Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, Bandar Alkhorayef has inaugurated the newly expanded PepsiCo manufacturing facility in Dammam’s Second Industrial City.
The expansion is a significant part of Saudi’s National Industrial Strategy, which aims to prioritize food manufacturing as a key sector. The event was also attended by Ahmed El Sheikh, President and General Manager for Middle East, North Africa, and Pakistan Foods at PepsiCo.
The minister highlighted PepsiCo’s expansion within the Kingdom’s food manufacturing field, which is a priority sector outlined in the National Industrial Strategy. He reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to providing all necessary enablers to support the growth and expansion of PepsiCo’s operations, including the development of new products.
He noted that this further strengthens Saudi Arabia’s position as a regional hub for food manufacturing and exports, while fostering an environment that encourages innovation, research, and the development of new products in the food sector.
El Sheikh echoed the sentiment, stressing Saudi Arabia’s strategic importance to the company’s global operations. Saudi Arabia is not only a critical growth hub for PepsiCo in the region but also a driving force behind our global performance, he stated.
The company has made significant investments in the Kingdom, including the expansion of its Dammam facility and the establishment of its new regional headquarters. El Sheikh also emphasized PepsiCo’s ongoing exploration of further investment opportunities aimed at strengthening Saudi agriculture, boosting employment, and enhancing supply chains.
Image Via: PepsiCo | Cropped by GBN
The company currently operates in 86 locations across the Kingdom, employing around 9,000 people, with Saudi nationals accounting for 84 percent of the workforce at the Dammam plant, and women representing about 22 percent of total employees.
PepsiCo’s long-term commitment to Saudi Arabia is evident in its extensive investments over the past eight years, totaling more than $2.4 billion (SAR9 billion). This includes the $80 million (SAR 300 million) invested in the Dammam plant expansion in 2023, a move that will further enhance the company’s manufacturing capacity in the region.
The expansion also underscores PepsiCo’s role in supporting Saudi Arabia’s broader industrial and economic diversification goals, including increasing local production and boosting exports.
