Ajlan & Bros Holding Group: Confidence in China's market

China’s efforts to open up wider to the rest of the world have not only intensified bilateral trade between China and Saudi Arabia but provided strong support for the integration of the former’s Belt and Road Initiative with Saudi Vision 2030, noted Mohammed Abdulaziz Al Ajlan, Chairman of the Saudi-Chinese Business Council and Deputy Chairman of Ajlan & Bros Holding Group, a private conglomerate from Saudi Arabia.

Globally speaking, the Chinese market is of the utmost strategic importance for the group. “We will team up with more outstanding Chinese enterprises, tapping into the opportunities and potential of bilateral economic cooperation between China and Saudi Arabia, as well as helping investors from both countries reach a new status quo of higher-level win-win cooperation,” said Mohammed Abdulaziz Al Ajlan.

Ajlan & Bros Group was formed in 1979 when it opened its first shop specializing in fabrics and garments. Over the course of four decades, it has evolved into a private conglomerate in Saudi Arabia. As one of the largest real estate companies in Saudi Arabia, Abdulaziz Alajlan Sons for Trading & Real Estate Investments Co. is amongst the country’s top real estate companies specializing in residential, commercial and warehousing space. The group has made considerable investments in more than 25 countries, managing assets worth more than $15 billion of land primed for sale and sold.

With an established presence in more than 25 countries, the group is one of the largest companies producing traditional garments in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East and North Africa region. The group started off with a focus on retail, later branching out into manufacturing. It has created international quality brands for men, women, children and teens.

According to Mohammed Abdulaziz Al-Ajlan, the synergy between China’s Belt and Road Initiative and Saudi Vision 2030, a strategic framework to reduce Saudi Arabia’s dependence on oil and diversify its economy, will help the business seize new opportunities in sectors like financial services, consumer-oriented manufacturing, healthcare, education, online gaming, metals and mining, hospitality and tourism as well as logistics. It will further expand its investments in China, especially in fields like renewable energy, financial services and the garment industry.

The Saudi company inaugurated its first factory in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, in 2002 following China’s entry to the World Trade Organization, encompassing a complete supply chain, from production to packaging. In 2003, this was followed by Shandong Lawrance Textile Co. Ltd, a vertically-integrated textile and apparel supply chain enterprise in Shandong Province, which has since become a leading exporter in Zaozhuang, Shandong, with clients from all over the world.

The company has close proximity to Qingdao Seaport, facilitating inbound and outbound movement, and is a leading force in the Textile and Garment Industry in the Middle East and Gulf countries. It possesses a multi-cultural, diverse environment which promotes great teamwork spirit and currently employs a workforce of 4,000 dedicated staff. Moreover, the company executes stringent quality control and compliance procedures from raw materials, covering every stage and process up to the finished product.

The company has won many honors in recent years: In 2010, it was awarded the title of foreign-funded meritorious enterprise in 2016, it was named a harmonious labor relations enterprise in Shandong Province; in 2018, it was honored as the advanced enterprise of safety production; in 2021, it was awarded the outstanding foreign-funded enterprise in Zaozhuang. As a qualified company, over the years it has provided around 5,500 jobs, greatly contributing to solving the city’s investment promotion and employment problems.

Over the course of 25 years, Mohammed Abdulaziz Al Ajlan has also won many personal honors for his contributions to urban development in China: In 2005, he was named an honorary citizen of Suzhou for his efforts in the city’s economic cooperation; in 2016, he was awarded the title of Ambassador of Friendship of Shandong Province; in 2019 and 2020, he was named an Outstanding Entrepreneur in Shizhong District of Zaozhuang for two consecutive years. The Al Ajlan family has further financed the building of the Siyang Mosque, the largest mosque in Jiangsu Province.

As the largest Saudi Arabian private company in China, Ajlan & Bros has always been committed to helping its Chinese partners based on the company’s long-term development in China and its continuous accumulation of commercial strength and advantageous resources, and to further exploring Saudi Arabia, the Middle East and North Africa through new opportunities.

Four investment offices with dedicated teams have been established in China’s Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen and Hong Kong since 2017 for the further promotion of cooperation with Chinese enterprises. The group has joined hands with leading Chinese companies to achieve a series of mutually beneficial cooperation efforts in different fields.

As for future cooperation space between Chinese and Saudi Arabian enterprises, Mohammed Abdulaziz Al Ajlan pointed out that Ajlan & Bros will continue to play the role of “gateway to the Middle East and North Africa,” fully grasp investment opportunities in various fields, and effectively empower the company as well as guarantee more outstanding Chinese companies can enter the Middle East and North Africa region to achieve leading positions.

Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the group’s trade with China has continued uninterruptedly and its productivity in China has remained stable. In February 2022, the group announced its latest technological advancements in the express parcel and logistics sectors through its strategic partnership with SF International, China’s leading express parcel service.

“Both the Saudi and Chinese governments have formulated strong policies in the fight against COVID-19 and that’s why the two countries’ trade data are still positive,” said Mohammed Abdulaziz Al Ajlan.

“China and Saudi Arabia share common interests that can benefit both parties,” he concluded.

http://www.bjreview.com/Business/202205/t20220511_800292918.html