RIYADH — Saudi Arabia launched the first industrial respirator that was manufactured in the Kingdom with international specifications. The launching ceremony was attended by Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Center for Industrial Development Bandar Al-Khorayef, Minister of Health Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, and the advisor at the Royal Court and General Supervisor of the King Salman Center for Relief and Humanitarian Action, Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah. It comes in the context of localizing efforts of the industry and mineral wealth system in medical industries and achieving self-sufficiency in basic medical industries. Al-Khorayef said: "Today, we are proud to witness a qualitative achievement that joins the continuous achievements of our country, with the inauguration of the first industrial respirator with international specifications, manufactured with pride in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia." He stressed that this achievement comes as evidence of the rise of our industry to new levels, and it comes as a continuation of the industrial sector’s response to the demand for health equipment and the need for them in the current period in which we are still living with the effects of this pandemic. "This important step comes at a time when the world is facing great challenges in light of the continuing repercussions of the pandemic, and the effects it causes on daily supply chains,” he added. He stressed that the measures taken by the Kingdom in dealing with the pandemic were appreciated by international bodies and organizations, and this was accompanied by the rapid response of national factories to provide medical supplies and meet the high demand on time.