Six Singapore-based companies under the umbrella of Singapore’s International Enterprise (IE) organised a trip to Saudi Arabia recently exploring business opportunities in the kingdom’s mammoth oil and gas sector.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is moving into the downstream works of the oil and gas value chain and the processing and refining of petroleum products. Mega refinery projects such as the multibillion Satorp project in Jubail and the $12 billion Yanbu Export Refinery project offer much project offer much business opportunities for Singapore-based companies to provide quality and efficient supporting services for the process industry, says a spokesperson for IE.

During the mission, companies met with government officials and companies to better understand the market’s needs and discuss business opportunities. Amongst them include Saudi Aramco and the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu.

For the downstream refining and petrochemical industry, Singapore is well known for its 32-sq km Jurong Island, which is among the top three refining centres in the world.

From planning and construction of essential infrastructure to the provision of top-notch engineering and utility services, their experience and expertise have won international acclaim and a growing demand for them to plan, build and maintain petrochemical complexes around the world, including the Asia Pacific and the Middle East.

Companies such as Rotary Engineering and Plant Engineering Construction (PEC) provide engineering and maintenance services to companies in Jurong Island.

Singapore has five overseas centres in the Middle East, the second largest in any region after China. IE Singapore’s overseas centres are located in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Jeddah, Qatar and Riyadh, from which it helps Singaporean companies develop trade.