Saudi Housing Ministry Announces Achieving 2017 Targets

The Saudi Housing Ministry and the Real Estate Development Fund announced that it has achieved its 2017 targets. (SPA)
The Saudi Housing Ministry and the Real Estate Development Fund announced that it has achieved its 2017 targets. (SPA)
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Saudi Housing Ministry Announces Achieving 2017 Targets

The Saudi Housing Ministry and the Real Estate Development Fund announced that it has achieved its 2017 targets. (SPA)
The Saudi Housing Ministry and the Real Estate Development Fund announced that it has achieved its 2017 targets. (SPA)

The Saudi Housing Ministry and the Real Estate Development Fund announced on Saturday achieving 2017 targets on providing over 280,000 housing and financing products to Saudi families across the kingdom.

In a statement, the ministry announced on Saturday 36,798 housing and financing products as part of the 11th and the last batch of “Sakani” (My Housing) program for 2017.

The 36,798 residential and financing products include 24,207 housing units via sale on the map program, 4,591 free land plots and 8,000 backed financing.

The goal was set up by the national residential program launched in mid-January.

Among the 2017 objectives was having 120,000 housing units made ready for residence and the offering of 75,000 free land plots for construction.

More so, 85,000 funds were provided by the national fund for real estate development through banks and financial institutions, while the ministry revealed details of the second phase of the national initiative for 2018.

The program aspires to serve a greater number of citizens.

Mohamed Al-Bati, CEO of the national housing company, pointed out that achieving the 2017 goals drives the Housing Ministry to expand its services to citizens.

He positively recounted the active partnership with the private sector partook in with real-estate developers.

He also pointed out that these partnerships with real estate developers serving the national economy have resulted in realizing several projects, including the construction of thousands of housing units—a progress which empowered Saudi families and raised the percentage of housing ownership.

Bati pointed out that there is a clear plan and details to be announced on all future housing programs.

He pointed out that there were royal directives issued on a package of incentives.

Speaking on involving the private sector with the national housing projects, Bati said it stimulates real estate competition and results in producing many housing units at different rates.



World Bank Raises China's GDP Forecast for 2024, 2025

World Bank Raises China's GDP Forecast for 2024, 2025
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World Bank Raises China's GDP Forecast for 2024, 2025

World Bank Raises China's GDP Forecast for 2024, 2025

The World Bank raised on Thursday its forecast for China's economic growth in 2024 and 2025, but warned that subdued household and business confidence, along with headwinds in the property sector, would keep weighing it down next year.
The world's second-biggest economy has struggled this year, mainly due to a property crisis and tepid domestic demand. An expected hike in US tariffs on its goods when US President-elect Donald Trump takes office in January may also hit growth.
"Addressing challenges in the property sector, strengthening social safety nets, and improving local government finances will be essential to unlocking a sustained recovery," Mara Warwick, the World Bank's country director for China, said.
"It is important to balance short-term support to growth with long-term structural reforms," she added in a statement.
Thanks to the effect of recent policy easing and near-term export strength, the World Bank sees China's gross domestic product growth at 4.9% this year, up from its June forecast of 4.8%.
Beijing set a growth target of "around 5%" this year, a goal it says it is confident of achieving.
Although growth for 2025 is also expected to fall to 4.5%, that is still higher than the World Bank's earlier forecast of 4.1%.
Slower household income growth and the negative wealth effect from lower home prices are expected to weigh on consumption into 2025, the Bank added.
To revive growth, Chinese authorities have agreed to issue a record 3 trillion yuan ($411 billion) in special treasury bonds next year, Reuters reported this week.
The figures will not be officially unveiled until the annual meeting of China's parliament, the National People's Congress, in March 2025, and could still change before then.
While the housing regulator will continue efforts to stem further declines in China's real estate market next year, the World Bank said a turnaround in the sector was not anticipated until late 2025.
China's middle class has expanded significantly since the 2010s, encompassing 32% of the population in 2021, but World Bank estimates suggest about 55% remain "economically insecure", underscoring the need to generate opportunities.