Knowledge Affairs – Special

Italian Professor Pietro Paolo Rampino believes that Saudi Vision 2030 represents a unique model of sustainable development, combining energy efficiency, technological innovation, and the promotion of private-sector growth. He also explains that the Kingdom’s ambitions do not stop at achieving industrial self-sufficiency, but aim to make Saudi Arabia a global center for production and innovation and a destination for international investment.

This was stated in his book: “Saudi Arabia: The Vision Becomes Reality” (in Italian: Saudi Arabia: the Vision Becomes Reality), which he published in both Italian and English.

The author confirms that the Vision has transformed from ambitious plans on paper into a “tangible reality” filled with investment opportunities in sectors such as tourism, infrastructure, and renewable energy.

An International Testimony:

This book represents a specialized international testimony documenting the success of Saudi Vision 2030 in reshaping the Kingdom’s economic and social landscape and its growing role as a leading power on the global economic stage. It also serves as a guide and gateway for European and Italian companies seeking to understand the contemporary Saudi market.

The author says in his book: For the well-informed and cautious entrepreneur, Saudi Arabia represents fertile ground for new business opportunities and serves as an example of how tradition and innovation can intersect to create a prosperous and sustainable future. The book seeks to inspire Saudi entrepreneurs by presenting important insights drawn from examples of Italian industrial districts—which serve as pillars of the development of a diversified economy—and supporting the private sector in line with the objectives of Vision 2030, from technology centers to circular investments, while shaping industrial districts as a foundation for the Kingdom’s economic advancement and overcoming current challenges.

The book places particular emphasis on circular investments and the concept of investment directed toward serving the country by creating a local value chain that enhances production autonomy in important strategic sectors. At the same time, the importance of industrial districts lies in considering them an operational model for promoting innovation, ensuring high-quality production, and providing momentum for economic development through commercial specialization and clustering as a tool for geographically distributing production sites across the country.

Therefore, the book presents a dual message. On the one hand, it presents the Kingdom as a land rich in opportunities for foreign entrepreneurs, providing them with all the tools necessary for success. On the other hand, it offers Saudi entrepreneurs a model of Italian excellence and a replicable model of economic development. Through this dual perspective, the book proposes a strategy for cooperation and shared growth, laying the foundation for a lasting and fruitful partnership between the Kingdom and the rest of the world based on the exchange of knowledge, technology, and business opportunities.

A Sustainable Development Model:

In his book, Pietro Rampino considers the adoption of Vision 2030 to be evidence of the Kingdom’s commitment to promoting a sustainable development model that not only strengthens its global economic position but also achieves a balance between modernity and tradition. This is accomplished through a particular focus on the environment, encouraging innovation, and integrating advanced technologies into all aspects of life.

The book also highlights the importance of the concept of “Made in Saudi Arabia” with regard to the opportunities available to foreign entrepreneurs. It points to the importance of being present in today’s world with your own production facility and explains the advantages and incentives offered by continuously developing laws designed to meet the needs of the country and its investors.

The book has dedicated an appendix to the longstanding bilateral relations between Saudi Arabia and Italy, which extend over more than 90 years of history. The year 2023 marked a milestone in economic cooperation between the two countries with the signing of a memorandum of understanding aimed at promoting mutual investments and cooperation in strategically important sectors and strengthening economic ties. The book also includes examples of some Italian companies operating in the Kingdom, such as: Leonardo, Webuild, Mapei, Proger, Maire Tecnimont, and others.

This book aspires to serve as a useful tool for anyone wishing to learn about the complex interactions taking place in the Kingdom, with particular emphasis on business, the cultural and social aspects of Saudi society, as well as the Kingdom’s relations with Italy and other interested countries. The main objective of the book can be summarized in the following phrase: “Know the past to understand the present and anticipate the future,” an idea that is repeated throughout the book. The book also provides a lens through which the Kingdom’s historical, social, and economic interactions can be explored, facilitating not only an understanding of the changes shaping the Kingdom’s present but also helping anticipate developments that may occur in the future.

It is worth noting that the King Abdulaziz Public Library hosted Professor Rampino in 2024 for a cultural meeting in which he discussed this book, in the presence of the General Supervisor of the King Abdulaziz Public Library, Faisal bin Muammar, and a group of figures concerned with the commercial and economic fields.

Pietro Paolo Rampino is an expert in international operations involving translation into the Arabic language. He holds a contract with LUISS Business School in Rome and the NIBI – New International Business Institute in Milan. He specializes in Islamic finance and business practices in the Middle East and North Africa region. He co-authored Sukuk: Ethics and Sustainability Supporting the Italian System (LUISS University Press) and Gli Strumenti di Finanza Islamica per il Sostegno del Sistema Italia (Pearson).