Saudi Shura Council Calls for Govt Expenditure Efficiency Index

Ongoing works at Masar - one of the most qualitative development projects in Makkah. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Ongoing works at Masar - one of the most qualitative development projects in Makkah. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Shura Council Calls for Govt Expenditure Efficiency Index

Ongoing works at Masar - one of the most qualitative development projects in Makkah. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Ongoing works at Masar - one of the most qualitative development projects in Makkah. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Saudi Shura Council asked the Expenditure Efficiency and Projects Authority to work with the National Center for Performance Measurement (Adaa) to study the inclusion of the Expenditure Efficiency Index within the government entity’s performance indicators.

During its 24th regular session on Monday, the Council asked the authority to prepare an integrated study in order to identify all gaps and ensure efficient government spending in all projects.

Speaker Dr. Abdullah Al-Sheikh chaired the session during which the members discussed the recommendations presented by the Council’s financial committee.

In this regard, Shura Council member, Eng. Ali Al-Qarni, told Asharq Al-Awsat that the new move aimed at improving the effectiveness of expenditures in the government to achieve the objectives of the financial budget through the optimal use of state resources.

He added that this step would help attain the best service and the highest quality in return for the generous spending provided by the government.

According to Al-Qarni, achieving expenditure efficiency was one of the important strategic pillars to reach financial balance through a body that works to supervise and support government agencies to enable them to develop their initiatives and remove obstacles hindering their implementation.

The body will also propose the necessary legislation, tools, regulations and frameworks to ensure sustainability through practical strategies and methodologies according to the best international practices.

Achieving spending efficiency will have an economic and developmental impact on government spending especially in government and technology procurement, digital transformation and the initiatives of Vision 2030, the Shura Council member said.



Oil Slips on Sverdrup Field Restart, Geopolitical Fears Support

FILE PHOTO: Oil pump jacks are seen at the Vaca Muerta shale oil and gas deposit in the Patagonian province of Neuquen, Argentina, January 21, 2019.  REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Oil pump jacks are seen at the Vaca Muerta shale oil and gas deposit in the Patagonian province of Neuquen, Argentina, January 21, 2019. REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian/File Photo
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Oil Slips on Sverdrup Field Restart, Geopolitical Fears Support

FILE PHOTO: Oil pump jacks are seen at the Vaca Muerta shale oil and gas deposit in the Patagonian province of Neuquen, Argentina, January 21, 2019.  REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Oil pump jacks are seen at the Vaca Muerta shale oil and gas deposit in the Patagonian province of Neuquen, Argentina, January 21, 2019. REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian/File Photo

Oil slipped on Tuesday pressured by the restart of production at Norway's Johan Sverdrup oilfield, although investor caution arising from fears of an escalation in the Russia-Ukraine war limited the decline.
Equinor has resumed partial production from the oilfield, Western Europe's largest, following a power outage. An outage at the North Sea field helped prices to climb by over 3% on Monday, Reuters reported.
Brent crude futures were down 45 cents, or 0.6%, to $72.85 a barrel by 0915 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate crude futures slipped by 46 cents, or 0.7%, to $68.70.
"I guess the partial restart of the Sverdrup field is the driver of the setback, as well as a slightly stronger US dollar," said Giovanni Staunovo, analyst at UBS.
The US dollar edged up on Tuesday to within striking distance of its one-year high. A strong dollar makes commodities like oil more expensive for other currency holders and tends to weigh on prices.
Another continuing outage provided support. Kazakhstan's biggest oilfield, Tengiz, has reduced oil output by 28% to 30% for repairs which are expected to be completed by Saturday, the country's energy ministry said.
A rise in geopolitical tensions also supported prices.
In a significant reversal of policy, US President Joe Biden's administration allowed Ukraine to use the U.S.-made weapons to strike deep into Russia, two US officials and a source familiar with the decision said on Sunday.
The Kremlin said on Monday that Russia would respond to what it called a reckless decision by the Biden administration, having previously warned that such a decision would raise the risk of a confrontation with the US-led NATO alliance.
Investors are wary, said Toshitaka Tazawa, an analyst at Fujitomi Securities, as they are "assessing the direction of the Russia-Ukraine war after the weekend's escalation".
While oil's outright price has found support this week, the market structure has weakened. US crude flipped to contango for the first time since February on Monday in a sign that supply tightness was easing.