Riyadh: Total anchor investments in Saudi Arabia's four special economic zones have reached SR47.2 billion ($12.6 billion) to date, confirming the country's transformation into a hub for international trade, it was revealed at a forum. 

The Saudi Special Economic Zones Investment Forum in Riyadh on Monday saw new investment pledges for projects in zones established in King Abdullah Economic City, Ras Al-Khair, Riyadh, and Jazan in addition to the existing investments made by businesses like Lucid and Seera. 

An automotive and mobility export hub serving the Middle East and Africa will be built in King Abdullah Economic City with SR2.15 billion from Himmah Projects, it was announced. 

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Additionally, SIAC Construction promised to invest SR 200 million in King Abdullah Economic City's special economic zone. A specialised building materials hub will be established by the company to support regional infrastructure projects. 

For the purpose of developing fully integrated engineering construction solutions for the energy sector, McDermott Arabia Co. will invest SR375 million in Ras Al-Khair. Makeen Energy will make a further SR2.14 billion investment in Ras Al-Khair.

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Baosteel, a Chinese company, promised to invest SR 15 billion in Ras Al-Khair to build an integrated steel plate manufacturing facility. 

Masharaq announced investments worth SR33 million to establish a food facility in the special economic zone, while aquaculture company Pure Salmon announced investments worth SR2 billion to produce salmon locally in Jazan. 

A variety of glass products will be produced in Jazan's special economic zone thanks to SR5 billion in investment from Chinese industrial investor Wangkang. 

The Swiss companies Valcambi and Ajlan and Brothers and the General Authority for Civil Aviation of the Kingdom have signed a contract to build a precious metal refinery in the Riyadh integrated special logistics zone.  

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The King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology special zone is where the Communications, Space, and Technology Commission of Saudi Arabia and Microsoft signed an agreement to discuss potential cloud computing collaboration. 

In order to investigate potential uses for cloud computing at the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology's Cloud Computing SEZ, the commission also signed an MoU with Oracle.