with a focus on strengthening national capabilities, attracting quality investments, and driving economic diversification and sustainable development.

The minister also outlined a range of investment enablers, including streamlined foreign investment procedures, access to strategic materials such as aluminum and titanium, and the Kingdom’s global geographic advantage as a trade nexus linking Europe, Asia, and Africa. He highlighted the government-backed financial tools and advanced infrastructure that make Saudi Arabia a compelling destination for global aviation companies.

Alkhorayef reaffirmed the Kingdom’s commitment to helping address global supply chain challenges in the aviation sector, noting that Saudi Arabia’s vast mineral resources, logistics capabilities, and skilled workforce position it as a key partner for global aerospace leaders like Airbus.

Scherer praised Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and reiterated Airbus’s commitment to expanding its long-standing partnership with the Kingdom through the exchange of expertise and advanced technologies. He noted the company’s readiness to support Saudi Arabia’s efforts in localizing industrial capabilities and fostering innovation in both aviation and satellite fields.

French Minister Laurent Saint-Martin welcomed the visit and stressed the significance of France–Saudi economic cooperation, particularly in advanced manufacturing and technology sectors, as vital to shared developmental goals.

As part of the visit, the Saudi delegation toured Airbus’s main manufacturing plant and commercial aviation and satellite facilities. They were given detailed briefings on Airbus’s global operations, cutting-edge technologies, and innovation in aircraft and satellite production. The delegation observed the company’s assembly lines and satellite manufacturing capabilities, underscoring Saudi Arabia’s interest in leveraging advanced space technologies to support communication infrastructure and global security.

Alkhorayef’s visit is part of an official mission to France aimed at expanding strategic cooperation in industrial and mining sectors, with a focus on aviation and food industries that the Kingdom seeks to localize and develop under Vision 2030.