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RIYADH: Saudi brands will showcase the Kingdom’s $30 billion franchising industry at Moscow’s BuyBrand International Franchise Expo in October, part of a broader push to expand their global footprint and attract overseas investment. 

The National Committee for Franchising, under the Saudi Chambers of Commerce, said the Kingdom’s pavilion will run from Oct. 1 to 3 in cooperation with the Saudi Commercial Attache in Moscow and the Ministry of Investment’s office in Russia, according to a press release. 

������Ƶ’s franchising sector is the largest in the Middle East, with more than 1,000 local and international brands. It is expanding about 15 percent annually and supports hundreds of thousands of jobs, making it a key pillar of the Kingdom’s non-oil diversification strategy. 

Khalid Al-Ghamdi, chairman of the National Committee for Franchising, said: “Saudi participation in this global exhibition reflects the strength of the Kingdom’s franchising sector, which exceeds $30 billion and grows at an annual rate of 15 percent.” 

He added: “This participation also represents a cornerstone in supporting Saudi Vision 2030 by developing the non-oil economy and enabling Saudi brands to expand globally.” 

The Saudi Pavilion will connect domestic firms with investors and entrepreneurs from Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan, as well as Azerbaijan, Turkiye and the UAE. 

The event is expected to attract over 6,000 visitors and 180 franchisors from around the world, offering a key opportunity for Saudi brands to expand into Russia and neighboring markets while promoting economic and investment cooperation between the two countries. 

The expo will feature one-on-one B2B meetings between Saudi brand owners and international counterparts, alongside the signing of cooperation agreements and strategic partnerships across key sectors such as food and baverage, hospitality, services, and education. 

Beyond showcasing brands, the National Committee is providing comprehensive logistical and media support, coordinating travel and shipping procedures to ensure a strong and effective presence. 

It is also developing the National Franchising Co., an investment platform aimed at helping Saudi firms expand efficiently into international markets. 

RIYADH: Saudi Investment Minister Khalid Al-Falih met with China’s Commerce Minister Wang Wentao in Beijing during an official visit, underscoring growing economic ties between the two countries. 

The ministers discussed strengthening cooperation in global trade and boosting direct investment across several sectors, Al-Falih said in an Arabic post on X. The meeting also saw the signing of the minutes of the Saudi-China Trade, Investment and Technology Committee. 

This comes as the Kingdom looks to deepen partnerships with China, its largest trading partner, in line with its Vision 2030 diversification strategy. 

“During my official visit to the capital, Beijing, I was pleased to meet with H.E. Wang Wentao, Minister of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China. We discussed developing cooperation in global trade and enhancing direct investments across several sectors,” Al-Falih said. 

He added: “The minutes of the Trade, Investment, and Technology Committee between our two friendly countries were also signed.” 

Al-Falih also attended a roundtable with the Saudi ambassador to China, over 35 Chinese financial institutions, and Saudi public and private sector representatives to review investment opportunities and deepen financial cooperation. 

“We convened a high-level roundtable with the Saudi Ambassador, the Chairman of CCPIT, and the head of the China Chamber of Commerce, joined by 70+ Chinese firms across energy, construction, industry, transport, logistics, telecoms, aerospace, and health,” the minister said. 

During the meeting, Wang urged closer cooperation in new energy and capital markets while highlighting the alignment of China’s Belt and Road Initiative with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030 diversification plan, Reuters reported. 

He said there is potential to “expand bilateral trade volumes, elevate the level of two-way investment cooperation, and broaden collaboration in areas such as new energy, industrial supply chains and capital markets.” 

������Ƶ is one of the few countries with a trade surplus with China. Chinese customs data showed that while the Asian country exported over $50 billion worth of goods to the Kingdom in 2024 — including smartphones, solar panels, and saloon cars — Saudi exports to China totaled $57 billion, over 80 percent of which was oil. 

Al-Falih also met with Shanghai Mayor Gong Zheng to explore investment collaboration under the Saudi-Chinese High-Level Joint Committee. 

His visit included workshops on industrial value chains, food security, and maritime industries. One session focused on building a fully integrated logistics value chain with over 50 Chinese companies, while another addressed investment in shipbuilding and maritime supply chains. 

“Given the critical role of maritime transport in global trade, exploring investment in shipbuilding and maritime industries has become increasingly important,” Al-Falih said.