ECCKSA’s strategic role in strengthening Europe–Saudi economic cooperation

As economic ties between Europe and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia continue to deepen, few organizations are playing a pivotal a role as the European Chamber of Commerce in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (ECCKSA). Founded with a mission to foster long-term, trust-based partnerships across borders, ECCKSA has emerged as a key facilitator of trade, investment, and strategic dialogue between two dynamic regions.

In this interview, Kristijonas Gedvilas, Chief Executive Officer at ECCKSA, offers insight into the organization’s priorities, recent achievements, and the growing opportunities for European businesses in Saudi Arabia.

1. What is ECCKSA's mission and long-term goals?

“The European Chamber of Commerce in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (ECCKSA) has been initiated by the European Commission and established by leading European companies, as the first European chamber in the region dedicated to strengthening EU-Saudi economic cooperation. Its mission is to provide a strategic and collective voice for European businesses operating in the Kingdom, advocating for their interests at the policy level, facilitating high-level dialogue with Saudi institutions, and enabling practical cooperation aligned with the objectives of Vision 2030. The ECCKSA plays a strategic role in reinforcing the European business presence in the Kingdom, particularly at a time when global economic and geopolitical shifts demand greater unity and coordination. Launched in May 2024 after extensive groundwork with Saudi and European stakeholders, the Chamber draws from global best practices while adapting to the pace and specificity of the Saudi market. In the long term, ECCKSA aims to become a central actor in the EU-Saudi economic ecosystem, boosting European private sector engagement in key sectors such as energy, infrastructure, digital transformation, sustainability, transport and logistics, healthcare and many more. It seeks to support Saudi Arabia’s diversification journey while enabling European companies to grow, innovate, and lead in this dynamic environment.”

2. Reflecting on your first anniversary, what would you identify as the most significant milestone so far?

“Since its official inauguration in May 2024, which brought together European and Saudi stakeholders, ECCKSA has actively created platforms to deepen engagement and mutual understanding. Our mission is twofold: to promote European business interests in Saudi Arabia, and to foster strong, long-term partnerships that support the goals of Vision 2030.

In just one year, we have launched several flagship initiatives. These include the first Business Community Night at the EU Ambassador’s Residence, which provided our members and partners an opportunity to strengthen relationships among the European business community, and sector-focused events such as the Mobility Roundtable in August 2024 and the Energy Roundtable in October 2024. These high-level discussions have directly led to the upcoming creation of two dedicated sectoral committees: Transport and Logistics, and Energy. We are also expanding into new areas. The Healthcare Roundtable held in April 2025 was a critical step toward establishing a new committee to support European engagement in the Kingdom’s health transformation. Events such as our Women in Leadership event and our technical webinar on VAT in cross-border trade have further reinforced our commitment to diversity, knowledge-sharing, and regulatory alignment.

Beyond events, ECCKSA continues to ensure active representation of European business interests in high-level meetings such as the EU-KSA Trade Roundtable, organised by the General Authority of Foreign Trade (GAFT), major policy forums, and key economic discussions. Whether through technical visits, such as the Riyadh Metro and Depot tour, or participation in strategic panels, our goal is to serve as a trusted interlocutor between European companies and Saudi decision-makers.

Our relevance was further reinforced on 29 April 2025, when we, in close cooperation with the EU Delegation, supported the visit of Ms Ditte Juul-Jørgensen, Director-General for Energy at the European Commission. During her time in Riyadh, before having meetings with Saudi authorities, we facilitated a focused roundtable with leading European energy companies operating in the Kingdom. The discussion provided valuable insights into the local energy landscape and demonstrated our ability to bridge high-level policy with practical business realities on the ground. This format has proven highly effective, and we intend to continue fostering similar strategic dialogues across other priority sectors.

Importantly, the Saudi authorities demonstrated strong openness to structured dialogue and welcomed the idea of consolidating feedback from European companies in a coordinated manner. They also expressed keen interest in engaging with dedicated Committees within ECCKSA. These committees will serve as permanent platforms to channel European companies’ concerns and recommendations in a coherent and constructive way.”

3. Saudi Arabia is currently the EU’s first trading partner among the GCC countries, with bilateral trade in goods worth €75 billion annually and EU investments into the Kingdom growing by 50% since 2020. Where do you see the greatest and missed opportunities for European companies today, and vice versa?

“Saudi Arabia’s economic transformation under Vision 2030 is opening up a broad spectrum of opportunities for European companies, particularly in areas where Europe offers deep expertise and cutting-edge innovation. The most promising opportunities today lie in sectors aligned with the Kingdom’s diversification priorities, notably clean and renewable energy, sustainable infrastructure, digital transformation, transport, and healthcare. European businesses are already playing a key role in the Kingdom’s strategic projects, such as NEOM, Riyadh Metro Project, Diriyah Gate, Red Sea Global, among others, where their technical expertise and long-standing commitment to innovation are highly valued.

