GE (NYSE: GE) hosted the Power Partnership Summit in Dubai, UAE, convening over 150 representatives of organizations working across the power sector in the Middle East, North Africa and Pakistan. The forum highlighted GE’s commitment to develop a robust supply chain to serve the region’s energy ecosystem as part of its strong footprint of regional services, repairs, manufacturing, projects and research initiatives.
“Our collaborations with local organizations are a part of GE’s commitment to create high-quality jobs, further diversify the economy, strengthen indigenous supply chains and provide the infrastructure necessary for sustainable development across the region,” said Joseph Anis, President & CEO of GE’s Gas Power Systems and Power Services businesses in the Middle East and South Asia. “With MENA’s demand for power expected to grow threefold by 2050, we must develop strong local capabilities and work together to bring more reliable, efficient and affordable power online for the communities we serve.”
In 2018, GE Power worked with over 1,200 suppliers, generating $500 million in business for them. Furthermore, suppliers had training and growth opportunities such as access to GE’s globally-recognized programs on quality, environment, health, integrity and safety standards, as well as exposure to industry-leading technologies and innovative projects.
The Summit also included a ‘Key Suppliers’ awards ceremony to recognize the achievements of vendors and contractors who delivered exceptional outcomes in 2018. Suppliers were assessed on the quality of goods and services provided, ensuring timely project execution, driving competitive costs, as well as overall collaboration. Winners included Algeria’s Maintenance Des Equipements Industriels (MEI), Egypt’s Kharafi National, Pakistan’s Etimaad Engineering and Saudi Arabia’s Al Mousa Company.
GE has a significant legacy of supporting the development of industrial infrastructure in Saudi Arabia for over 80 years, as well as strong contributions towards strengthening indigenous entrepreneurship and the regional supply chain. The GE Manufacturing and Technology Center (GEMTEC) campus based in Dammam includes the GEMTEC service and repairs center, a Hot & Harsh Research Center, a Monitoring & Diagnostics Center for the remote monitoring of power generation assets, as well as GE Saudi Advanced Turbines (GESAT), a joint investment by Dussur and GE to manufacture heavy duty gas turbines and components in the Kingdom. Today, Saudi Arabia accounts for the largest GE workforce in the Middle East with more than a 4,000-strong workforce, including Baker Hughes, a GE company.
