Diplomatist Magazine DIplomatist September 2018 | Page 15

enerated.
lines and a community bus network in the Kingdom’s
more than 150 GW solar power will be generated.
irect and
major cit
cities of Riyadh, Jeddah, Makkah and Medinah.
The Plan will help create up to 100,000 direct
With Vision 2030 serving as a blueprint, the
W
indirect jobs in the Kingdom. Additionally, it will
Kingdom is working on the strategic objective
increase the GDP by $12 billion and save up
Ki
di
o of welcoming 30 million pilgrims each year
to $40 billion annually. Furthermore, Saudi
t to perform Haj and Umrah. The third phase
Arabia has been strengthening its oil industry,
of expansion of Grand Mosque launched
one of the strongest drivers of its growth
by King Salman is making good progress.
and has maintained its position as a key
Expansion of the building itself covers
enabler in the global oil economy. In April
1.47 million square metres, including 78
2018, Saudi Aramco and a consortium of
new gates. The various new infrastructure
three Indian oil companies signed a MoU
and transportation projects are beautifully
to jointly develop and build an integrated
shaping up. In Medina, the new Prince
refinery and petrochemical complex in
Mohammad bin Abdulaziz Airport was
Ratnagiri, West Coast of India. The project
inaugurated by King Salman in 2015. The
is estimated to cost around $ 44 billion.
new King Abdul Aziz International Airport
The Kingdom has also initiated a
Dr. Saud Mohammed Al Sati
in Jeddah is expected to be fully operational in
program of restructuring at all levels of
a few months. The Haramain Railroad which has been going
government institutions. Digital services have been expanded
under testing for the last four months, will be fully operational
to reduce delays and cut tedious bureaucracy and ensure more
later this year. It will shorten the time of the journey between
effi ciency, transparency, and accountability. Signifi cant steps
the two holy cities of Makkah and Medina to a couple of hours
have been taken to improve the business and investment
with the capacity of 60 million passenger per year.
climate to promote industrial development, particularly small
As we focus on the development of our country and
and medium-size enterprises (SMEs). According to a recent
bringing about prosperity for our people, we continue to face
World Bank report, Saudi Arabia instituted the largest number
the challenges in our region and continue our responsible role
of business reforms in the Middle East and North Africa
as a peace-loving nation. Political and Economic stability in
region. In June 2019, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will be
the Middle East and around the world is one of Saudi Arabia’s
included in the MSCI Emerging Markets Index, the MSCI
greatest priorities. Peace, stability, non-interference, good
ACWI Index, and other applicable regional and international
neighbourliness and prosperity of the region will continue
indexes. Multiple regulatory and operational improvements
to be our guiding principles. My country will continue its
are opening the domestic mark