PHOTO
29 May 2017
By GHAZANFAR ALI KHAN
RIYADH: The defense and commercial agreements announced and endorsed during the visit of US President Donald Trump will further strengthen Boeing’s partnership with Saudi Arabia, create and sustain thousands of jobs in both countries, and enhance national security in the region.
These remarks were made by Boeing Chairman, President and CEO Dennis A. Muilenburg in an interview with Arab News in Riyadh.
Muilenburg, who was in the Saudi capital to participate in the Saudi-US CEO Forum on the sidelines of President Trump’s visit, said: “These announcements reaffirm our commitment to the economic growth, prosperity and national security of both Saudi Arabia and the US.”
Deals with Boeing were among the reported $380 billion in agreements signed or announced during Trump’s high-profile visit to Saudi Arabia on May 20-21.
Muilenburg said that President Trump and US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson were joined by King Salman at a signing ceremony for deals that included Boeing products and services.
He pointed out that agreements were made to purchase Chinook helicopters and associated support services as well as guided weapon systems. He also referred to Saudi Arabia’s intent to order P-8 maritime, patrol and reconnaissance aircraft, which are based on the Boeing 737 commercial airplane. This is in addition to a joint venture with the Kingdom to provide sustainable services for a wide range of military platforms. “The agreement also supports Saudi Arabia’s efforts to grow its indigenous aerospace industry and ecosystem through its Vision 2030 initiative,” he noted.
The Boeing chairman said that an agreement between Boeing and SaudiGulf Airlines has been endorsed “to negotiate the sale of up to 16 wide-body airplanes.”
Muilenburg, while speaking about several joint agreements signed between the Kingdom and the US, added: “I appreciate the efforts of King Salman, President Trump and his administration to support American manufacturers as we seek to grow at home and around the world.”
Commenting on the Boeing’s long historic relationship with Saudi Arabia, he said that “Boeing enjoys a long and important relationship that dates back more than 70 years to 1945 when US President Franklin D. Roosevelt presented a DC-3 Dakota airplane to King Abdul Aziz.”
He added: “Not only did this historic airplane delivery mark the beginning of the Boeing relationship with Saudi Arabia but it represented the dawn of commercial air travel in the Kingdom.”
Muilenburg said that Saudi Arabia and the US have been close security partners for decades, contributing to regional and global stability and prosperity. “Boeing has stood alongside this partnership delivering advanced defense products and services to the Kingdom,” he said, adding that the relationship strengthened in the late 1970s with the acquisition of F-15 fighter aircraft that became the backbone of Kingdom’s air defense.
Muilenburg said that the Boeing-Saudi relationship has “expanded to include additional fighter aircraft, commercial-derivative military aircraft, weapons and vertical lift platforms.” He further pointed out that Boeing continues to grow in the Kingdom with the creation of joint-venture companies such as Alsalam Aerospace Industries (AAI) and the Saudi Rotorcraft Support Company (SRSC) together with longstanding research and development initiatives with Saudi universities.
Asked about Boeing’s support for Saudi plans to develop technological capability and create jobs for Saudis, he said: “We are fully aware of the importance of local partnerships and are committed to growing the Boeing presence in the Kingdom…”
Boeing supports work to develop infrastructure and strengthen competencies in the aviation sector, while the company enjoys a “Nitaqat” platinum rating for its Saudization efforts, Muilenburg added.
He recalled that Boeing and local partners began a formal program by creating four industrial projects to benefit the Kingdom during the 1980s. These projects are AAI, Advanced Electronics Company (AEC), Aircraft Accessories & Components Company (AACC) and International Systems Engineering (ISE).
Boeing chairman noted that his company has been able to finalize the commercial registration certificate at the recent Saudi-US CEO forum.
Boeing currently holds the largest stake at AAI and the company continues to contribute to the expansion of the technical base of both civil and military applications. The conversion of F-15S models to the F-15SA will also be done by AAI. Other Boeing defense products in the Kingdom include E-3A Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft, KE 3A cargo/tankers, AH-64E Apache attack helicopters, and missiles and launchers.
Asked about the possibility of setting up a manufacturing facility in the Gulf, Muilenburg said: “Boeing has partnered with local entities such as AAI to manufacture major parts of the F-15SA including the forward fuselage, pylon and wing assembly.”
The recently formed SRSC will provide more opportunities for the joint-venture companies AAI and Saudia Aerospace Engineering Industries (SAEI) to work with engineering students, providing opportunity and experience, Muilenburg explained.
He also renewed his pledge to build local Saudi capabilities and said that “Saudi Arabia enjoys some very promising talent and my message to them is to make every possible effort to learn and take an active role in the development of the Kingdom.”
He added: “Boeing will support Saudi youth through the provision of progressive training programs and build local capabilities that allow them to enhance their academic, personal and professional skills, to become a skilled contributor and have a positive global impact.”
In reply to a question about corporate social responsibility (CSR), the Boeing chief said that “the communities where Boeing operates around the world are among its most important stakeholders and corporate citizenship is as integral to the company as is our expertise in flight and technology.”
Boeing’s Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) program partners with organizations across the region including those in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, the Palestinian Territories and Jordan, he added.
He pointed out that Boeing is an active member of the community in Saudi Arabia, focusing on education, health, humanitarian services and supporting a number of non-profit organizations.
