167 Government Agencies Look Into Possibilities of Achieving Efficient Spending in Saudi Arabia

167 Government Agencies Look Into Possibilities of Achieving Efficient Spending in Saudi Arabia
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167 Government Agencies Look Into Possibilities of Achieving Efficient Spending in Saudi Arabia

167 Government Agencies Look Into Possibilities of Achieving Efficient Spending in Saudi Arabia

A number of Saudi government agencies have discussed the potential to achieve efficient spending and optimal business mechanisms in the country in accordance with the best local and international practices.

The Center of Spending Efficiency (CSE) held a workshop on Monday in the capital, Riyadh, entitled “Enabling spending efficiency teams in government agencies” to upgrade the government agencies’ capabilities to activate the mechanisms of achieving government spending efficiency.

This step is aimed at keeping pace with the government's aspirations for Saudi Arabia to become a successful model at the level of achieving financial and economic stability in line with the Kingdom's Vision 2030.

Attendees in the workshop, in which leaders and members of spending efficiency achievement teams in 167 government agencies have participated, amounted to 650. All have discussed the capabilities and optimal work mechanisms according to the best local and international practices in order to achieve spending efficiency.

In this context, Deputy Minister for Budget and Organizational Affairs in the Ministry of Finance Yaser al-Quhidan stressed the importance of cooperation among various government agencies to maximize impact against spending and the optimal orientation of government spending.

CEO of the CSE Eng. Abdul Razzag al-Aujan affirmed at the end of the workshop that the initiative is part of the Center’s 2020 plan to support government agencies in achieving spending efficiency targets towards sustainable spending in line with the Kingdom’s vision and aspirations.

On the other hand, the Kingdom’s Ministry of Finance announced that it has stopped receiving requests from investors on its local Sukuk issue for January under the Sukuk Issuance Program in Saudi Riyal.

It noted that the issuance value was determined with a total amount of SAR6.7 billion ($1.7 billion).

It explained that the issuances were divided into two sections: the first amounted to SAR715 million for Sukuk due in 2027, and the second would be six billion Saudi riyals, so its final size would be SAR7.8 billion for Sukuk due in 2030.



Abu Dhabi's XRG Targets Gas, LNG Capacity of 20-25 Million Tons a Year by 2035

Sultan Al Jaber, COP28 President, speaks at the United Nations climate change conference COP29 opening in Baku, Azerbaijan November 11, 2024. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov/File Photo
Sultan Al Jaber, COP28 President, speaks at the United Nations climate change conference COP29 opening in Baku, Azerbaijan November 11, 2024. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov/File Photo
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Abu Dhabi's XRG Targets Gas, LNG Capacity of 20-25 Million Tons a Year by 2035

Sultan Al Jaber, COP28 President, speaks at the United Nations climate change conference COP29 opening in Baku, Azerbaijan November 11, 2024. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov/File Photo
Sultan Al Jaber, COP28 President, speaks at the United Nations climate change conference COP29 opening in Baku, Azerbaijan November 11, 2024. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov/File Photo

XRG, the international investment arm of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), is aiming to have a gas and LNG business with a capacity of between 20 million and 25 million metric tons a year by 2035, the company said in a statement on Tuesday.

XRG was set up last year as an investment company focused on lower-carbon energy, gas and chemicals, with assets of more than $80 billion.

On Tuesday, its board, whose members include former BP CEO Bernard Looney and Blackstone's Jon Gray, approved the capacity target and a new five-year business plan.

Board members also supported the assessment of potential gas acquisitions and LNG opportunities in North America, Reuters reported.

ADNOC's current US investments already sit under XRG, and the oil giant's Chief Executive Sultan Al Jaber said in March that XRG would make a significant investment in US natural gas in coming months.

XRG has also changed the name of its low carbon energies platform to Energy Solutions to reflect the full scope of the company's strategy, including energy demand linked to artificial intelligence and the digital economy, a company spokesperson said on Tuesday.

The board "endorsed the company's ambition to create a top three global chemicals platform," XRG said.

ADNOC had agreed in October to buy German chemicals maker Covestro for 14.7 billion euros ($16.73 billion) including debt. Jaber later said it would sit under XRG.