DUBAI- The Saudi Industrial Development Fund (SIDF) gave 212 loans worth $4.5 billion to companies last year, most of them small businesses, it said in a statement on Thursday.

The loans went to 201 companies in areas including industry, mining, energy, and logistics, with 84% of the financing provided to small and medium enterprises.

The government fund aims to promote industry in the kingdom as it seeks to transform its oil-dependent economy.

(Reporting by Davide Barbuscia; editing by Jason Neely) ((Davide.Barbuscia@thomsonreuters.com; +971522604297; Reuters Messaging: davide.barbuscia.reuters.com@reuters.net))