Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, Bandar Alkhorayef, has conducted high-level meetings with senior pharmaceutical leaders in Lyon, France, to deepen industrial collaboration and strengthen national biopharmaceutical capabilities.
The discussions with Thomas Triomphe, Executive Vice President and Head of Vaccines at Sanofi, focused on expanding industrial cooperation and exploring opportunities to localize vaccine and biopharmaceutical manufacturing in the Kingdom.
The talks form part of Saudi Arabia’s broader strategy to attract advanced industries and enhance domestic production capacity in critical sectors.
The minister attended a detailed presentation outlining Sanofi’s evolution as a global pharmaceutical group, its strategic direction in vaccine and biologics manufacturing, and its investments in research and development. Key performance indicators and future growth priorities were also reviewed.
Alkhorayef toured the company’s industrial facilities, including production lines and quality laboratories, where he examined the full vaccine manufacturing process, from the development of active ingredients to filling, packaging, and final quality inspection carried out under stringent international safety standards.
Image via SPA | Cropped by GBN
Bandar Alkhorayef visited the headquarters of Benta Group in Lyon, accompanied by Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Bernard Tannoury. He was briefed on the company’s history, its establishment in the French market, and its expansion in pharmaceutical manufacturing.
The meetings and field visits are part of the minister’s official visit to France aimed at strengthening industrial partnerships, attracting high-value investments in the biopharmaceutical sector, and facilitating the transfer of advanced technologies and expertise.
The visit supports the objectives of the National Industrial Strategy, reinforcing Saudi Arabia’s capabilities in medicines and medical supplies production and enhancing long-term health security.
