With the participation of government and private sector entities, the closing meeting of the study project Transforming the Contracting Sector into an Industry with a roadmap that includes 19 initiatives in addition to a comprehensive guide to facility governance, and an invitation to 18 entities to participate in a committee to manage and review the outputs, more than 25 other entities were also invited to share their aspirations and visions on the subject, under the patronage of the Deputy Minister of Municipal, Rural Affairs, and Housing, Engineer Abdullah bin Mohammed Al-Badeer.
Study of transformation processes globally
The first focus of the study, “Transforming the Contracting Sector into an Industry,” and aims to study transformation processes in various countries around the world and develop a set of regulatory initiatives to transform the sector into one that supports and rewards enterprises adopting technologies that advance the goal of becoming an industry, in addition to shifting operations from the site to the factory as much as possible. This focus resulted in 7 initiatives, in addition to 3 proposals to update procurement regulations.
12 enabling initiatives
The second pillar was the study “Development and Growth of the Contracting Sector,” which aims to establish enabling initiatives to help enterprises wishing to transform do so in a way that is both stimulating and sustainable. This study resulted in 12 enabling initiatives.
The third and final pillar was the study “Establishing Governance Standards for Construction Enterprises,” as the transformation process requires existing enterprises to have an institutional structure and the ability to adapt to various circumstances. This provides construction enterprises with a set of tools that help them operate institutionally as well as grow and expand.
43 entities participate in the development of the contracting sector
For his part, Zakaria Al-Abdulqader, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Contractors Authority, explained that the project serves the nation as a whole. To ensure a collaborative approach, the Authority invited 18 entities to participate in a committee to manage and review the outcomes, In addition, more than 25 other entities were invited to share their aspirations and visions on the subject, which enriched the discussion and crystallized ideas to produce a roadmap for this project containing 19 initiatives, as well as a comprehensive guide to facility governance.
Transferring operations from the site to the factory
He noted that these pillars collectively will facilitate the transformation process, enhance the ability to utilize modern technologies, and help transfer operations from the site to the factory, which will lead to increased control over product quality and quantity, thereby impacting cost and production speed, and the implementation of better safety standards.
It is worth noting that the Saudi Contractors Authority is responsible for regulating and developing the contracting industry and building distinctive production capabilities, It also works to find appropriate solutions to the challenges and crises facing contractors, in addition to providing numerous e-services through the “Mukawil” platform, which helps develop the sector and its workforce.
