RIYADH: As part of the Kingdom’s National Transformation Project, the Council of Economic and Development Affairs is currently working in coordination with government authorities to set in place a strategic implementation plan to increase national economic outputs and launch a series of economic regulations soon.
Officials met for eight consecutive hours at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Riyadh last week to discuss proposals and recommendations for initiatives of the National Transformation Project, which will be launched in the Kingdom in 2020.
The project will include programs for the evaluation of the performance of ministers, including execution of plans and meeting requested outputs.
During the meeting, ministers explained different sides and ideas related to the programs, while Deputy Crown Prince and Minister of Defense Prince Mohammed bin Salman responded to questions from attendees and described elements of the program.
The project will focus on implementing successful plans to limit the Kingdom’s economic dependence on oil alone, supporting long-term projects for the Kingdom, as well as increasing the performance of government, fighting corruption, increasing employment of Saudis, re-establishing priorities, equipping cities with the appropriate environment to realize national goals, and developing the health and municipal sectors.
Prince Mohammed bin Salman emphasized the Kingdom’s keenness to attract investment in mining by easing restrictions and obstacles, and dealing fairly with investors to find alternatives to the decreasing price of oil, as well as benefiting from the economies of Haj and Umrah by improving the basic infrastructure in the Kingdom to accommodate visitors.
Saudi authorities, in cooperation with experts from the United Nations, also worked on drafting 1,000 key performance indicators to monitor the performance of goals and policies in the 10th five-year development plan (2015-2019), with these indicators focusing on governance, bad practices and corruption.
A dashboard was also prepared to display statistics and reports to disclose the level of ministerial performance, as well as their level of compliance with realizing goals and policies set by higher authorities.
As for whether key performance indicators may involve any loopholes that allow for manipulation of information, a high-level source confirmed that the system is based on a “a higher state decision, not a sectoral one, and thus cannot be controlled by any implementing body,” noting that the dashboard will be a real challenge because it means ministries must improve their performance.
Meanwhile, other sources revealed higher authorities are taking a decision to form a national council to follow up on the performance of ministries, agencies, or authorities tasked with implementing the development plans. The key performance indicator regulations will be followed up by the prime minister via the dashboard display to address any faults in the performance of ministers, organizations, or authorities tasked with implementing developmental plans.
Key performance indicators will display and clarify data at the national level related to economic development, inflation, unemployment, and good governance, as well as the performance of ministries.
Economic development council unveils transformation initiatives
Economic development council unveils transformation initiatives
Indonesian People’s Consultative Assembly speaker visits Muslim World League
- Muzani delivered greetings from Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and expressed appreciation for the MWL’s global efforts to promote Islam’s message of peace and tolerance
RIYADH: The speaker of the Indonesian People’s Consultative Assembly, Ahmad Muzani, led a delegation to the headquarters of the Muslim World League in Makkah.
Muzani was received by Dr. Mohammed Al-Issa, the league’s secretary-general and chairman of the Organization of Muslim Scholars.
Muzani delivered greetings from Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and expressed appreciation for the MWL’s global efforts to promote Islam’s message of peace and tolerance.
He said that the league, through its extensive outreach and dialogue initiatives across diverse cultures and religions, effectively conveys the true essence of Islam.
King Salman receives written message from Russian President Vladimir Putin
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s King Salman received a written message on Thursday from Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin, about relations between Moscow and Riyadh.
Waleed Al-Khuraiji, the Saudi deputy minister of foreign affairs, accepted the message on the king’s behalf during a meeting with Sergey Kozlov, the Russian ambassador to Saudi Arabia. They discussed relations between their countries and ways in which they might be enhanced, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Saudi Arabia denounces Israeli far-right minister’s incursion into Al-Aqsa Mosque
- Itamar Ben-Gvir’s visit and prayer at Al-Aqsa provoked ‘the feelings of Muslims worldwide’
- The Kingdom also condemns the advance by Israeli occupation forces in southern Syria
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the visit by the Israeli far-right minister Itamar Ben-Gvir to the sacred Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in the Old City in occupied East Jerusalem.
The ministry said that the national security minister’s visit and prayer at the Al-Aqsa compound on Thursday morning was a clear violation and provocation of the feelings of Muslims worldwide.
Ben-Gvir has repeatedly contested the Israeli government’s longstanding ban on Jewish prayer at the Al-Aqsa compound, which has been a focal point of tensions in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The Al-Aqsa compound in the Old City of Jerusalem is Islam’s holiest site after the mosques in Makkah and Madinah and is a symbol of Palestinian national identity.
The Saudi ministry on Thursday also condemned the Israeli occupation forces’ advance in southern Syria after the fall of Bashar Al-Assad’s regime in early December.
“The continuation of (Israeli) military operations in Syria is an attempt to sabotage Syria’s chances of restoring its security and stability,” the ministry said in a statement.
Saudi foreign minister takes part in GCC extraordinary meeting in Kuwait
- GCC officials reject foreign interference in Syrian affairs, call for lifting of Western sanctions
- Meeting affirms GCC’s support for Palestinian people and demands ceasefire in Gaza
RIYADH: Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan took part in the 46th extraordinary meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council’s ministerial council in Kuwait on Thursday.
Ministers and officials from GCC countries discussed the latest developments in Syria, Lebanon, and Gaza.
They stressed the need to uphold Syria’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity after the fall of Bashar Assad’s regime in early December.
The ministerial council rejected foreign interference in Syrian affairs and called for Western sanctions that have weakened the country’s economy to be lifted, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
They reaffirmed their support for a comprehensive transitional process that ensures civilian safety, achieves national reconciliation, and preserves state institutions.
The council condemned Israeli attacks on Syria and the plan to expand illegal settlements in the occupied Golan Heights. It also condemned Israeli strikes on Lebanon.
Officials stressed that Lebanon needs political and economic reforms to prevent it from becoming a hub for terrorism and drug smuggling, highlighting the critical role of the Lebanese security forces in addressing these issues, the SPA added.
The meeting affirmed the GCC’s support for the Palestinian people, and called for a permanent ceasefire, an end to the siege in Gaza, and the supply of humanitarian aid.
Prince Sultan bin Saad, Saudi ambassador to Kuwait, and other senior Saudi foreign officials attended the meeting.
200 students will compete to represent Saudi Arabia at top science events
- Mawhiba, Ministry of Education select students from a record 291,057 applications
RIYADH: A total of 200 students have been chosen to compete for a chance to represent the Kingdom at next year’s prestigious International Science and Engineering Fair and other international competitions.
The King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity, or Mawhiba, and the Ministry of Education announced the qualification of the 200 students, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Thursday.
The announcement took place at the National Olympiad for Scientific Creativity, or Ibdaa, exhibition for science and engineering. The Ibdaa event is held to create a competitive and creative environment for pre-college scientific researchers.
The students were selected from among 480 participants in the recent regional exhibitions held as a part of the fourth stage of the Olympiad.
The final qualifying stage for the Olympiad will be held at the Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University conference center in Riyadh from Feb. 2 to 6.
The Ibdaa 2025 Olympiad had a record registration of 291,057 students.
The Olympiad is an annual international contest for middle and high school students in standards and technology. It started as a local event in Korea in 2006, and became an international contest in 2014.
