RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Industrial Production Index rose 1.6 percent in July, compared to the same month last year, driven by a surge in manufacturing activity, official data showed.   According to data from the General Authority for Statistics, manufacturing activities grew 4.6%, lifting the Kingdom’s IPI to 106.2 points for the month.   GASTAT revealed that this rise in the manufacturing sector was propelled by an increase in the manufacturing of chemical products, and food items, which surged by 5.7 percent and 10.1 percent, respectively.