© Reuters. The Airbus logo is seen at the entrance to its plant in Blagnac near Toulouse, France, July 2, 2020. (Reuters)/Benoit Tessier/File Photo
DUBAI (Reuters) – Fawaz Al-Aqeel, CEO of SCOPA, told Saudi state television on Monday that Saudi defense company SCOPA Industries and Airbus have signed a joint agreement to produce civilian and military helicopters in the kingdom.
The deal was announced on the sidelines of a Saudi-French investment forum being held during Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s visit to France that began last week.
Al-Aqeel said that the first helicopters produced at the joint SCOPA and Airbus factories in Saudi Arabia will be seen during the 24 months of the Global Defense Exhibition next February, where he said the “groundbreaking stone” for the project will be laid.
He added that Scuba expects to manufacture more than 100 helicopters and create 8,500 job opportunities in the Kingdom. He said, without elaborating, that the company expects investments worth more than 25 billion riyals ($6.67 billion) over 20 years.
Saudi state television reported that Saudi and French companies signed 24 agreements at the forum, without giving further details.
($1 = 3.7505 riyals)
