Strategic partnership towards the future of transportation
In a strategic move aimed at strengthening infrastructure and developing the transport sector, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Kingdom of Spain signed two Memoranda of Understanding to deepen cooperation in civil aviation and modern transport modes. The signing ceremony took place in Riyadh, in the presence of His Excellency the Minister of Transport and Logistics, Engineer Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser, and his Spanish counterpart, His Excellency the Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, Mr. Oscar Puente. These agreements represent an extension of the strong historical relations between the two countries and open new horizons for benefiting from Spain's leading expertise in the transport sector.
General context: In line with the Kingdom's Vision 2030
This collaboration comes at a crucial time as Saudi Arabia strives to achieve the ambitious goals of Vision 2030, which places the transport and logistics sector at the heart of its development strategy. The National Transport and Logistics Strategy aims to solidify the Kingdom's position as a global logistics hub connecting three continents by developing an integrated network of airports, seaports, railways, and roads. Partnering with Spain, which boasts one of the most advanced transport networks in Europe, particularly in high-speed rail, is a smart move to accelerate this transformation, building on the previous success of the Haramain High-Speed Railway project, which was implemented by Spanish companies.
The importance of the agreement and its expected impact
The first memorandum aims to develop technical, regulatory, and operational cooperation in the field of civil aviation. This is expected to contribute to raising air safety standards, enhancing aviation security, and improving the efficiency of air operations, which will positively impact the passenger experience at Saudi airports. The second memorandum focuses on the future of the transportation sector, encompassing the exchange of expertise in digitalization, innovation, smart transportation technologies, and the development of sustainable mobility and multimodal transport policies. Domestically, this partnership will support the Kingdom's efforts in building smart and sustainable cities like NEOM and providing innovative transportation solutions that meet the needs of population and economic growth. Internationally, it strengthens economic relations between Saudi Arabia and Europe, opens the door to new investments and quality job opportunities in both countries, and reinforces the Kingdom's image as an attractive destination for global expertise and technologies.
