Feras Bin Ghassab Al-Harbi
CEO of Saudi Arabian Amiantit Company
Striving for Excellence
Feras Bin Ghassab Al-Harbi, CEO, Saudi Arabian Amiantit Company, describes his company’s journey to become a leading provider of supplies and services to the global water industry and its work on transforming Saudi Arabia under its latest industrial transformation.
“Saudi Arabia is actively fostering an investment-friendly landscape through the implementation of new laws that are progressively unveiled to enhance the appeal of a diverse range of sectors.”
Feras Bin Ghassab Al-Harbi
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What core principles have allowed for the company’s continued success since it was established in 1968?
Amiantit Group’s tangible achievements include the expansion of its piping solutions and water management systems. Our product line has grown to encompass not only our flagship glass reinforced plastic pipes but also a diverse portfolio including valves, glass reinforced epoxy pipes, ductile iron pipes and high-density polyethylene pipes. Strategic acquisitions have been an important strategy in broadening our product lines and expertise. Growing deep technical knowledge has also been fundamental to our development. Amiantit Group continues to strive for excellence in every aspect of our operations, including our international expansion and adoption of new technologies. Our facilities extend across Europe, Asia, and Africa, and we utilize new innovations such as specialized robots to minimize reliance on human labor in labor-intensive stages of production. Due to our continuous innovation and development, we are at the forefront of companies providing advanced and sustainable solutions for the global water management sector.
Since Aminantit Group became a public company in 1996, our core principles of good governance, transparency and sustainability have become deeply ingrained in our corporate culture. We are now positioned as a major exporter of these values. Our licensing program is predicated on a strategic distribution of our proprietary technologies through collaborative partnerships. This model not only stimulates innovation but also expands our market presence while ensuring the maintenance of high-quality standards around the globe. We enforce these standards through regular field visits to ensure that all licensed production adheres to the company's stringent quality criteria. The company has a zero-tolerance policy for any deviations or non-compliance with our quality standards to prevent the production of any products that do not meet the required specifications. Our rigorous adherence to well-defined specifications and approval procedures are complemented by a clear organizational structure that ensures responsibilities are appropriately distributed. Our corporate ethos continues to influence numerous companies, carried forward by engineers and professionals who have established their careers with us. -
How significant have the company’s extensive research and development activities been in positioning yourself as a global innovation leader?
Our research and development centers are the intellectual core of our manufacturing strengths. Our decision to establish a major research and development center in Sandefjord, Norway, was rooted in the region’s rich legacy of innovation and expertise. We developed glass reinforced plastic technology at this research center along with the continuous fiber winding process that paved the way for global adoption of this technology. Our company continues to lead the world in innovation from this distinguished location. We established our center in Dammam to localize our technology in Saudi Arabia, enhance our ability to serve the local market and develop Saudi Arabian engineering expertise. We have developed numerous products at these centers that the company now provides to its clients such as mega water tanks, jacking pipes and glass reinforced epoxy pipes. We are currently developing a new system that includes replacing asbestos pipes with modern technology.
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What is the company doing to advance the goals of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 initiative?
Our group's strategies are aligned with the pillars of the Vision 2030 initiative, which aims to catalyze economic and social transformation across the country. Amiantit now represents 12 factories in various geographical regions within Saudi Arabia. Each of these serves the initiative’s projects and other state developments to develop the Kingdom’s infrastructure. In response to the government’s recent focus on the water sector, we have prepared our company to have available all required resources from the outset. These efforts included increasing our workforce of engineers and technicians and opening the doors for our global companies to establish a presence in Saudi Arabia such our German water treatment engineering entity PWT. We take pride in our role in enhancing human support projects related to water, providing sustainable water solutions and developing local human capacities. The group is committed to supporting the Saudi Arabian economy while maintaining a strong presence in the global market.
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How important is upskilling employees in the company’s strategy to create a sustainable manufacturing and engineering sector in Saudi Arabia?
Maintaining the skills of our human capital is a top priority for the company. Amiantit’ s esteemed reputation in the market positions us as an attractive employer for both new and experienced professionals. This mix contributes to the continued professional development of our employees and ensures we remain at the forefront of our industry. Our ability to retain and develop staff is high. More than 20% of our employees have a tenure of over 10 years, and more than 30% of our employees have worked for the company for more than 20 years. We have strong collaborations with universities and offer attractive training opportunities; around 5% of our current employees were once trainees. Our training efforts are aided by our extensive international footprint and our aforementioned licensing program to disseminate technologies.
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What has Saudi Arabia done to make the market a more attractive destination for foreign direct investment, and what does Saudi Arabian Amiantit Company represent as a prospective partner for US investors?
Saudi Arabia is actively fostering an investment-friendly landscape through the implementation of new laws that are progressively unveiled to enhance the appeal of a diverse range of sectors, including heavy industry, construction and tourism. The evolution of the financial system and the absence of certain international taxes serve as catalysts for maximizing the Kingdom's potential. Any challenges met by companies are met with proactive support from the government and regulatory bodies. These entities embody the vision of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud by actively working to overcome obstacles. This commitment is highlighted by the prominent role of Saudi Arabia within the recent G20 summit.
Both domestic and international investors seeking industry leaders known for quality and good governance will find a strong partner with Aminatit. These core principles distinguish us from other manufactures in the Kingdom. We enjoy the confidence of all local regulatory bodies and organizational entities, which is evident in the regular issuance of the company's financial statements in accordance with regulations and ongoing announcements about the company’s latest developments. Our recent strong progress reflects Amiantit’ s significant role in the Kingdom's economic, industrial and urban development. The company's financial capability, marketing prowess, human resources and esteemed reputation cultivated over more than 50 years make Amiantit an attractive investment environment for all global investors, including Americans. Our collective assets position us as a prime candidate for investment in the Kingdom's burgeoning future. -
What next steps are you taking as CEO of Saudi Arabian Amiantit Company to ensure sustained growth of the company?
Maintaining a leading position in the market of a large and endowed corporation with widespread presence and advanced technologies represents one of the most formidable challenges for any CEO, particularly in the aftermath of restructuring. Strategic planning is the cornerstone of success. This extends both outwardly regarding the greater sector and inwardly to the company's various sectors and departments. Amiantit Group’s new objectives will be crystallized into a five-year strategic plan that will soon be presented for approval to the board of directors. The plan includes diversifications that have not yet been implemented within the company while ensuring the maintenance and continuation of our previously attained goals and maximizing shareholder equity, profits and returns. We must sustain the company’s position as a global powerhouse, which is one of the objectives of the Vision 2030 initiative. Success is achieved through daily diligence and weekly and monthly monitoring of strategic plans.
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What core principles have allowed for the company’s continued success since it was established in 1968?