Aramco insists that international engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) companies buy stakes in local firms and open an office inside the kingdom as part of its General Engineering Services Plus (GES+) initiative.

Aramco is trying to create jobs and transfer technology and know how to Saudi Arabia. The policy gives it better control of the project by having it done inside the kingdom, and it will attract Saudi engineers to join the industry – “they will be happier to work for foreign firms who give them better conditions and a greater choice of career development,” a contractor tells MEES. (CONTINUED - 786 WORDS)