RIYADH — At least 95 percent of licensed factories are yet to be built, according to the Shoura Council's Economy and Energy Committee. A source from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said the Kingdom's ninth Strategic Development Plan includes the expansion and growth of the industrial sector. "The ministry has issued 8,690 licenses for factories so far but only 373 of factories are up and running. With only 5 percent of the licensed factories operating, the Shoura Council should look into the obstacles preventing the private sector from building factories," the source said. The ministry's annual report also revealed 1,208 vacant jobs in the ministry. "There are currently 1,928 Saudi men and 49 non-Saudi men working for the ministry, while there are only 56 Saudi women and three non-Saudi women employees," the source said. A source from the Shoura Council's Economy and Energy Committee said the committee is working on recruiting more Saudi women based in Riyadh to work in the sectors the committee overlooks. "The Ministry of Commerce and Industry needs to put in more effort to encourage more women to participate in the business sector. The business sector is currently very active and dynamic and the presence of women in the growth and development of the sector is important," the source said. He said the ministry had been told to enhance the environment of commerce and industry and to put in place policies to encourage Saudi entrepreneurs of both genders. "The environment of a sector affects its productivity and outcome as well as the rate of investment put into it. If investors believe the process and procedures of a certain sector hinder productivity, they tend to be discouraged from investing in it," the source said. He said the ministry had also been advised to conduct a comprehensive study of its performance and benchmark itself with other ministries worldwide.
