Saudi Budget 2024: Anticipated Spending of SAR 1.251 Bn, Revenues of SAR 1.172 Bnhttps://english.aawsat.com/business/4578036-saudi-budget-2024-anticipated-spending-sar-1251-bn-revenues-sar-1172-bn
Saudi Budget 2024: Anticipated Spending of SAR 1.251 Bn, Revenues of SAR 1.172 Bn
Expectations for the Saudi economy are an extension of its positive performance (SPA)
Saudi Arabia’s Finance Ministry has announced a preliminary statement of budget for the fiscal year 2024 with expenditures valued at SAR 1,251 billion and revenues projected to be SAR 1,172 billion.
A limited deficit is estimated to be recorded at about 1.9 percent.
Finance Minister Mohammed al-Jadaan reaffirmed the Saudi government’s commitment to ongoing structural reforms on both the financial and economic fronts.
These reforms aim to foster economic growth, diversify the economy, and sustain economic growth rates while maintaining financial sustainability.
According to al-Jadaan, this will be achieved through the continued implementation of programs and projects outlined in the Kingdom’s national transformation plan, “Vision 2030”.
The launch of various initiatives and strategies will also help in the development of promising economic sectors, attracting investments, stimulating industries, and increasing both local content and non-oil exports in Saudi Arabia.
The minister further emphasized the significant and active role played by the Public Investment Fund and development funds in ensuring the ongoing implementation of structural reforms.
These reforms aim to boost the growth of non-oil sector activities at high and sustainable rates over the medium term, said al-Jadaan.
He also projected a growth in real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 4.4% for the upcoming fiscal year.
In addition to achieving the Kingdom’s goals of financial sustainability and directing expansionary spending to expedite the implementation of major projects and strategies, the budget also focuses on attracting investment, stimulating economic activity, and developing Saudi Arabia’s public financial performance.
The minister added that “the process of analyzing the financial and economic risks facing the Kingdom’s economy is a vital part of understanding the current situation, as it contributes to adopting effective policies and strategies to deal with these risks.”
He said that despite any crises the world is witnessing and their negative impact on the global economy – as was the case with the coronavirus pandemic and geopolitical tensions that negatively affected global supply chains – Saudi Arabia is in a “solid financial position.”
Palestinians queue to withdraw money from an ATM in the main market in Ramallah city in the Israel-occupied West Bank on June 9, 2024.
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Israel’s ‘Economic War’ Chokes Occupied West Bank
Palestinians queue to withdraw money from an ATM in the main market in Ramallah city in the Israel-occupied West Bank on June 9, 2024.
Palestinian teenagers bounced on trampolines and jumped through hoops inside a towering tent on the outskirts of Ramallah, the financial hub of the occupied West Bank.
But the circus students weren't the only ones bending over backwards in the pavilion: the school's director faced financial hurdles to buy the tent from Europe and trampolines from Asia.
"We are suffering with international payments," said Mohamad Rabah, head of the Palestinian Circus School, describing a bureaucratic process that could delay equipment delivery by up to a month.
Banking in the Palestinian territories is challenging, with the Palestinian Authority (PA) under scrutiny for potential terror financing, hindering transactions.
Israel has occupied the West Bank since 1967, with strong economic ties allowing two Israeli lenders to serve as correspondent banks in the Palestinian territory.
But this may change if Israel's far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich carries out threats to sever a vital banking route next month.
Since Hamas's October 7 attack triggered the Gaza war, Israel has imposed economic curbs on the PA, withholding tax revenues it collects on its behalf.
Smotrich said this week he had redirected $35 million in PA tax revenues to families of "terrorism" victims, a move condemned by the United States.
After three European countries recognized Palestinian statehood in May, Smotrich told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu he would not extend indemnity to banks that transfer the funds from the end of June.
Israel's Bank Hapoalim and Israel Discount Bank need protection, expiring on July 1, to avoid sanctions for dealing with Palestinian lenders.
Israel's central bank and finance ministry declined to comment when contacted by AFP.
A Palestinian fruit vendor arranges his street cart in the main market in Ramallah city in the Israel-occupied West Bank on June 9, 2024. (AFP)
- 'Humanitarian crisis' -
The banking channel used to pay for West Bank imports -- including essential goods like water, fuel and food -- handles $8 billion yearly.
Palestinian businesses receive nearly $1.7 billion annually for exports, according to the Palestine Monetary Authority.
"For us, because our economy is dependent on the Israeli economy, because Israel is controlling the border, the impact will be high," said PMA governor Feras Milhem.
The Palestinian economy is largely governed by the 1994 Paris Protocol, which granted sole control over the territories' borders to Israel, including the right to collect import duties and value-added tax for the PA.
Palestinian livelihoods have also been hurt by bans on laborers crossing into Israel and by a sharp downturn in tourism in the territory, including a quiet Christmas season in Bethlehem.
The United States has urged Israel to improve conditions, warning that severing the banking route would have a dire impact on the West Bank economy.
"I believe it would create a humanitarian crisis in due course if Palestinian banks are cut off from Israeli correspondence," US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said last month.
Western governments fear Israel's economic policies could destabilize the West Bank.
"The banking system may collapse and therefore the PA may collapse as well," a European diplomatic source in Jerusalem told AFP on condition of anonymity.
"The PA is in a financial crisis and it could collapse before August."
A Palestinian vendor unloads his stock in front of a shop in the main market in Ramallah city in the Israel-occupied West Bank on June 9, 2024. (AFP)
- Digital currency -
Palestinian businessmen say their bottom lines have been hit since October 7.
Imad Rabah, who owns a plastics company, said his net income had fallen 50 percent in one year.
Musa Shamieh, who owns a womenswear company said the Israeli policies were designed to push Palestinians to leave the West Bank.
"They want us to leave our land and they know it will be hard for us to stay if we can't do business," Shamieh said.
Israel's harsh economic policies could eventually drive Palestinian policymakers to pursue sweeping changes to the monetary system.
"We need to work on a plan B when it comes to the trade relations," said Milhem, governor of the PMA, which uses an image of the former Palestinian pound as its logo.
Yousef Daoud, professor at the West Bank's Birzeit University, said the territory could scrap the shekel as its de facto currency in favor of a digital alternative.
"We can make our e-currency, just collect all the shekels, issue an equivalent amount of Palestinian pounds, one-to-one fixed exchange rate, and have the Palestinians deal with e-currency," he said.
"Somehow, eventually, we'll get rid of the shekel."
