By Mohamed Samir*

AS a regional executive for Procter & Gamble, I’ve been visiting Saudi for decades. The Kingdom has always had the potential to surprise. When I first came to Saudi Arabia to visit our production facilities, what struck me was the ability of our Saudi team, and the quality of the products that we were manufacturing here, both in Jeddah and Dammam.

Today, as I talk with my colleagues in the private sector and the government at the Future Investment Initiative, an event that will drive discussion about Saudi becoming a global manufacturing hub, I want to share how much we have achieved. With a workforce over 900, 71% of whom are Saudi nationals, we produce our most famous brands locally – the likes of Tide, Ariel, Always, Pampers, Pantene and Head & Shoulders, in our plants in Jeddah and Dammam. We ship these products to over 20 countries across Africa and Asia. Our plants in Saudi Arabia are recognized globally for their manufacturing capabilities in terms of people capability, equipment and technology, and work processes. Today, our plants in Saudi Arabia are global model we use to transfer knowledge and build capabilities within P&G and local industry.

This story matters to me, and it should matter to you as well. We are but one example of what is capable in Saudi Arabia when it comes to creating a diverse, successful economy that is able to compete with any other nation on earth. For a state that is only 87 years old, Saudi Arabia’s progress has been remarkable. According to the World Bank’s 2016 figures, the Kingdom is the twentieth largest country in the world by GDP per capita, and the ‘strongest Arab economy’.

Going forward, this growth, which has been driven by oil, will be boosted by other drivers. The Saudi’s Government’s Vision 2030 aims to create an economy that is diverse, and led by the private sector. The Kingdom has always offered many advantages to a global manufacturer such as P&G who pioneered local manufacturing in the country since 1965. Today, our operations in Saudi Arabia are leveraging these advantages to be manufacturing center for the region and befitting from the logistical and talent advantages the country offer.

To achieve Vision 2030 and a post-oil economy that is both diverse and powered by the private sector, a different approach is needed. The Saudi government will seek to tap into the country’s true wealth, that of its people and society. The potential of the Saudi people, and in particular its youth, is what makes me optimistic about the country’s future.

I see this talent on a daily basis, in our offices across the Kingdom. Our operation is led by Saudi nationals, both men and women; we have Saudis working on the manufacturing lines and managing our marketing outreach. We don’t just have Saudis working in Saudi Arabia – many of our P&G’s Saudi employees work outside of the country, in locations both near such as Dubai or far, like at our HQ in Cincinnati. They’ve proved time and time again that there’s no obstacle or challenge that they cannot overcome, and I’m proud of what they’ve achieved to grow our business.

Every time I look at and talk about Saudi Arabia, I see and say potential. P&G feels the same, and for these reasons and many more, we see potential for P&G to grow in Saudi Arabia serving the local market and the region. We are confident that the private sector can promote both economic diversification and localization, and contribute to the Kingdom’s economy transformation. We see our journey in Saudi and the country’s vision inspiring growth to touch and improves more lives every day.

*The writer is President, Procter & Gamble - Indian Sub-Continent, Middle East & Africa