Saudi Finance Minister: Major Focus on Enhancing Services Provided for Citizens

 Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed al-Jadaan, right, Minister of Economy and Planning Mohammed al-Tuwaijri, centre, and Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency (SAMA) Governor Ahmed al-Khulaifi take part in a press conference during which officials announced the state budget for 2018. AFP/Fayez Nureldine
Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed al-Jadaan, right, Minister of Economy and Planning Mohammed al-Tuwaijri, centre, and Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency (SAMA) Governor Ahmed al-Khulaifi take part in a press conference during which officials announced the state budget for 2018. AFP/Fayez Nureldine
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Saudi Finance Minister: Major Focus on Enhancing Services Provided for Citizens

 Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed al-Jadaan, right, Minister of Economy and Planning Mohammed al-Tuwaijri, centre, and Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency (SAMA) Governor Ahmed al-Khulaifi take part in a press conference during which officials announced the state budget for 2018. AFP/Fayez Nureldine
Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed al-Jadaan, right, Minister of Economy and Planning Mohammed al-Tuwaijri, centre, and Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency (SAMA) Governor Ahmed al-Khulaifi take part in a press conference during which officials announced the state budget for 2018. AFP/Fayez Nureldine

Minister of Finance Mohammed al-Jadaan has affirmed that the guidelines of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the Crown Prince were clear in urging the enhancement of services provided to citizens in all regions with no exceptions.

In a news conference on Tuesday in Riyadh following announcing the state budget 2018, Jadaan said that state budget of 2018 is significant because on top of its priority are the services provided to citizens.

“What matters to the citizen are achievements. For example, this year up to 70,000 housing units were allocated and distributed. Also 150,000 houses were distributed, and 2 thousand km of roads were inaugurated in the kingdom,” he added.

Minister of Economy and Planning Mohammed al-Tuwaijri stated that eliminating unemployment would be a major focus in any program launched by the government, affirming dedication to achieve what has been promoted in Saudi Vision 2030 to decline unemployment rate to seven percent. The kingdom is in the first third of Saudi Vision 2030 implementation, Tuwaijri added, expressing optimism in the results to come.

“Nine programs will be launched in the first quarter of 2018 of specific economic goals in growth, jobs, improvement of payments balance and enhancement of financial balance program,” he continued.

Governor of the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency (SAMA) Ahmed al-Khilaifi said that “Within 30 years Saudi Arabia would have a financial stability, and inflation wouldn’t exceed 3 percent with the support of strong monetary reserves surplussing SAR1.8 trillion (USD480 billion), covering 40 months of imports"



Kuwait Includes 8 Lebanese Hospitals on 'Terror' List

Kuwait indicated that it had listed eight hospitals in Lebanon as part of regulations related to "combating terrorism.” KUNA
Kuwait indicated that it had listed eight hospitals in Lebanon as part of regulations related to "combating terrorism.” KUNA
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Kuwait Includes 8 Lebanese Hospitals on 'Terror' List

Kuwait indicated that it had listed eight hospitals in Lebanon as part of regulations related to "combating terrorism.” KUNA
Kuwait indicated that it had listed eight hospitals in Lebanon as part of regulations related to "combating terrorism.” KUNA

Kuwait's foreign ministry issued on Sunday a circular indicating that it had listed eight hospitals in Lebanon as part of regulations related to "combating terrorism.”

Lebanon's health ministry expressed surprise and said it would seek clarification.

It said it received the Kuwaiti statement "with great surprise", adding it had not been provided with "any information or notification from any Kuwaiti entity about this matter.”

"The hospitals mentioned in the statement are registered with the syndicate of private hospitals in Lebanon and carry out their role in providing treatment and health services to all Lebanese without exception," the ministry statement said.

It called the facilities "an essential part of the Lebanese health system,” and said it would contact the relevant authorities to request clarification and "protect Lebanon's health system.”

It noted that "Kuwait has numerous joint projects with the ministry... and has been among the most prominent countries that have stood by the health system during the successive crises that Lebanon has faced.”

The latest move was "unprecedented and inconsistent" with the Gulf country's usual approach, it added.


Saudi and Guatemalan FMs Discuss Bilateral Ties

The Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs met on Sunday with his Guatemalan counterpart in Riyadh. SPA
The Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs met on Sunday with his Guatemalan counterpart in Riyadh. SPA
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Saudi and Guatemalan FMs Discuss Bilateral Ties

The Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs met on Sunday with his Guatemalan counterpart in Riyadh. SPA
The Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs met on Sunday with his Guatemalan counterpart in Riyadh. SPA

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah met on Sunday with his Guatemalan counterpart Carlos Ramiro Martínez in Riyadh.

During the meeting, they reviewed bilateral relations and discussed developments of mutual interest.


Faisal bin Farhan, Barrack Discuss Developments in Syria

The Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince met on Sunday with the US Special Envoy for Syria in Riyadh.(SPA)
The Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince met on Sunday with the US Special Envoy for Syria in Riyadh.(SPA)
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Faisal bin Farhan, Barrack Discuss Developments in Syria

The Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince met on Sunday with the US Special Envoy for Syria in Riyadh.(SPA)
The Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince met on Sunday with the US Special Envoy for Syria in Riyadh.(SPA)

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah met on Sunday with US Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack in Riyadh.

During the meeting, they reviewed developments in Syria.