By GHAZANFAR ALI KHAN
RIYADH: The defense and commercial agreements announced and endorsed during the visit of US President Donald Trump will further strengthen Boeing’s partnership with Saudi Arabia, create and sustain thousands of jobs in both countries, and enhance national security in the region.
These remarks were made by Boeing Chairman, President and CEO Dennis A. Muilenburg in an interview with Arab News in Riyadh.
Muilenburg, who was in the Saudi capital to participate in the Saudi-US CEO Forum on the sidelines of President Trump’s visit, said: “These announcements reaffirm our commitment to the economic growth, prosperity and national security of both Saudi Arabia and the US.”
Deals with Boeing were among the reported $380 billion in agreements signed or announced during Trump’s high-profile visit to Saudi Arabia on May 20-21.
Muilenburg said that President Trump and US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson were joined by King Salman at a signing ceremony for deals that included Boeing products and services.
He pointed out that agreements were made to purchase Chinook helicopters and associated support services as well as guided weapon systems. He also referred to Saudi Arabia’s intent to order P-8 maritime, patrol and reconnaissance aircraft, which are based on the Boeing 737 commercial airplane. This is in addition to a joint venture with the Kingdom to provide sustainable services for a wide range of military platforms. “The agreement also supports Saudi Arabia’s efforts to grow its indigenous aerospace industry and ecosystem through its Vision 2030 initiative,” he noted.
The Boeing chairman said that an agreement between Boeing and SaudiGulf Airlines has been endorsed “to negotiate the sale of up to 16 wide-body airplanes.”
Muilenburg, while speaking about several joint agreements signed between the Kingdom and the US, added: “I appreciate the efforts of King Salman, President Trump and his administration to support American manufacturers as we seek to grow at home and around the world.”
Commenting on the Boeing’s long historic relationship with Saudi Arabia, he said that “Boeing enjoys a long and important relationship that dates back more than 70 years to 1945 when US President Franklin D. Roosevelt presented a DC-3 Dakota airplane to King Abdul Aziz.”
He added: “Not only did this historic airplane delivery mark the beginning of the Boeing relationship with Saudi Arabia but it represented the dawn of commercial air travel in the Kingdom.”
Muilenburg said that Saudi Arabia and the US have been close security partners for decades, contributing to regional and global stability and prosperity. “Boeing has stood alongside this partnership delivering advanced defense products and services to the Kingdom,” he said, adding that the relationship strengthened in the late 1970s with the acquisition of F-15 fighter aircraft that became the backbone of Kingdom’s air defense.
Muilenburg said that the Boeing-Saudi relationship has “expanded to include additional fighter aircraft, commercial-derivative military aircraft, weapons and vertical lift platforms.” He further pointed out that Boeing continues to grow in the Kingdom with the creation of joint-venture companies such as Alsalam Aerospace Industries (AAI) and the Saudi Rotorcraft Support Company (SRSC) together with longstanding research and development initiatives with Saudi universities.
Asked about Boeing’s support for Saudi plans to develop technological capability and create jobs for Saudis, he said: “We are fully aware of the importance of local partnerships and are committed to growing the Boeing presence in the Kingdom…”
Boeing supports work to develop infrastructure and strengthen competencies in the aviation sector, while the company enjoys a “Nitaqat” platinum rating for its Saudization efforts, Muilenburg added.
He recalled that Boeing and local partners began a formal program by creating four industrial projects to benefit the Kingdom during the 1980s. These projects are AAI, Advanced Electronics Company (AEC), Aircraft Accessories & Components Company (AACC) and International Systems Engineering (ISE).
Boeing chairman noted that his company has been able to finalize the commercial registration certificate at the recent Saudi-US CEO forum.
Boeing currently holds the largest stake at AAI and the company continues to contribute to the expansion of the technical base of both civil and military applications. The conversion of F-15S models to the F-15SA will also be done by AAI. Other Boeing defense products in the Kingdom include E-3A Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft, KE 3A cargo/tankers, AH-64E Apache attack helicopters, and missiles and launchers.
Asked about the possibility of setting up a manufacturing facility in the Gulf, Muilenburg said: “Boeing has partnered with local entities such as AAI to manufacture major parts of the F-15SA including the forward fuselage, pylon and wing assembly.”
The recently formed SRSC will provide more opportunities for the joint-venture companies AAI and Saudia Aerospace Engineering Industries (SAEI) to work with engineering students, providing opportunity and experience, Muilenburg explained.
He also renewed his pledge to build local Saudi capabilities and said that “Saudi Arabia enjoys some very promising talent and my message to them is to make every possible effort to learn and take an active role in the development of the Kingdom.”
He added: “Boeing will support Saudi youth through the provision of progressive training programs and build local capabilities that allow them to enhance their academic, personal and professional skills, to become a skilled contributor and have a positive global impact.”
In reply to a question about corporate social responsibility (CSR), the Boeing chief said that “the communities where Boeing operates around the world are among its most important stakeholders and corporate citizenship is as integral to the company as is our expertise in flight and technology.”
Boeing’s Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) program partners with organizations across the region including those in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, the Palestinian Territories and Jordan, he added.
He pointed out that Boeing is an active member of the community in Saudi Arabia, focusing on education, health, humanitarian services and supporting a number of non-profit organizations.
© Arab News 2017
