Riyadh, December 22, 2020: Advanced Electronics Company (AEC), one of the national leaders in the field of electronics and technology, participated as a diamond sponsor in the “Industry Ladies Conference2020” conference, which is considered an exceptional platform that brings together officials, experts, specialists and stakeholders in the industrial sector. The two-day event was held from December 21-22 under the patronage of His Excellency Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Mr. Bandar bin Ibrahim Al-Khorayef, and in the presence of decision-makers from the public and private sectors and dignitaries including heads and directors of establishments and industrial companies in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
AEC’s participation in and the sponsorship of the conference comes as part of its responsibility and role as an active and reliable partner in Saudi Arabia’s thriving industrial sector. The company’s support to the event also stems from its commitment to emphasize the importance of the conference as a promising opportunity to achieve integration between industry enablers in the government sector and industrial establishments in the private sector in order to empower women and stimulate their productive participation in the industrial sector.
“We, at Advanced Electronics Company, appreciate the commendable efforts by the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources in promoting the role of women and empowering them, in line with the strategic objectives of the Kingdom's ambitious Vision 2030, by increasing their participation in the national economy and enabling them to assume leadership positions,” said Mr. Abdulaziz Al-Duailej, CEO of AEC, during the opening ceremony.
Mr. Al-Duailej confirmed AEC’s keen interest in the localization process, noting that the company is working to strengthen its reputation not only as a manufacturing and development leader, but also as a frontrunner in the empowerment of women by way of recognizing them as a strategic human capital asset. He highlighted that the company has made remarkable progress in advancing the empowerment of women since its appointment of the first woman in the executive office in 2017. As a result, the current number of female employees working in various manufacturing jobs at AEC stands at approximately 221.
Eng. Abdullah Al-Gadi, Executive Vice President for Shared Services and Corporate Affairs at AEC, was invited to deliver a presentation, entitled “Best practices and experiences in supporting and empowering women industrially”, at the conference. Eng. Al-Gadi shed light on the company's role in preparing and establishing national cadres through investment in human capital. He also reviewed the company's efforts to empower women in the industrial sector through their key contribution in the manufacture of smart digital meters and high-tech military products, as well as the production and testing of state-of-the-art systems such as laser optics, advanced screens and optoelectronics devices.
Al-Gadi highlighted that AEC has signed strategic partnerships to support female students during their university studies. The company signed a strategic collaboration agreement with Princess Nourah University to offer 18 female students scholarships to complete their postgraduate studies at the university in cooperation with Dublin University. The company has also developed many training programs, including the SHE program, which attracted 25 female employees in its first phase, and work is underway to establish successive units to continue training.
The “Industry Ladies Conference 2020” conference is a unique opportunity for industrialists and interested people to discuss ways of empowering women industrially and enhancing their vital role in developing national industries and their contribution to achieving comprehensive and sustainable industrial development.
It is worth noting that AEC, which was established in 1988, is distinguished by its four main sectors, including defence and aerospace, Information and Communications Technology as well as energy and security. The company currently employs more than 2,200 highly skilled male and female employees working in various departments and projects, of whom Saudis constitute more than 84%.