The Saudi Authority for Industrial Cities and Technology Zones (MODON) has released its annual report for 2023, highlighting significant progress in attracting investments, developing industrial infrastructure, and promoting sustainable industrial growth.
MODON, established in 2001, currently supervises 36 industrial cities, including six industrial oases, across the Kingdom.
The report details a $3.8 billion (SAR14.45 billion) increase in cumulative investments during 2023. New investments increased by 63 percent, with 891 local and foreign investments secured. Notably, foreign investments grew by 85 percent over 2022.
For successfully attracting the most investments among other government agencies, MODON earned the National Industrial Development and Logistics Program (NIDLP) Award. It received 34 other local, regional, and international awards, solidifying its leading position in industrial and sustainable development.
According to the statement, “MODON’s commitment to fostering a stimulating industrial environment is evident in the expansion of the developed land area in its industrial cities, which exceeds 209 million square meters. The number of factories rose to 6,443, alongside 7,946 industrial, logistical, and investment facilities. Furthermore, the number of ready-built factories increased to 1,301.”
The report outlines MODON’s dedication to developing model industrial cities and an attractive investment environment. This is exemplified by the launch of the MODON Oasis in Yanbu and the Industrial City in Asir. Moreover, MODON completed 48 development projects at a cost exceeding $346 million (SAR1.3 billion).
The report also details MODON’s focus on driving industrial transformation. The authority launched the second phase of the National Productivity Program, aligned with the Future Factories Initiative, which evaluates and comes up with transformation plans for factories using the international Smart Industry Readiness Index (SIRI) to assess their adoption of Fourth Industrial Revolution applications.
Further, the report emphasizes MODON’s commitment to digitalization. The authority achieved an 89.9 percent compliance score with basic cybersecurity controls, conducted 1.3 million data exchanges with other parties, and transferred over 24,000 contracts to its electronic system. Its dedication is reflected in its 85.77 percent adherence to digital governance standards, a key aspect of its digital transformation plans.
