Jadaan: Saudi Arabia Seeks to Empower Private Sector, Restore Economic Vitality

 Saudi Minister of Finance Mohammad Al-Jadaan speaks at a press conference after the Saudi Cabinet approved the 2021 budget (Asharq Al-Awsat).
Saudi Minister of Finance Mohammad Al-Jadaan speaks at a press conference after the Saudi Cabinet approved the 2021 budget (Asharq Al-Awsat).
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Jadaan: Saudi Arabia Seeks to Empower Private Sector, Restore Economic Vitality

 Saudi Minister of Finance Mohammad Al-Jadaan speaks at a press conference after the Saudi Cabinet approved the 2021 budget (Asharq Al-Awsat).
Saudi Minister of Finance Mohammad Al-Jadaan speaks at a press conference after the Saudi Cabinet approved the 2021 budget (Asharq Al-Awsat).

Saudi Minister of Finance Mohammad Al-Jadaan said his government was seeking to empower the private sector and to provide it with new opportunities. He also pointed to a positive rebound with the resumption of economic activities.

Speaking at an annual conference of the State’s public budget, Jadaan, who is currently appointed Minister of Economy and Planning, noted that the industrial sector has lost a number of jobs during the pandemic, but added that a significant improvement was expected in the labor market in the post-Covid-19 phase, in parallel with an increase in job opportunities

In response to a question by Asharq Al-Awsat, the Saudi minister said that the current year would end with an inflation of 3.7 percent, adding that the rate would return to normal levels of 2 percent over the next two years.

The Minister of Finance emphasized that the government’s strategy was very clear in supporting and empowering the private sector. He stressed that the government did not intend to compete with the private sector, but rather to open the way for boosting its investments.

Jadaan added that Saudi Arabia’s achievements in recent years through Vision 2030 have helped to deal with the pandemic with high efficiency, pointing in this regard to the investments in digital infrastructure.

Regarding privatization projects, the minister said that those had a set of goals, including raising the quality of the services provided and increasing the private sector’s contribution to the economy, in addition to reducing government costs.

The Minister of Finance emphasized the Kingdom’s keenness to improve the citizens’ income and expand the economic base to create more jobs and investment opportunities for young men and women.

When the basic priorities are achieved, the citizen’s income will be the main focus of concern, he remarked.



Saudi EXIM Hosts Global Risk Experts Meeting in Riyadh

The event gathered specialists from 47 organizations from 33 countries; it served as a platform for discussing strategies, partnerships, and innovative solutions. - SPA
The event gathered specialists from 47 organizations from 33 countries; it served as a platform for discussing strategies, partnerships, and innovative solutions. - SPA
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Saudi EXIM Hosts Global Risk Experts Meeting in Riyadh

The event gathered specialists from 47 organizations from 33 countries; it served as a platform for discussing strategies, partnerships, and innovative solutions. - SPA
The event gathered specialists from 47 organizations from 33 countries; it served as a platform for discussing strategies, partnerships, and innovative solutions. - SPA

The Saudi Export-Import Bank (Saudi EXIM) hosted the Berne Union's Country Risk Specialist Meeting, providing a platform for experts and thought leaders in risk management from the export credit community.
At the meeting, which took place from November 19 to 21 in Riyadh, the attendees exchanged best practices to better protect the industry amid shifting global dynamics.
According to a statement issued by the Saudi EXIM on Saturday, the event gathered specialists from 47 organizations from 33 countries; it served as a platform for discussing strategies, partnerships, and innovative solutions.
By strengthening institutional resilience, the industry is ready to turn global economic challenges into opportunities for economic prosperity, said the statement, adding that it played a crucial role in advancing global trade, strengthening international cooperation, and developing credit solutions that empower export activities while controlling risk, SPA reported.
According to the statement, discussions centered on critical risks impacting international trade and the global economy, such as debt sustainability and geopolitical tensions, along with innovative approaches to risk modelling. Participants also explored the global shifts in infrastructure, energy and critical minerals sectors, and were given an overview of Saudi Arabia's National Industrial Strategy, which focuses on economic diversification through investments, developing new sectors, and promoting local industries.
In his opening remarks, Saudi EXIM CEO Eng. Saad bin Abdulaziz Al-Khalb said the meeting is an ideal platform to address risks impacting global economic decision making.
He stated: "Through such meetings, we can turn challenges into strategic opportunities and enhance our resilience in an ever-changing world. At Saudi EXIM, we remain committed to enabling companies by offering expert financial and non-financial solutions to navigate risks effectively."
He also said that "at Saudi EXIM, we place great emphasis on risk management. In alignment with the main objective of this meeting, I am pleased to announce the completion of our independent country risk model, which is supported by advanced modelling tools and machine learning. This model will provide country ratings and predictions of default risks. We look forward to collaborating with our partners in other export credit agencies to exchange knowledge and expertise, and to strengthening our risk management functions with greater responsibility and effectiveness."
Associate Director at Berne Union Eve Hall said: "The global risk landscape today is highly volatile and highly interconnected. As we navigate our way around the ongoing transformations connected to energy transition and shifting industrial strategies, the traditional concept of 'country risk' is becoming increasingly complex. Our industry excels at understanding, quantifying and pricing these risks, and by bringing together this community of experts for technical exchange the Berne Union is able to help support the development of the industry as a whole. The initiatives announced by our colleagues at Saudi EXIM, making use of new technology in risk analysis, provide a fantastic example of where collaboration in this field can be effectively applied."
The statement disclosed that Saudi EXIM's membership in Berne represents a significant strategic step, and is consistent with the Kingdom's commitment to expanding collaboration and integration in the global economy.
This is achieved by building partnerships with leading institutions to address the challenges facing the export credit sector. It also aligns with the bank's goal of developing the export of national products and services through partnerships with national and international financial and funding organizations.
Berne Union works with global trade organizations to encourage the adoption of best practices in export credit insurance, and to cooperate in maintaining the stability of global trade.
Saudi EXIM, a development bank under the National Development Fund, contributes to diversifying the Kingdom's economic base by improving the efficiency of non-oil export ecosystems, bridging financial gaps, and minimizing export risks. This plays a role in helping the non-oil national economy grow, in line with Vision 2030.