BGI Group Chairman and Co-Founder Wang Jian visited Saudi Arabia this month and signed multiple agreements that will support Saudi Arabia’s ‘Vision 2030’ in the areas of public health and green innovation. 

Wang Jian visited the Saudi Ministry of Health and Public Health Authority to boost scientific research and collaboration. During COVID-19, BGI established five Huo-yan laboratories in major cities in Saudi Arabia to assist the fight against the pandemic. Two more were donated to the Saudi Ministry of Health in July 2022 for pandemic prevention and control during the Hajj.

Chairman and co-founder of BGI Group, Wang Jian (right), met with Director General of the Saudi Public Health Authority, Dr. Abdullah Algwizani (center).

Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Health, H.E. Fahad Al-Jalajel, said: "We appreciate BGI's support in difficult times, and we see BGI as a partner, not a commercial company.” Dr. Abdullah Algwizani, Director General of the Saudi Public Health Authority, also praised BGI for its contribution in fighting COVID-19, and expressed his hope for further cooperation.

In the field of green innovation, the BGI team met with Dr. Khaled Alabulqader, CEO of the National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification (NCVC), and held a joint meeting with the NCVC and the Saudi Ministry of Investment.  

BGI Group visited King Saud University.

Opportunities for scientific research cooperation were an important part of the visit.  The BGI team visited King Saud University where Wang Jian made a speech, introducing BGI's spatiotemporal omics and DNA storage technology. Discussions were held on scientific research cooperation and joint talent training. 

The BGI team also visited H.E. Dr. Munir Eldesouki, President of King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), and the KACST park and laboratories. The two sides agreed to cooperate in biology, medicine, agriculture and other fields.

BGI signed MoUs with the Saudi Ministry of Investment and the Olayan Group respectively. Minister of Investment, H.E. Khalid Al-Falih, is in the center.

On the eve of President Xi Jinping's visit to Saudi Arabia, the Saudi Ministry of Investment hosted a number of Chinese companies for a signing ceremony. BGI signed memorandums of understanding, with the Saudi Ministry of Investment and the Olayan Group respectively, in the presence of Saudi Investment Minister H.E. Khalid Al-Falih. Recently, BGI also signed a memorandum of understanding on scientific research cooperation with King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST).

BGI Group signed a Memorandum of Understanding with King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre.

During Wang Jian’s stay in Saudi Arabia, BGI signed relevant cooperation agreements including a tri-party MoU with the NCVC and the Saudi Ministry of Investment and MoU with King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center.  

BGI Group signed a cooperation agreement with NCVC and Saudi Ministry of Investment.

During his visit, Wang Jian noted that BGI Group is committed to developing genomic technology leading to achievements that will benefit mankind, realizing BGI’s vision of Omics for All. 

Since 2020, Saudi Arabia has been one of the most important overseas markets for BGI Group. BGI will continue to empower local partners in Saudi Arabia and actively cooperate with the implementation of Saudi Arabia's "Vision 2030". It will contribute to the sustainable development of the Saudi medical industry, improve the health and well-being of the local people, and promote friendly cooperation in green ecology, talent training, and scientific research exchanges.