Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef held a bilateral meeting with Airbus Helicopters CEO Bruno Even on the sidelines of the World Defense Show 2026 in Riyadh to discuss joint opportunities for localizing aerospace industries and their supply chains in the Kingdom.
According to a press release issued by the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources today, the meeting reviewed ways to strengthen industrial cooperation and expand strategic partnership opportunities in the localization of aircraft and helicopter manufacturing in Saudi Arabia.
It also addressed ongoing efforts to localize the production of aluminum panels and titanium processing to support the requirements of the aerospace sector.
The discussions underscored the importance of developing enabling models that attract Airbus Helicopters’ global suppliers and facilitate the establishment or expansion of their operations in the Kingdom, contributing to the resilience and sustainability of global aviation supply chains.
Separately, Alkhorayef met with leaders of Technology Equipment Trading Establishment, specialized in military industries, during which they discussed opportunities to localize defense industries in the Kingdom, the enablers supporting local content development, and initiatives to enhance national capabilities in military manufacturing.
The release added that the meetings were held on the sidelines of the third edition of the World Defense Show, organized by the General Authority for Military Industries, with active participation from the Kingdom’s industrial and mining sectors.