JEDDAH – A smart industrial city is coming up in Asfan, north of Jeddah, covering an area of five million sq. meters. “Its first phase is now ready for experimental operation,” said Abdullah Al-Sahli, chairman of Alsabiqun Company, developer of the city.
“We have started working on the industrial city’s second phase,” he said. The first phase was implemented on 1.2 million sq. meters following high technical standards, he added. The project includes advanced car workshops.
Al-Sahli made this comment while addressing a group of 300 industrialists and businessmen who are members of the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) and Jeddah Municipal Council visited the new smart city, recently.
“The project comes within the framework of Makkah Emir Prince Khaled Al-Faisal’s vision for the development of man and place in terms of religion, culture and economy,” he was quoted as saying by Al-Madina newspaper.
He said Jeddah Governor Prince Mishal Bin Majed has been closely following the project’s progress since its inauguration. He also praised Mayor Dr. Hani Aburas for his support to this project, which is first of its kind in the Kingdom.
Al-Sahli emphasized the need for the private sector’s greater participation to realize the goals of Vision 2030 unveiled by the Kingdom earlier this year. “This will put an end to disorganized workshops in Jeddah that tarnish the city’s image and herald a new era,” he said. It follows implementation of the new smart city law.
More than 600 engineers and technicians have participated in project’s implementation.
Speaking about the smart city’s security aspects, Al-Sahli said it’s totally monitored by cameras. “It’s also provided with fire-fighting networks and Internet services,” he added.
Al-Sahli spoke about some of the challenges and difficulties faced by his company while implementing the project. However, it was able to overcome those challenges in a record time, he said.
The first phase included use of 180 cubic meters of concrete and eight million cubic meters of rock. Water and electricity connections were given covering area of 160,000 meters.
Abdul Majeed Al-Batati, chairman of the Jeddah Municipal Council, appreciated the project work, adding that it has been carried out following high standards.
“The first phase has been completed in the best way,” he added.
The company announced plans to establish an institute to provide vocational training to Saudis in order to meet manpower requirements of workshops at the city.
