46 نشاطاً صناعيّاً يُسمَح بممارستها داخل المدن وعلى الشوارع التجارية

The Ministry of Industry announced the requirements for conducting activities outside the designated industrial activity sites, based on the results of the Central Committee's work, chaired by the ministry with the participation of seven government entities. This aims to address the situation of factories located outside the designated industrial land, with the goal of organizing industrial activities, stimulating industrial investment, and enhancing sustainable industrial development in the Kingdom.

According to the results of the Central Committee's work, 1,143 industrial activities were classified according to their environmental impact level, and 46 industrial activities with low environmental impact were identified, which are permitted to be practiced within cities on commercial streets. The results also specified other activities that can be practiced on the outskirts of cities, taking into account the requirements for issuing licenses and other necessary requirements for conducting industrial activities.

The new regulations are expected to contribute to supporting the growth of industrial investments in the Kingdom, paving the way for highly competitive local industries, opening new horizons for increasing quality job opportunities, empowering women in the industrial sector, and enhancing social and economic development.

It is worth noting that the committee formed by the Cabinet's decision included the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources as its chair, with representatives from the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs, the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, the Ministry of Investment, in addition to the General Authority for State Real Estate, the National Center for Environmental Compliance Monitoring, and the Center for Development Authority Support.

Sources revealed to "Okaz" that addressing the situation of factories located outside the designated industrial land included several key aspects, including that the situation of factories located outside the designated industrial land in the Kingdom should be addressed through the existing factories that are not located in the designated industrial activity areas:

A Central Committee chaired by the Ministry of Industry will be formed to complete the inventory of all factories and facilities engaged in industrial activities that are located outside the designated industrial land (for industrial activities), assess them, and gather information and data related to each facility, including: the location of the facility, the nature of its activity, its establishment and operational licenses, the health, environmental, and economic impacts resulting from its operation, the designated use of the land on which it is built, and other information deemed important by the committee based on the activity and future planning directions for land uses and developmental projects in the area.

Each facility located outside the designated industrial land will be studied individually in light of the available information, and recommendations will be proposed regarding its continued operation at its location and granting it licenses as an industrial facility, working to propose and correct the land use on which it is situated, and ensuring compliance with health and environmental standards applicable to the facility, as well as any remedies or closure deemed necessary by the committee. Each facility will bear the financial costs associated with the environmental studies required. The committee submitted its recommendations and proposals regarding each facility engaged in industrial activity outside the designated industrial land to the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources to take the necessary actions to implement those recommendations and proposals, notify each facility of the arrangements to be made, and follow up on that.

The committee's work included factories that will be established in the future, and the ministries and government entities that have the authority to allocate land uses and sites under their supervision will allocate lands and sites for industrial use in agreement with the Ministry of Industry. If the project or industrial activity is related to natural raw materials, natural resources, or animal or agricultural production, it may be licensed for establishment in locations where those materials or resources are available, obligating the project owner or industrial activity to comply with environmental and health standards as determined by the relevant authorities.

The committee will set the technical requirements and specify the projects and industrial activities from other categories that may be permitted within the urban area and outside the designated industrial activity sites.