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The U.S. Chamber of Commerce released its Vision 2030 at 10 report last month to mark the 10th anniversary of the Kingdom’s flagship reform program that was launched in 2016. According to the publication non-oil government revenues have more than doubled while new economic pillars in tourism entertainment logistics artificial intelligence and advanced manufacturing have taken shape. The document positions Saudi Arabia as a high-growth G20 economy that has moved beyond its hydrocarbon focus through structural reforms including market openings subsidy restructuring labor law changes and expanded workforce participation by women.
American businesses have played a central role in implementing Vision 2030 according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce assessment. The report identified three main areas of contribution encompassing technology and operational know-how that supported digital government platforms smart cities cloud infrastructure cybersecurity and artificial intelligence deployment. It further noted that U.S. banks asset managers and investors have participated in Saudi initial public offerings privatizations and Public Investment Fund projects to deepen capital markets while American firms have helped establish entire ecosystems in healthcare renewable energy advanced manufacturing and defense with an emphasis on skills transfer and local empowerment.
The U.S.-Saudi Arabia Business Program chaired by PepsiCo leads the Chamber’s engagement and advocates across sectors that include artificial intelligence capital markets defense digital economy energy fintech healthcare infrastructure manufacturing and tourism. The program convenes members with Saudi officials through events in both countries and virtually to ensure access to decision makers. A foreword by Steve Lutes the Chamber’s vice president for Middle East international affairs described the evolution of bilateral ties from a narrow oil and security focus into a diversified partnership spanning multiple high-value industries.
PepsiCo which chairs the business program has maintained a presence in Saudi Arabia since 1954 and invested approximately 2.4 billion dollars in the Kingdom since 2017 the report stated. The company sources 100 percent of potatoes for its foods business locally from partnerships with nine Saudi growers across 5,000 hectares that support about 6,500 livelihoods. Local supply capacity has increased more than 40 percent with over 12,000 acres certified under sustainable sourcing standards while manufacturing facilities in Riyadh and Dammam position the Kingdom as a regional production and export hub.
Sustainability initiatives documented in the publication include a 31 percent reduction in agricultural water usage since 2015 that saved more than 90 billion liters along with 23 billion liters conserved in 2025 alone through improved irrigation and facility upgrades. The Dammam foods plant which underwent an 80 million dollar expansion in 2025 meets LEED standards deploys a bioreactor for wastewater reuse and generates renewable energy via solar panels while achieving Saudization rates above 84 percent with women comprising 21 percent of its workforce. PepsiCo operates five beverage facilities including the Jeddah plant described as one of the largest in its global network and collaborates with more than 600 suppliers to reach over 102,000 retailers nationwide.
The report highlighted PepsiCo’s support for nearly 9,000 direct and indirect jobs alongside talent development efforts such as the Tamakani women’s leadership program and the Youth Impact Studio that selected 60 students from more than 800 applicants for its first cohort with training from the University of California Berkeley. A new 8 million dollar regional research and development hub scheduled to open in Riyadh in 2026 will feature a culinary innovation lab and sensory studio to accelerate product adaptation. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce indicated that such contributions from its members will continue to deepen as Saudi Arabia advances into the next phase of Vision 2030 with priorities centered on sustained investment resilient supply chains and human capital development.
