The National Competitiveness Center, in collaboration with the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development “OECD," convened a high-level workshop titled “Trade Facilitation in Saudi Arabia," bringing together 40 representatives from 22 public & private sector entities. The event comes as part of ongoing national efforts to advance the business environment and enhance Saudi Arabia's global competitiveness.
H.E. Eiman Al-Mutairi, Vice Minister of Commerce and CEO of the NCC, attended the workshop, which featured a comprehensive presentation by the OECD outlining its initiatives in trade facilitation and Trade Facilitation Indicators. The session also provided an initial overview of the situation in Saudi Arabia.
The workshop addressed key trends in the Kingdom's role in trade facilitation policies, priorities for reducing trade costs, and the rapid development of transport and border infrastructure. The workshop further emphasized the role of digital solutions & advanced technologies in supporting paperless trade and enhancing the efficiency of border procedures.
Key themes raised by government representatives included regulatory and legislative initiatives, customs automation, stronger coordination among border authorities, transport and logistics infrastructure development, and the role of special economic zones and trade agreements in advancing trade facilitation.
The workshop concluded with an interactive panel discussion led by OECD experts, addressing the alignment of trade facilitation reviews with Saudi Arabia's objectives, barriers to adopting paperless processes in the business environment, and opportunities to enhance integration among border agencies, thereby strengthening the Kingdom's position as a global logistics hub.
This workshop forms part of the ongoing partnership between the National Competitiveness Center and international organizations, supporting the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 to enhance Saudi Arabia's competitive environment and strengthen its position among the world's most competitive economies.