As the economies of the Middle East continue to diversify, there is a growing service sector in the region.

ERAS has been involved in a wide range of retail, light industrial and commercial services projects.

Recent projects in Light Industry & Services:

SME Business Development Study

ERAS has recently completed a major business development project in Saudi Arabia. Under the 1-year study we were charged with the task of identifying new business development opportunities in the less developed regions of Saudi Arabia, in particular the Southern and Northern regions. The opportunities had to centre on small and medium businesses, and be commercially viable. The work included:

•    Detailed surveys of all regional assets (mineral resources, agriculture, manpower, institutions, existing industry, etc.).

•    An assessment of the expected impact and opportunities resulting from the new major infrastructure projects including the new economic cities (Jizan, Hail, Tobuk, and King Abdullah Economic City) and north-south railway, east-west railway and trans-Nafud road link.

•    Identification of new business opportunities supported by preliminary commercial, technical and financial analysis.

Under the project a total of 31 separate business opportunities were identified in 8 sectors which could create a total of 110,000 jobs.

ERAS prepared a technical study and market evaluation for a project

Wire trolley manufacture

ERAS completed a pre-feasibility study for a medium-scale wire chrome processing plant and trolley assembly facility in the GCC. The study included local market assessment, competition analysis, identification of potential technology partners and financial analysis.

Bulk liquids storage facility

ERAS completed a market survey to assess the potential for a third-party bulk liquids storage facility in the GCC.

Water additives manufacture for desalination plants

This market and financial evaluation concentrated on some leading water chemicals additives for a proposed FMC manufacturing facility to serve the Middle Eastern and Asian markets.

Jeddah waste recycling plant

This was a major market development and feasibility study for the waste management division of Asahi Group interested in developing a municipal waste recycling facility in Jeddah. The objective of the study was to maximise the commercial potential of municipal waste recycling and waste management. The study included market analysis of all potential waste streams and an assessment of available separation and processing technologies.