RIYADH – Advanced Electronics Company, one of the leading electronics and information technology companies in Saudi Arabia and a wholly-owned subsidiary of SAMI, announced Wednesday, 30th March 2022, the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Saudi Aramco and Yokogawa during the Future of Semiconductors Forum held in King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology. The MoU will help accelerate the enablement of AEC to localize the fabrication of semiconductors and manufacturing of digital products.
The signed MoU aims to contribute to increasing the added-value of manufacturing localization to the national GDP. It will also increase the self-reliance of the local industry and help mitigate the current challenges associated with semiconductors’ global supply-chain by localizing and transferring technology to the Kingdom.
Mr. Ziad Al-Musallam, President & CEO of AEC, emphasized that the company is focusing its efforts on developing the latest technologies, and aiming to support local content, noting that the ongoing partnership with Saudi Aramco represents a milestone in the company's progress at the local, regional and international levels.
He added that the cooperation with Yokogawa also represents an opportunity to localize advanced technologies related to fabrication of semiconductors and manufacturing of integrated circuits. Explaining that AEC aims to contribute to increasing local content, empowering national cadres and competencies, and creating job opportunities in line with Vision 2030’s localization goals.
“National cadres constitute more than 84% of the total employees at AEC, including 900 highly skilled engineers; our commitment to empowering national competencies in developing and manufacturing products and solutions is part of AEC’s goals to be achieved in line with the Kingdom's Vision 2030” said Mr. Al-Musallam.
Mr. Nabil Al Nuaim, Vice President of Digital Transformation in Saudi Aramco said, “Strengthening the collaboration between Advanced Electronics Company, a local entity, and Yokogawa, a well-known international company, in the area of semiconductors will foster innovation and complement the supply chain ecosystem in the digital technology sector in kingdom".
Mr. Ahmad Al-Abdrabbuh Senior EVP and Board Director of Yokogawa Saudi Arabia said,” In support of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, we are proud to collaborate with Saudi Aramco and AEC in the first of its kind introduction and deployment of the semiconductor manufacturing system “MinimalFab” out of Japan, enabling innovation, knowledge sharing, and industrial development in the Kingdom and the region. This is in addition to the close collaboration in the area of digital equipment manufacturing among other transformative digital technologies”.
AEC was established in 1988 in Riyadh, and is a leading company in developing, engineering, manufacturing and maintaining advanced systems, products, and solutions in the Defense & Aerospace, ICT, Security, and Energy & Utilities sectors.