NEW YORK CITY: There is a real optimism in Saudi Arabia despite the obvious challenges faced around the globe, foreign minister Faisal bin Farhan told delegates at the FII Priority Forum in New York on Thursday.
He was responding on Thursday to the “Future Investment Initiative Priority” report, which surveyed 130,000 people from 13 countries about the things that mattered most to them.
The FII Priority report asked if people thought their lives were headed in the right direction - most people globally said they were.
But when the question became wider, people in nations such as the UK, USA and France, became more skeptical about the state of their countries and the world generally – while Saudi’s remained positive.
“There is a real optimism in the kingdom despite the challenges that we face,” the minister said.
The report found that Saudi’s led the way in feeling positive about their country, only being beaten in their optimism for the state of the world – coming third to China and India.
The upbeat attitude of Saudis didn’t stop there. Asked if they believed their country would be better in the future – a confident 61 percent in the Kingdom said they did – second only to 80 percent in China.
“We are in a difficult neighborhood. We are needing to improve many things in our economy in our country, but we are working very hard at it and that hard work is paying off we are seeing results every day being delivered.”
The report also found that Saudis were very ambitious, looking at work as a means to improve themselves, rather than simply pay the bills.
And while more than half of Americans were looking to quit their jobs – dissatisfied with their current situation, the vast majority of Saudis were planning for their future career and looking to help build their nation.
“If we all did the same if we all put our minds to it and worked hard, we can build a better future,” the minister explained.
He said that youth engagement in the Kingdom was at an “all time high.”
“You go to anywhere,” he added. “You know, private sector or public sector. The youth are really who are leading. It’s the same in my ministry.”
“The youth are the ones the younger generation are the ones that are pushing us.”
And in a nod to the approximate 300 percent increase in women the workforce, he said: “So, there is an optimism, even in a challenging environment without the best resources, you can still build.”
“If you set your mind to it. If you have a leadership that is committed to it, then you have a collective will to do it. So you just need the will.”
The FII Institute is a product of the Future Investment Initiative that was set up in Saudi Arabia by the Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman.
