A-Sharq Al-Awsat newspaper quoted Chairman of the Board of the Jazan Development Company Khalid bin Salih a-Shathari who announced in early June 2006 that the Company has received a permit from the Saudi Industry and Trade Ministry to build a cement plant with an annual production capacity of 1.5Mt and investments of SR 1 billion ($285 million). Professional and economic feasibility studies confirm that there is an economic need to build this factory in the Jazan area.