Saudi Arabia Leads Global Youth Industrial Leadership Charge at the 21st UNIDO General Conference

One of the most significant moments of Generation Future Day at the UNIDO General Conference (GC21) unfolded during a high-level session titled “Igniting the Future: Supporting Global Youth in Industry,” where H.E. Bandar bin Ibrahim AlKhorayef, Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, delivered a keynote address aligned with the global launch of the UNIDO Youth Framework.

‏The session, which began a new phase in UNIDO’s youth agenda, called for coordinated international action to invest in the next generation of industrial innovators, engineers, and policymakers. H.E. AlKhorayef’s remarks set a strong direction for the global conversation, positioning Saudi Arabia as a leading voice in shaping youth-centered industrial transformation.

‏H.E. Bandar bin Ibrahim AlKhorayef affirmed the Kingdom’s long-term commitment to youth leadership, stating: ‏“Saudi Arabia firmly believes that the future of industry will be shaped by the ingenuity, ambition, and leadership of young people. Under Vision 2030, youth are beneficiaries, but more importantly, they are architects of a new global industrial paradigm.”

‏Minister AlKhorayef outlined how the Kingdom is systematically embedding youth participation into industrial policymaking. With over 60 percent of the Saudi population under 35, he emphasized that preparing young people to lead future industries is a strategic national priority.

His Excellency the Minister highlighted the significant strides the Kingdom has made in developing youth capabilities across various segments of the industrial sector, noting that the sector has provided quality employment opportunities for Saudi youth to enhance their contribution to industrial growth. He also emphasized the rapid progress in women’s participation, which has reached 37% in the sector, and highlighted efforts to equip young people with advanced skills to work with the latest manufacturing technologies over the past two years, reflecting the Kingdom’s commitment to preparing a new generation of talents capable of leading the industries of the future.

‏H.E. AlKhorayef emphasized the Kingdom’s strategic focus on capability building, stating, “We are equipping young people with the technical depth, innovation mindset, and competitiveness required to lead in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.”

‏The Minister also highlighted the Kingdom’s rapidly expanding industrial innovation ecosystem, noting that Saudi Arabia has built a comprehensive network designed to nurture young innovators and accelerate technological advancement. This ecosystem now includes advanced testbeds that allow youth to experiment with emerging technologies, specialized industrial innovation labs that support research and prototyping, and robust technology transfer platforms that enable the commercialization of new ideas.

‏He further pointed to dedicated challenge funds empowering young talent to solve national industrial challenges, alongside SME accelerators focused on clean technology, Industry 4.0 solutions, and digital manufacturing, all of which collectively position Saudi youth as key contributors to the future of global industry.

‏H.E. AlKhorayef reaffirmed the Kingdom’s commitment to working with UNIDO and international partners to expand youth opportunities worldwide:

‏The session closed with a strong call to action led by H.E. AlKhorayef, who reinforced the urgency of placing youth at the center of global industrial transformation. He affirmed that the future of industrialization will be defined by nations that unlock the potential of their youth, concluding with a message that resonated across the hall: “Together, we can ignite the future and ensure that every young person has the opportunity to build it.”