The Italy–Saudi Arabia Business Forum will take place in Riyadh on 25 November, with the goal of further strengthening the economic partnership between the two countries. The event will host more than 900 companies, including approximately 500 Italian firms and over 450 Saudi enterprises.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Antonio Tajani will attend the Forum as part of his mission to Riyadh, which includes institutional meetings and participation in both the Business Forum and the Salone del Mobile.
The programme features five thematic panels dedicated respectively to: Infrastructure, Automotive, Sustainable Transport, Construction and Interior Design; Pharmaceuticals; High Technology (including Digital, AI and Semiconductors); Agricultural Technologies and Agri-industry; and the Cultural and Sports Industries. The sectoral roundtables will be followed by a working lunch and B2B meetings between Italian companies and their Saudi counterparts. In the afternoon, a plenary session will be held, with contributions from the Italian Trade Agency, Confindustria and other representatives of the “Sistema Italia”. The proceedings will conclude with remarks by Minister Tajani and Saudi Minister of Investment Khalid A. Al-Falih.
The Business Forum is taking place at a pivotal moment for the Kingdom, which is undergoing a far-reaching economic transformation driven by the “Vision 2030” development strategy and an extensive reform agenda. These dynamics are consolidating Saudi Arabia’s position as one of the region’s most dynamic and strategic markets. Italy aims to position itself as a leading partner in this transformation, drawing on its technological and industrial excellence, the recognised quality and reliability of Made in Italy, and the flexibility and co-design capabilities of Italian companies.
Saudi Arabia is a priority country under Italy’s Export Action Plan. Over the past five years, trade between Italy and Saudi Arabia has grown by 67%. Since 2022, Italian exports have increased by nearly 20% year-on-year, with growth reaching 27.9% in 2024.
