Italian Industry Minister Adolfo Urso stated on Monday that his country is discussing establishing joint investments with Saudi Arabia in the automotive, mining, oil, gas, defense, hydrogen, and space sectors. Since taking office, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has aimed to strengthen ties with the Gulf, overlooking previous coalition governments' concerns about human rights in the region. Urso's tour in the Arabian Peninsula will continue until Tuesday, during which he will hold meetings in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.
In a statement following his meeting in Riyadh with Khalid Al-Salem, head of the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu, which oversees the development of the energy industry in Saudi Arabia, Urso said, "Italy and Saudi Arabia are committed to developing a regulatory and industrial framework that supports and accelerates strategic independence in the vital raw materials sector." He added, "We discussed the possibility of establishing partnerships and joint investments, particularly in the mining sector, both in our countries and in other regions, such as the African continent." The minister noted that representatives from major companies like Pirelli, Mearsk, and Prysmian participated in the meeting.
