Schneider Electric sees prospects for a greater role in Saudi Arabia’s strategic development plans as they have energy efficiency at their heart, Schneider Electric’s chief has said.

“Schneider Electric strategy is centralised around this concept with the slogan of “Make the Most of your Energy’,” said Jean-Pascal Tricoire, president and CEO of the company. “What we have in innovative solutions in energy management, smart grids, data centres, electrical distribution networks, building management systems and home automation, is by far the most complete offer in the market today,” he told Gulf Industry.

“The company is very committed to continuing to invest in Saudi Arabia with a focus on supporting the country’s strategic shift to depend on efficient solutions in building and infrastructure, smart energy and solar energy,” he added.

Discussing his company’s contribution in Saudi Arabia, Tricoire said Schneider Electric had succeeded in delivering top-of-the-line solutions in electrical distribution systems, critical power, power automation and control, building automation, data centre solutions and energy efficiency management. He cited some of the projects the company had worked on including the Information and Telecommunication Complex (ITCC) project in Riyadh, where in addition to the infrastructure and power design Schneider Electric delivered all the solutions for different types of buildings, ranging from residential buildings and office buildings to the data centre (Tier 4, biggest in the kingdom) and the five-star hotel.

REASONS FOR SUCCESS
“Schneider Electric has been very successful in Saudi Arabia for various reasons: understanding and aligning our company strategy and organisation with the implemented strategy that drives Saudi Arabia’s energy demands and projects, realising and explaining to the customers and end-users our unique value proposition for each customer and every market segment and our holistic view on the business and solutions oriented marketing.”

Tricoire made the comments after Schneider Electric, Saudi Arabia, signed a contract with the Saudi Binladin Group to provide power for the Haram expansion project in Makkah. Although the amount is yet to be disclosed, the agreement is the largest between the two companies. Additionally, this project is part of the larger plan for Saudi Arabia to become a leader in solar efficiency.

Schneider Electric has progressed from steel in the 19th century, to electrical distribution and automation in the 20th and energy management in the 21st. Globally, it reported third-quarter sales of 6.1 billion euros ($7.9 billion), up 7.1 per cent year-on-year on current structure and exchange rate basis. Sales for the first nine months of 2012 reached 17.51 billion euros, an increase of 9.2 per cent year-on-year.