Riyadh - Mubasher: The Local Content and Government Procurement Authority, in cooperation with the Made in Saudi Arabia Program, launched today, Wednesday, the "Golden Category for the Saudi Made Brand" on the sidelines of the second edition of the Local Content Forum; to be a medal for companies distinguished in developing local content, and a catalyst for a vibrant national economy .

The Local Content and Government Procurement Authority, in cooperation with the Made in Saudi Arabia program, has developed a sub-label that shows the level of contribution of the products and services of companies that have obtained the label to the development of local content. It is considered an extension of the main Made in Saudi Arabia label, and through it, companies that have obtained the main label can request an upgrade to the gold label if they meet the specified requirements and standards, in order to benefit from the incentives provided when they are eligible to obtain them.

The mark is evidence of the private sector’s contribution to developing local content in all its components, which represents the company’s total spending on Saudi elements of local cadres, assets, research and development, and raw materials used in manufacturing this product or providing this service.

The “Saudi Industry” program revealed, through its website, the objectives of the Saudi Industry Mark (Gold Category), the criteria and requirements for obtaining the Saudi Industry Mark (Gold Category), in addition to the steps for upgrading to the Saudi Industry Mark (Gold Category), which we will review in the following lines:

Saudi Made Brand Objectives (Gold Category):

- Directing individuals’ purchasing power towards products and services that contribute to the development of local content.

- Encouraging the private sector to develop local content and apply it within the facility’s business.

- Enabling national products and services that contribute to local content.

- Distinguishing the level of the establishment’s contribution to the development of local content and its elements.

Saudi Industry Mark Standards and Requirements (Gold Category):

The Authority and the Program have set standards and requirements that must be met to obtain the mark, as the mark represents the level of the establishment’s contribution to the development of local content and its elements, which include local cadres, assets, research and development, and raw materials used in manufacturing this product or providing this service:

- Fulfilling the requirements for joining the Made in Saudi Arabia Program (Main Label).

- Providing an audited local content certificate to the factory.

- In addition to one of the following options:

- The facility must be among the top 10% of facilities that have obtained the local content certificate in the sector to which it belongs, and higher than the actual average for the sector to which it belongs.

- Or that the facility’s spending on the capacity building element (research and development, training Saudis, developing suppliers) is higher than 0.3% of the company’s total spending.

Steps to upgrade to a Saudi Made Mark (Gold Category):

- Submit an application to obtain a Saudi industry mark (Gold Category) by downloading and filling out the mark application form at the bottom of the page and sending it to the email Members@saudimade.com .

- Attach all local content requirements as documents proving their achievement.

- Issuing a local content certificate accredited by the Local Content and Government Procurement Authority by accessing the Local Content and Government Procurement Authority website (electronic services page) (this step is carried out if an accredited local content certificate is not available) https://lcgpa.gov.sa/ar/eservices/Pages/default.aspx .

- Reviewing the application data by the Authority’s team and the Made in Saudi Arabia team for acceptance or rejection.

- The company obtains the brand identity guide to apply it to corporate communication and products.

Terms and Conditions:

The establishment must meet the requirements of the Saudi Industry Mark (green) before applying for the Saudi Industry Mark (gold category).

The validity period of the local content certificate must not be less than 30 days when applying for the mark.

- Upon obtaining a Saudi Industry Mark (Gold Category), it will be valid for 3 years, provided that the facility’s local content certificate is valid during this period, and the facility is given a period not exceeding 5 months from the date of the certificate to renew after the expiration date of the certificate.

- The facility must be within the specified and targeted sectors (in the application form).

- The facility must be within the range of the average local content percentages for the specified sectors. If the percentages are updated, the facility can continue membership until the expiration of its validity period, with the necessity of applying the updated percentages when applying for membership again.

- The brand incentives provided by the Local Content and Government Procurement Authority are subject to change and update.

The establishment’s submission of this application and its obtaining of the mark is subject to the standards and requirements for obtaining the mark.

Important obligations for companies when applying:

- Maintaining the confidentiality of the information and data disclosed by the Local Content and Government Procurement Authority related to (Saudi Industry Mark - Gold Category “Purpose”).

- Not to use information and data except for the purpose, and for those authorized by the Authority.

The company is responsible for any disclosure to unauthorized persons.

- Take the necessary measures to maintain the confidentiality of information, from loss, misuse, or unauthorized access, disclosure, or alteration.

- Notify the Authority immediately upon receiving a request from a third party to disclose confidential information.

- Providing the Authority - upon request - with a list of the names of persons who have access to confidential information.

- Not to make any press or media statement or issue any advertisement about any contracts or obligations with the Authority, without obtaining prior written approval from the Authority.

- Upon the Authority’s written request, all confidential information shall be destroyed or returned to the Authority as soon as practically possible, and if such information is in the form of electronic copies, it shall be deleted or measures shall be taken to make it unavailable. Commitment to maintaining the confidentiality of the information until it ceases to be confidential.

The application must be submitted and signed by the authorized person at the facility.