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JEDDAH: ������Ƶn Military Industries has signed a cooperation deal with US-based Amentum to strengthen the Kingdom’s land defense systems, improve maintenance and overhaul, and localize spare parts.

The signing ceremony with the global leader in advanced engineering and technology solutions was attended by leading figures from both firms, including Mohammed Al-Hodaib, executive vice president of SAMI Land, and Feras Al-Hassoun, Middle East operational sales director at Amentum.

Under Vision 2030, ������Ƶ is pursuing defense self-sufficiency, with SAMI aiming to localize 50 percent of defense spending through global partnerships and joint ventures with leading international manufacturers.

“This agreement marks a pivotal milestone in strengthening the readiness of our land systems, enhancing the localization of spare parts, and reinforcing our position as the national leader in defense maintenance and sustainment,” the Saudi national defense and security champion, operating under the Public Investment Fund, said in a statement.

In July, SAMI, ranked among the world’s top 100 defense companies, signed technology transfer agreements with three leading Turkish defense firms, including Nurol Makina, FNSS, and Aselsan, to accelerate the localization of advanced land systems manufacturing in the Kingdom.

At that time, SAMI Land reaffirmed its commitment to advancing strategic objectives by localizing the Kingdom’s defense industries, enhancing industrial capabilities, and delivering high-quality products and services across the entire product lifecycle.

SAMI operates through five primary divisions, with SAMI Land spearheading the Kingdom’s ground defense capabilities.

SAMI Aerospace develops aircraft components and unmanned aerial vehicles, while SAMI Sea focuses on naval defense technologies, including corvettes and other maritime systems.

Meanwhile, SAMI Defense Systems provides integrated solutions such as command and control systems and radar technologies, and SAMI Advanced Electronics develops cybersecurity solutions and electronic warfare systems.

Together, these divisions support the PIF subsidiary’s mission to enhance ������Ƶ’s defense capabilities and localize military manufacturing.

In April, Amentum, listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker AMTM, announced the sale of its hardware and product business, Rapid Solutions, to Lockheed Martin for $360 million.

The move positions Amentum as a pure-play provider of technology-enabled solutions and accelerates its debt reduction objectives, underscoring the company’s strategic focus on advanced engineering and mission support services.

RIYADH: ������Ƶ and Syria have signed an agreement to protect and promote mutual investments between both countries. 

The deal was signed on the sidelines of a roundtable in Riyadh, following the arrival of a Syrian delegation of government officials and private sector leaders, led by the country’s Economy and Industry Minister Mohammad Nidal Al-Shaar. 

The event builds on last month’s Syrian-Saudi Investment Forum in Damascus, where over 100 firms from the Kingdom, alongside 20 government agencies, signed 47 deals worth $6.4 billion across sectors including real estate, infrastructure, and finance, as well as telecom, energy, and industry. 

In a post on its official X account, the Saudi Ministry of Investment described the latest deal as “a step that reflects the depth of investment ties and paves the way for distinctive cooperation between the two nations.” 

The ministry added that the scope includes safeguarding investors and investments, accelerating integration, ensuring a secure environment backed by favorable laws, and boosting the flow of capital into key sectors. 

The deal also addresses challenges facing investors, aims to boost the flow of mutual investments across various sectors, and seeks to create new job opportunities. 

“The agreement underscores the depth of historical and economic ties between ������Ƶ and the Syrian Arab Republic,” the ministry added in its post on X. 

Speaking at the Riyadh roundtable, Saudi Minister of Investment Khalid Al-Falih said the Kingdom supports the private sector’s proposal to establish a “Fund of Funds” to facilitate and manage Saudi investments in Syria. 

“In the field of infrastructure, an agreement was reached last week between Saudi-based Khashoggi Holding Co. and Syria’s Radiant Structures to enter into a strategic partnership with Sinoma to implement a joint project that includes establishing a cement plant with a daily capacity of 6,000 tonnes,” Al-Falih said during his opening remarks. 

He also revealed that 80 Saudi companies have registered to participate in the Damascus International Fair, which will be held after a six-year pause from Aug. 27 to Sept. 5. 

“We aim to overcome the economic challenges in Syria and support the establishment of a Saudi investment fund in Damascus,” Al-Falih said, as reported by Al-Ekhbariya. 

He further emphasized that Syria’s new investment law reflects the country’s commitment to building an investment-driven future. 

The deal follows Al-Shaar’s earlier meeting with Saudi Minister of Commerce Majid Al-Qasabi in Riyadh, where the two sides discussed ways to strengthen cooperation and expand investment opportunities, according to the Syrian Arab News Agency. 

Both officials emphasized the importance of strengthening fraternal ties between the two nations and highlighted the need for coordinated efforts to address global economic challenges. 

Talks also focused on expanding cooperation in industry and trade, with the aim of attracting more joint investments and enhancing the growth prospects of both the Saudi and Syrian economies. 

Al-Shaar’s visit forms part of ongoing efforts to strengthen economic relations and expand trade between the two countries.