The American Chamber of Commerce Saudi Arabia’s Infrastructure Committee Launches its Public Private Partnership (PPP) Series with a Kickoff Event Hosting Industry Leaders in the Kingdom

RIYADH - 24 MAY 2022

On Tuesday, May 24, The American Chamber of Commerce Saudi Arabia (AmCham Saudi Arabia)’s Infrastructure Committee launched its PPP Series, “Saudi Arabia’s Public Private Partnership Priorities: The Imperative of the Private Sector to Achieve Vision 2030,” with a Kickoff Event to introduce members of the American Chamber of Commerce Saudi Arabia and guests to industry leaders in the public private partnerships (PPP) field from technical, financial and legal perspectives. It provided attendees with valuable information regarding market entry through keynote remarks, panel discussions and networking opportunities. The series is sponsored by FedEx, AlBawani, and the event was sponsored by Tamasuk.

Opening remarks were made by Mr. Jamil Adi, Chair of the Infrastructure Committee for AmChamKSA; Mr. James Golsen, Senior Commercial Officer for the United States Embassy in Riyadh; Mr. Mohannad Basodan, CEO of the National Center for Privatization.  They highlighted the -significant  potential for PPP within the Kingdom and how this recent push  is a first within Saudi Arabia, providing a variety of opportunities to international players.

Adi noted, “Saudi Arabia’s historic commitment to the traditional procurement route is deep-rooted, and adopting a full PPP model represents a significant change in alignment with the country's new strategic vision. AmCham Saudi Arabia will highlight the country's private sector participation initiative and its increasing focus on vigilant fiscal management policies expected to be the key drivers for the development of a sustainable and robust PPP market in Saudi Arabia.”

Golsen also highlighted the international opportunities, mentioning, "PPPs provide limitless opportunities for international firms to participate in the development of the local private sector and its capabilities. The Saudi government is making significant progress towards its ambitious Vision 2030 by issuing initiatives and projects that welcome international partners in delivering complex projects across the country.” 

Next, the guests attended two panel discussions with some of the key players in PPP in Saudi Arabia.  

The first panel discussed the role of the National Center for Privatization, new PPP laws, pipeline projects as well as sectorial infrastructure opportunities.  There was emphasis on both the localization of these projects and the importance of building a global infrastructure that allows for a transfer of knowledge to the local market.  The panel was moderated by Mr. Chris Johnson, Ex-Officio Chairman of AmCham Saudi Arabia and Chairman of KKR.  Panelists included Mr. Salman Badr, Executive VP, Commercial Advisory for the National Center for Privatization; Mr. Esmail Alsallom, CEO of the National Infrastructure Fund; Mr. Nasser AlShawaf, Board Member & Shareholder at AlBawani Holding Company; Mr. Mohammed AlBalwi, Chairman of Tamasuk; and Mr. Abdulelah Alsheikh, Country Manager for Jacobs. 

The second panel provided a diverse array of panelists in order to provide further insights about PPP from dynamic legal, financial, and technical perspectives.  The panelists discussed the reasons for the current emphasis on public private partnerships, and also touched on benefits and potential challenges of PPPs from their unique lenses. The panel was moderated by Ms. Helena De Flaviis, Board Member and Group Chief Strategist of AlBawani.  The panelists included Mr. Safdar Raza, Partner, Financial & Transaction Advisory at RAM Inc. Partners; Mr. David Johnston, Partner at Norton Rose Fulbright; Mr. Paul Waldoch, CEO of Qantara Development; Mr. Shashank Rath, Partner at Synergy Consulting Financial; and Mr. Samer Jumean, Infrastructure Partner at KPMG.

The event’s closing remarks were made by Mr. Fouad Khoury, AmCham Saudi Arabia Board Member, who encouraged attendees to network with one another to share opportunities and insights. He also highlighted the upcoming conferences that AmCham Saudi Arabia’s Infrastructure Committee is hosting across the Kingdom over the next six months which will take place in all three chapters of the organization  Jeddah, Riyadh, and the Eastern Province, and will cover key sectors including Transportation, Healthcare, Education, and Energy. The events will focus on key components of a typical PPP transaction: financial, legal, technical, risk allocation, stakeholder management, and sustainability.  Khoury added, “Discussions will highlight key challenges and opportunities for strategizing thoughts and actions beneficial to the success and realization of these Saudi privatization programs.”

The American Chamber of Commerce Saudi Arabia’s Infrastructure Committee provides insight and advocacy support that enables members to better engage with the industry and the Saudi authorities on their current issues and future goals supporting the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 Plan. The Committee engages with stakeholders at the senior Saudi and U.S. levels to develop and maintain contact with key decision-makers to work towards achieving sustainable and prolonged growth of the sector for American companies.

The major takeaway from the evening’s event is that the future is bright for PPP in Saudi Arabia.  Adi furthered, “The investment opportunities in Saudi Arabia are vast and both international and regional sponsors and their lenders have the opportunity to thrive in the long-term with the right advice and strategy.”

Individuals interested in attending the upcoming series events or learning more about AmChamKSA’s Infrastructure Committee can visit amchamksa.com/infrastructure or email infrastructure@amchamksa.com for more information.

Press Contact Details:

Hana Nemec, Head of Communications

American Chamber of Commerce Saudi Arabia
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Mobile: +966.53.847.7638
Email: hana.nemec@amchamksa.com
Website: www.amchamksa.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/amchamksa