GE has announced a $100mn in new programmes in Saudi Arabia to build innovation capacity, and create jobs in advanced manufacturing and software analytics.
The research and manufacturing programmes have been established to enhance the energy efficiency and sustainability priorities of the country.
In manufacturing, GE will expand its facilities in Saudi for the region with the production of GE’s HA gas turbines – the world’s largest and most efficient gas turbine – at GE Manufacturing Technology Centre in Dammam.
The oil and gas facility in Dammam will include the manufacturing of wellheads, ‘Christmas Trees’ and other pressure control technologies as well as well performance services repair capability for submersible pumps. GE is also planning a regional LED manufacturing facility.
Jeffrey Immelt, GE chairman & CEO said: “We are proud to work with our partners to co-create solutions that will find application both in Saudi Arabia and globally.
“We believe that future skill-sets demand strong capability in both software and hardware; and we are committed to delivering that to our Saudi workforce and our ecosystem of partners, such as Saudi Aramco and Saudi Electricity Company, as well as SMEs.”
In addition, GE will collaborate with King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) on material testing and combustion research.
It will support the development of GE’s HA gas turbines, which will be manufactured at GE Manufacturing Technology Centre in late 2016.