Strategic national programmes, such as the National Industrial Strategy, the Privatisation Programme, and the Kingdom’s flagship Giga-projects like NEOM and the Saudi Green Initiative, are particularly well-suited for long-term European engagement, offering not only commercial opportunities but also the chance to co-develop strategic capabilities.

That said, there are still missed opportunities. European SMEs, in particular, remain underrepresented in the Saudi market. Many have niche technologies or specialised services that are highly relevant, yet often lack visibility, local networks, or familiarity with the regulatory environment. Addressing these barriers could unlock considerable untapped potential.

At ECCKSA, we believe the next phase of EU–Saudi economic cooperation will be defined not only by large-scale investments, but by deeper, multi-level engagement between our business ecosystems, connecting corporates and SMEs, fostering innovation, and building durable partnerships based on trust, alignment, and long-term strategy.”

4. For companies wishing to enter either the EU or Saudi market, and don't know where to start, what first step would you encourage them to take, and how ECCKSA can support them in their journey?

“For companies seeking to enter a new market, whether the EU or Saudi Arabia, the first and most important step is to connect with the right institutional and business networks that can provide trusted information, strategic insight, and introductions to key stakeholders.

In Saudi Arabia, European companies should reach out to several complementary structures:

● EU Member States’ embassies and trade offices, which offer bilateral support, market entry strategies and intelligence, and country-specific expertise.

● The EU Delegation’s Trade Section, which plays a crucial role in monitoring the regulatory landscape and facilitating high-level dialogue between the EU and Saudi authorities.

● National Business Councils, which provide additional platforms for networking, particularly when a company wants to engage from the perspective of a specific EU country.

● And, of course, the European Chamber of Commerce in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (ECCKSA), which serves as a central, neutral platform to support European companies collectively, and provides access to the whole European business ecosystem, regardless of their national origin.

ECCKSA brings together the European private sector and Saudi stakeholders around shared interests, per sector at a policy level. We support newcomers by offering access to curated sector-specific insights, introductions to potential partners and local entities, and practical guidance on navigating the Saudi market. Our sectoral committees and roundtables on energy, mobility, logistics, healthcare, digitalisation, and more, help companies engage with the right ecosystem from day one. Similarly, for Saudi companies looking to expand into the EU, our Chamber can serve as a first point of contact, helping them understand the business culture, and partnership opportunities across different European markets. We work closely with EU institutions and business networks across Europe to help facilitate two-way investment and cooperation. At ECCKSA, our role is to act as a trusted connector, between business and government, between sectors, and between regions, making sure that companies don’t have to navigate complex markets alone.”

5. What upcoming initiatives or events is ECCKSA launching or most excited about in 2025, and how can European or Saudi stakeholders get involved or benefit from them?

“Looking ahead at the second half of 2025 and beyond, our priorities are clear. We will continue to expand our sectoral committees, not only by deepening the work of existing ones, but also by broadening the range of sectors we cover, from energy, mobility, and healthcare to ICT, construction, tourism, entertainment and beyond. These committees will become essential platforms for identifying shared challenges, co-developing solutions, and creating new opportunities across industries. Their relevance has been repeatedly acknowledged by Saudi authorities, who value the structured, cross-sectoral dialogue with European stakeholders, enabled by ECCKSA.

We also aim to launch new initiatives that amplify the presence and influence of the European business community in Saudi Arabia. These will include high-level networking events, site visits to strategic infrastructure and industrial projects, and programs focused on sustainability, reflecting our commitment to responsible and future-proof investment. Each of these initiatives is designed to foster trust, visibility, and long-term partnerships between European companies and their Saudi counterparts.

At a time when global alliances are shifting and economic influence is being redefined, a strong and coordinated European voice is more necessary than ever. This is the very reason why ECCKSA was founded: to ensure that European businesses operating in Saudi Arabia are heard, supported, and strategically positioned to thrive in a fast-evolving environment.

Over the past year, we have moved from vision to implementation. We have established a solid foundation by strengthening our relationships with the Saudi government, the European Commission, the EU Delegation, EU Member States’ embassies, national trade agencies, and bilateral business councils. Through our sectoral roundtables, policy dialogues, technical exchanges, and institutional engagements, ECCKSA has demonstrated its ability to bring together public and private stakeholders in a constructive and action-oriented way. Yet, ECCKSA is only as strong as the companies that stand behind it. Over the past year, we have shown the value of a united European approach, now is the time to deepen it. The next chapter of ECCKSA will be shaped by its members - current and future - who believe in building a meaningful, collaborative, and long-term partnership between Europe and Saudi Arabia. We invite you to join us in that mission.”

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Houssem Touil

Founder, Chamberpad