Manufacturing Industries Best Stimulate Growth of Saudi Private Sector

Cars drive past the King Abdullah Financial District in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, November 12, 2017. REUTERS/Faisal Al Nasser
Cars drive past the King Abdullah Financial District in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, November 12, 2017. REUTERS/Faisal Al Nasser
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Manufacturing Industries Best Stimulate Growth of Saudi Private Sector

Cars drive past the King Abdullah Financial District in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, November 12, 2017. REUTERS/Faisal Al Nasser
Cars drive past the King Abdullah Financial District in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, November 12, 2017. REUTERS/Faisal Al Nasser

A recent detailed expert study revealed that the manufacturing activities in Saudi Arabia were the best stimulator of private sector growth among all other activities that make up the Saudi national economy.
 
The study, prepared by researchers Mona Al-Muhanna Aba Al-Khail and Ahmed Al-Bakr, from the Economic Research Department of the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency, concluded that the manufacturing activity was the most stimulating for growth rates in the private sector, in addition to its role in encouraging other economic activities.
 
This comes amid tangible efforts by the Kingdom to boost the private sector with all its components.

Saudi Arabia is expected to announce an integrated program for the development of the private sector and its involvement in more interactive tasks towards increasing its contribution to the national economy.
 
The study concluded that there was a positive and statistically significant relationship between the real domestic product of the private sector and economic activities, which include a number of manufacturing sectors, electricity, gas and water services, building and construction, wholesale and retail trade, restaurants and hotels, as well as transport and communications (with varying proportions in terms of impact on private sector growth rates).
 
Finance Minister Mohamed Al-Jadaan had underlined, ahead of the issuance of the 2020 budget, the remarkable growth in various economic sectors during 2019, stressing the government’s continued implementation of its strategy to diversify the economic base by creating an appropriate environment for investment in promising sectors.



Moody's Upgrades Saudi Arabia's Credit Rating

Moody's indicated that the rating upgrade and stable outlook are results of the Kingdom's ongoing progress in economic diversification. Reuters
Moody's indicated that the rating upgrade and stable outlook are results of the Kingdom's ongoing progress in economic diversification. Reuters
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Moody's Upgrades Saudi Arabia's Credit Rating

Moody's indicated that the rating upgrade and stable outlook are results of the Kingdom's ongoing progress in economic diversification. Reuters
Moody's indicated that the rating upgrade and stable outlook are results of the Kingdom's ongoing progress in economic diversification. Reuters

The credit rating agency “Moody’s Ratings” upgraded Saudi Arabia’s credit rating to “Aa3” in local and foreign currency, with a “stable” outlook.
The agency indicated in its report that the rating upgrade and stable outlook are results of the Kingdom's ongoing progress in economic diversification and the robust growth of its non-oil sector. Over time, the advancements are expected to reduce Saudi Arabia’s exposure to oil market developments and long-term carbon transition on its economy and public finances.
The agency commended the Kingdom's financial planning within the fiscal space, emphasizing its commitment to prioritizing expenditure and enhancing the spending efficiency. Additionally, the government’s ongoing efforts to utilize available fiscal resources to diversify the economic base through transformative spending were highlighted as instrumental in supporting the sustainable development of the Kingdom's non-oil economy and maintaining a strong fiscal position.
In its report, the agency noted that the planning and commitment underpin its projection of a relatively stable fiscal deficit, which could range between 2%-3% of gross domestic product (GDP).
Moody's expected that the non-oil private-sector GDP of Saudi Arabia will expand by 4-5% in the coming years, positioning it among the highest in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, an indication of continued progress in the diversification efforts reducing the Kingdom’s exposure to oil market developments.
In recent years, the Kingdom achieved multiple credit rating upgrades from global rating agencies. These advancements reflect the Kingdom's ongoing efforts toward economic transformation, supported by structural reforms and the adoption of fiscal policies that promote financial sustainability, enhance financial planning efficiency, and reinforce the Kingdom's strong and resilient fiscal position.