Ajlan & Bros Holding Group Debuts at China Int. Fair for Trade in Services

Ajlan & Bros Holding Group (hereafter referred to as the "Group") has made its debut as the first private Saudi Arabian exhibitor at the 2022 China International Fair for Trade in Services (hereafter referred to as "CIFTIS"). The Group is proudly showcasing its services and achievements at a 120-square-meter booth at the China National Convention Center in Beijing.

This year, the Group is also celebrating the 20^th anniversary of its official entry into the China market, and through international exhibitions such as CIFTIS, the Group hopes to demonstrate its position as a significant contributor to China and Saudi Arabia’s ongoing joint development. As well as celebrating its many achievements from the past two decades, the Group’s appearance at this year’s exhibition will also see new and meaningful relationships built with potential business partners as they explore future opportunities together.

Sheikh Mohammed al Ajlan, Deputy Chairman of Ajlan & Bros Holding Group and Chairman of the Saudi-Chinese Business Council, said: “We have always been extremely optimistic about the prospects of China's economic development. China is of great strategic significance to us, and as our countries continue to expand trade relations, we are confident that we will also see even more in-depth business cooperation. We know that opportunities for Saudi Arabian companies in China are unlimited but we are also confident that more Chinese enterprises will start to see unique development potential in Saudi Arabia, and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region as a whole. We aim to be a bridge for Chinese companies as they explore opportunities in the MENA region, and we are thrilled by the prospect of mutually beneficial cooperation across multiple industries.”

In recent years, both Saudi Arabia and China have continued to promote green and sustainable development and have made significant efforts to implement the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The theme of CIFTIS this year, "cooperate for better development, innovate for a greener future," closely follows the countries’ long-term environmental strategies, and makes the event even more important to Ajlan & Bros Holding Group, which places sustainable and green development at the heart of its business. As a vocal promoter of "Saudi Vision 2030,” the Group takes its CSR and ESG obligations extremely seriously. Thanks to the Group’s rich and diverse heritage in China and its financial strength in Saudi Arabia, the Group has established itself as the gateway to the MENA region for Chinese enterprises and looks to join hands with even more Chinese enterprises to tap into opportunities arising from bilateral economic and trade cooperation between Saudi Arabia and China.

Ajlan & Bros Holding Group established its first textile and garment factory in China in Jiangsu Province in 2002. In 2003, the Group established Shandong Lawrance Textile Co., Ltd., a textile and garment enterprise in Zaozhuang City, Shandong Province, with a complete industry chain service capability. The company has since become Zaozhuang City’s largest exporter.

As one of the most reputable family businesses in the Middle East, Ajlan & Bros Holding Group ranked 34^th in the 2021 Forbes "Top 100 Arab Family Businesses in the Middle East" list. Through cross-border integration and significant strategic diversification, the Group has become a leading diversified multinational, with a focus on priority sectors that include financial services, consumer goods manufacturing, and medical health. The Group’s business network covers more than 25 countries and regions around the world, with more than 15,000 employees across 75 companies.

When "Saudi Vision 2030" was first proposed in 2016, the Group responded to the national strategy by strategically transforming and diversifying its business. To stay ahead of the curve, the Group turned its focus to technological innovation and looked to its new priority sectors for growth, which include financial services, healthcare, consumer goods manufacturing, education, games, tourism, logistics, and other core areas. China is a market leader in many of these industries and as such, the Group was determined to tap into the region’s expertise by setting up an investment office in Shanghai in early 2017, with offices in Beijing, Shenzhen, and Hong Kong following soon after. The Group's current strategic focus in China is the exploration of mutually beneficial business options through joint ventures with Chinese companies in Saudi Arabia to seize infinite new opportunities in the MENA region.

The Group has already recorded an impressive number of cooperation results with leading Chinese enterprises in numerous fields, including logistics, financial technology and e-sports. Ajlan & Bros Holding Group and China's leading integrated logistics service provider "SF International" established "AJEX" in Saudi Arabia. This ambitious joint venture officially began operations at the start of 2022, bringing China's cutting-edge logistics technology and services to Saudi Arabia. The Group also established "Tiqmo", a joint venture with China's leading logistics technology company, Swiftpass. The new company focuses on the development of the Saudi financial technology industry, helping Saudi Arabia accelerate the construction of a "cashless society" and empowering Chinese technology to "go global". In December 2019, Ajlan & Bros Holding Company also cooperated with Tencent Games to organize the MENA region’s largest global e-sports tournament – Player Unknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG) Mobile Star Challenge – with the full support of the Saudi Arabian government.