GCC Statistical Center Praises Saudi Arabia's Achievements on 94th National Day

Saudi Arabia lends great support to its non-oil sectors, as part of its economic diversification plan, with non-oil activities contributing 68.4% to the GDP in 2023. (Photo by SPA)
Saudi Arabia lends great support to its non-oil sectors, as part of its economic diversification plan, with non-oil activities contributing 68.4% to the GDP in 2023. (Photo by SPA)
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GCC Statistical Center Praises Saudi Arabia's Achievements on 94th National Day

Saudi Arabia lends great support to its non-oil sectors, as part of its economic diversification plan, with non-oil activities contributing 68.4% to the GDP in 2023. (Photo by SPA)
Saudi Arabia lends great support to its non-oil sectors, as part of its economic diversification plan, with non-oil activities contributing 68.4% to the GDP in 2023. (Photo by SPA)

The Gulf Cooperation Council Statistical Center praised the remarkable achievements made throughout Saudi Arabia during its 94-year journey, highlighting key statistics in various economic, social, and international competitiveness fields.
In recent years, Saudi Arabia has continued to make significant strides in development, aiming to build a prosperous and sustainable economic foundation by capitalizing on its abundant opportunities and resources. This progress has placed it among the world's most advanced countries, in line with its leadership's aspirations, SPA reported.
Saudi Arabia lends great support to its non-oil sectors, as part of its economic diversification plan, with non-oil activities contributing 68.4% to the GDP in 2023.
Commercial banks assets grew to $1 trillion in 2023, compared to $965.6 billion in 2022, marking a growth rate of 9.3%. Furthermore, the market value of the Saudi stock exchange reached $3 trillion in 2023.
The education sector has also witnessed significant development, at all levels. The number of school students increased to 6.1 million during the 2022/2023 scholastic year, compared to 5.8 million students in the 2018/2019 academic year, marking a growth rate of 5.3%.
The Saudi Vision 2030 has focused on developing the tourism sector, as part of its economic diversification program, given its potential for diversifying the sources of income and creating jobs. In 2023, 30.1 million people visited Saudi Arabia, compared to 18.3 million in 2022, a growth rate of 65%. Visitor spending in the Kingdom amounted to $40.6 billion in 2023, up from $29.7 billion in 2022, representing a 36.6% increase.
Saudi Arabia is also improving its global competitiveness, as evidenced by its top rankings in several international reports. These include first place in several indicators, such as the Global Cybersecurity Index, the Internet Users Index, the Long-Term Unemployment Growth Index, the Social Cohesion Index, and the Long-Term Labor Market Growth Index, according to the World Competitiveness Yearbook 2024.
In entrepreneurship, Saudi Arabia ranked first globally in several indicators, including ease of starting a business and the availability of good opportunities to start a business, according to the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor 2023/2024 Global Report.



Riyadh Hosts Saudi-Egyptian Industrial Forum

Officials are seen at the forum on Monday. (SPA)
Officials are seen at the forum on Monday. (SPA)
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Riyadh Hosts Saudi-Egyptian Industrial Forum

Officials are seen at the forum on Monday. (SPA)
Officials are seen at the forum on Monday. (SPA)

The Saudi-Egyptian Industrial Forum kicked off in Riyadh on Monday under the patronage of Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef. The forum aims to bolster strategic industrial cooperation and integration between the two countries.

Organized by the Federation of Saudi Chambers of Commerce in collaboration with the Federation of Egyptian Industries, the forum witnessed the participation of Deputy Minister for Industrial Affairs Eng. Khalil bin Salamah, Saudi Export Development Authority CEO Abdulrahman Althukair, and 300 prominent Saudi and Egyptian industry leaders and investors.

Bin Salamah underscored the significance of strengthening economic cooperation and industrial integration between Saudi Arabia and Egypt. He advocated for enhanced industrial partnerships within five priority sectors identified in the Kingdom's National Industrial Strategy: pharmaceuticals, automotive, building materials, textiles, and food industries.

He highlighted the evolving strategic integration between the two countries across initiatives like "Saudi Made,Future Factories," and "Made in Egypt," as well as in the broader goods and services sector. Bin Salamah urged Egyptian industrialists to capitalize on the industrial investment opportunities available in the Kingdom, citing its ambitious plans to establish 24,000 new factories over the next decade.

Federation of Saudi Chambers of Commerce Chairman Hassan Alhwaizy hailed the forum as a crucial milestone in Saudi-Egyptian industrial collaboration, emphasizing the strategic partnership underpinning their economic relations, particularly in the industrial sector.

Federation of Egyptian Industries Chairman Mohamed El-Sewedy stated that current global challenges are accelerating the need for industrial integration between the two countries, strengthening their partnership to tap into the African market's potential.

Saudi-Egyptian Business Council Chairman Bandar Al-Ameri highlighted the substantial growth in trade exchange between Saudi Arabia and Egypt in recent years, fueled by developing economic partnerships between their respective business communities. He emphasized that signing the agreement to protect and encourage mutual investments represents a strategic achievement serving their shared interests.