Saudi Arabia, Russia Stress Commitment to OPEC+ Decision on Oil Output Cuts

Saudi Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman meets with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak in Riyadh. SPA
Saudi Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman meets with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak in Riyadh. SPA
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Saudi Arabia, Russia Stress Commitment to OPEC+ Decision on Oil Output Cuts

Saudi Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman meets with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak in Riyadh. SPA
Saudi Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman meets with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak in Riyadh. SPA

Saudi Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman met in Riyadh on Thursday with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak who is visiting the Kingdom, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

They discussed global oil markets and the efforts of OPEC+ to promote market stability, SPA said.

They also stressed their countries’ commitment to the decision made by OPEC+ last October to reduce oil production by 2 million b/d until the end of 2023, and continuing Saudi-Russian cooperation within the OPEC+ framework to enhance global oil market stability.

The Saudi Energy Minister and the Russian Deputy PM discussed the preparations for the next meeting of the Joint Saudi-Russian Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, and Technical Cooperation, SPA said.

They also discussed ways of developing and strengthening Saudi-Russian relations in serving the interests of both countries within the scope of the committee’s work, the news agency added.



Saudi Finance Minister: 2025 Budget Aims to Continue Expanding Strategic Spending

Al-Jadaan speaking at the press conference (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Al-Jadaan speaking at the press conference (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Finance Minister: 2025 Budget Aims to Continue Expanding Strategic Spending

Al-Jadaan speaking at the press conference (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Al-Jadaan speaking at the press conference (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan outlined the objectives of the 2025 budget, emphasizing a continued focus on strategic spending for developmental projects aligned with sectoral strategies and Vision 2030 programs.
He added that the budget aims to support initiatives that deliver sustainable economic, social, and environmental benefits, while enhancing the business environment, improving the Kingdom’s trade balance, and increasing both the volume and quality of local and foreign investments.
Speaking at a press conference following the Cabinet’s approval of the budget, Al-Jadaan highlighted the government’s commitment to expansionary spending due to its positive impact on citizens. He noted that Saudi Arabia’s economy has become more resilient to fluctuations in oil markets, reflecting ongoing structural changes.
The non-oil economy is projected to grow by 3.7% by the end of 2024, he said, with non-oil activities contributing 52% to GDP during the first half of the current year.
The minister also revealed that since the launch of Vision 2030, non-oil revenues have increased by 154%. Oil’s share of GDP currently stands at 28%, and the nominal GDP has reached SAR 4.1 trillion, he remarked.

Moreover, Al-Jadaan said that private investment’s contribution to GDP has grown from 16% in 2016 to 24.7% today. The industrial sector is set to attract SAR 30 billion ($8 billion) in investments in 2025, alongside SAR 12.3 billion ($3.2 billion) in credit facilities to support Saudi exporters. Tourism has also emerged as a significant driver of economic growth, ranking as the second-largest contributor to the balance of payments after oil.
The Saudi minister emphasized the encouraging economic indicators, noting the surge in small and medium-sized enterprises driven by government spending. He reiterated the government’s cautious and conservative approach to budget preparation, reflected in revenue figures.
Structural changes in the Kingdom’s economy are beginning to yield tangible results, with a 33% increase in spending on strategies and programs aimed at achieving Vision 2030, according to Al-Jadaan. These efforts are expected to sustain economic growth, foster diversification, and further strengthen the Kingdom’s global economic standing, he stated.