Saudi Arabia is constantly moving forward. These days, it is fervently gearing up to chair the G20 Summit in order to fortify its position as a main economic player in the global economy and a state that cannot be ignored in the region.
These preparations coincide with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s comprehensive and transparent speech in which he tackled several political, social and economic issues, going over the facts and laying out achievements, figures and statistics. He stressed that his country is undergoing a qualitative shift in new and promising sectors given its unique cultural heritage and geographic and demographic diversity, all of which allow it to become a global powerhouse of tourism, culture, sports, entertainment and other sectors.
The Crown Prince’s words leave one sensing that a new Saudi Arabia is taking shape, one that can compete strongly with other countries. The state is forging ahead with its reform project and there can be no going back. The only way is forward despite all of the difficulties and obstacles. Indeed the determination and resolve to actualize objectives is palatable. Development and reform are pressing requirements of our times without which we cannot make social and humanitarian progress.
The Crown Prince was remarkably forthright with his people in his treatment of terrorism in the country, saying: “The phenomenon of extremism had been widespread amongst us, and we reached a point where the best of our ambition was to coexist with this scourge. Neutralizing it was not on the table in the first place, nor was controlling it conceivable.”
It is astonishing to think of how strong the Axis of Resistance was and its attempts to drag the country backward at the time. The Crown Prince had pledged to confront extremism and that “in one year, we managed to wipe out an ideological project that had been 40 years in the making. Today, extremism is no longer tolerated in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and it is no longer appears but is shunned, clandestine and marginalized. Nevertheless, we will continue to confront any extremist movements, behaviors and ideas.”
“This is a message that reassures the people and sends a decisive one to the dark forces of extremism and radicalism who closed the country of for decades and destroyed it culturally and intellectually, spreading an ideology of despair, isolation and hatred of all of life’s colors, art and entertainment. They entrenched a dark ideology, killed life and passionately revered death, cultivating fertile ground for extremist movements.”
The Crown Prince rejected any attempt to link Islam to terrorism but also made an important request for “the world to stop attacking national religious symbols under the banner of freedom of expression because this creates a fertile environment for extremism and terrorism.” He is right about that, as this kind of incitement and escalation will lead to the eruption of an ideological war with an extremist bent, reinforcing extremism and religious intolerance.
With regard to the anti-corruption campaign, the Crown Prince admitted that corruption “had spread over the past decades like cancer, and has come to erode 5 to 15 percent of the state’s budget.” A truly terrifying number, indeed he described it as development and prosperity’s primary enemy, stressing that corruption in his country “has become a thing of the past, and will not recur, on any scale, without a strong and painful accountability, from this day forward.”
Observes can feel Saudi society’s involvement in this fierce battle because it realizes the danger of corruption. The Crown Prince’s bold decisions became the talk of the town, and its echoes continue to reverberate across the country. Everyone received the message, for no nation can progress and make strides while corruption devours it from the inside.
He was honest in his recognition of the suffering that Saudi women had endured in the past. Today, however, as the Crown Prince says: “Women are being empowered like never before, especially in education and regarding personal status laws. Saudi women have become real partners in developing the country for all. The rate of women’s participation in the labor market has doubled from 17 to 31 percent.”
Saudi Arabia used to be described as a closed country, but today it is on the path to becoming a modern, civil state. The decision to embark on this project is the most important because it means becoming a modern state, diving into the world of competition and paving the way for future generations. In Saudi Arabia, one finds a state that is more progressive than society, pulling society forward. The contours of change are evident, and those who understand their repercussions know that historic decisions have been taken. Some measures deal with internal issues while others address external matters in such a way that protects our country’s security and its supreme interests.
The Crown Prince also discussed other issues concerning Vision 2030. He demonstrated, with numbers and data, just how successful the Vision’s path has been and that it is a necessity, not propaganda or publicity campaign. This Vision encompasses major projects, economic and social development programs that prepare the Kingdom for the future by enhancing public and private sector performance, transparency and integrity. It propels the country to advanced positions in the global competitiveness index, reducing the unemployment rate, diversifying revenue and increasing the Saudis home-ownership rate. Therefore, we are before genuine and serious transformation and comprehensive reform taking place through a project for cultural change that moves the country to where it deserves to be.
Bold vision, unyielding will, pragmatism, sound decision making and reliability are all critical aspects of the personality of the Crown Prince, who was able to put his country in the spotlight and give it more positive, brighter and more respected features. He came to power at the right time for our country, which is frankly, the right time to take it to a new and much-needed phase.
