Saudi Government Calls for Private Sector Involvement to Enhance Vision 2030 Reports

King Abdullah Financial Center in Riyadh (Asharq Al-Awsat)
King Abdullah Financial Center in Riyadh (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Government Calls for Private Sector Involvement to Enhance Vision 2030 Reports

King Abdullah Financial Center in Riyadh (Asharq Al-Awsat)
King Abdullah Financial Center in Riyadh (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Saudi government has directed greater private sector involvement in shaping the content of Vision 2030 communications and reports, according to sources who spoke to Asharq Al-Awsat. The goal is to amplify the impact of the annual Vision 2030 reports by making them more comprehensive and directly relevant to the business community.

The Strategic Management Office in the Saudi Royal Court has invited private sector stakeholders to review the annual Vision 2030 report to raise awareness of governmental achievements. Businesses are encouraged to provide feedback to ensure that future reports are more impactful and valuable for their audience.

The initiative aims to gather feedback on whether the current report format effectively delivers information relevant to the business sector. It also seeks input on the balance between general achievements and sector-specific details, as well as insights on the report’s accessibility and usefulness to business audiences.

According to the sources, the government is also evaluating the level of transparency in the report, particularly in showcasing progress and achievements. Stakeholders are being asked to suggest areas of focus for future editions to make the reports more comprehensive and relevant to their needs.

Additional proposals include enhancing collaboration between the Vision 2030 communications team and Saudi chambers of commerce to better report on progress and achievements to the private sector. Furthermore, the government is exploring the inclusion of practical success stories from businesses that have played a role in achieving Vision 2030 goals.

Since its inception, Vision 2030 has worked to identify and address challenges facing businesses. Significant reforms have been implemented to remove barriers, ensuring the private sector can fulfill its vital role in driving economic growth.

Efforts have included reforms to streamline the business environment, enhance the quality and efficiency of government services, and digitize processes. Additionally, numerous programs, initiatives, funding platforms, and business incubators and accelerators have been launched to support the private sector.

The Vision 2030 annual report for 2023 highlighted strong program performance, with 87% of the year’s 1,064 initiatives either completed or on track. Among the 243 key performance indicators (KPIs) identified, 81% of third-level KPIs met their targets, while 105 exceeded future targets set for 2024–2025.

The report also noted that non-oil gross domestic product (GDP) reached SAR 1.889 trillion, compared to a baseline of SAR 1.519 trillion. The 2023 target was SAR 1.934 trillion, with the ultimate Vision 2030 target set at SAR 4.97 trillion.

Private sector contributions to GDP increased to 45%, meeting the 2023 target and surpassing the baseline of 40.3%. The long-term Vision 2030 target is 65%.



Indian Refiners Avoid Russian Oil in Push for US Trade Deal

An employee walks inside the premises of an oil refinery of Essar Oil in Vadinar in the western state of Gujarat, India, October 4, 2016. REUTERS/Amit Dave/File Photo
An employee walks inside the premises of an oil refinery of Essar Oil in Vadinar in the western state of Gujarat, India, October 4, 2016. REUTERS/Amit Dave/File Photo
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Indian Refiners Avoid Russian Oil in Push for US Trade Deal

An employee walks inside the premises of an oil refinery of Essar Oil in Vadinar in the western state of Gujarat, India, October 4, 2016. REUTERS/Amit Dave/File Photo
An employee walks inside the premises of an oil refinery of Essar Oil in Vadinar in the western state of Gujarat, India, October 4, 2016. REUTERS/Amit Dave/File Photo

Indian refiners are avoiding Russian oil purchases for delivery in April and are expected to stay away from such trades for longer, refining and trade sources said, a move that could help New Delhi seal a trade pact with Washington, according to Reuters.

The US and India moved closer to a trade pact on Friday, announcing a framework for a deal they hope to conclude by March that would lower tariffs and deepen economic cooperation.

Indian Oil, Bharat Petroleum and Reliance Industries are not accepting offers from traders for Russian oil loading in March and April, said a trader who approached the refiners.

These refiners, however, had already scheduled some deliveries of Russian oil in March, refining sources said. Most other refiners have stopped buying Russian crude.

A foreign ministry spokesperson said: “Diversifying our energy sourcing in keeping with objective market conditions and evolving international dynamics is at the core of our strategy” to ensure energy security for the world's most-populous nation.

Although a US-India statement on the trade framework did not mention Russian oil, President Donald Trump rescinded his 25% tariffs on Indian goods, imposed over Russian oil purchases, because, he said, New Delhi had “committed to stop directly or indirectly” importing Russian oil.

New Delhi has not announced plans to halt Russian oil imports.

India became the top buyer of discounted Russian seaborne crude after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, spurring a backlash from Western nations that had targeted Russia's energy sector with sanctions aimed at curtailing Moscow's revenue and making it harder to fund the war.

One regular Indian buyer is Russia-backed private refiner Nayara, which relies solely on Russian oil for its 400,000-barrel-per-day refinery. Sources said Nayara may be allowed to keep buying Russian oil because other crude sellers pulled back after the European Union sanctioned the refiner in July.

Nayara also does not plan to import Russian crude in April due to a month-long refinery maintenance shutdown, a source familiar with its operations said.

Nayara did not respond to an email seeking comment.

Indian refiners may change their plan and place orders for Russian oil only if advised by the government, sources said.

Trump's order said US officials would monitor and recommend reinstating the tariffs if India resumed oil procurement from Russia.

Sources said last month that India was preparing to cut Russian oil imports below 1 million bpd by March, with volumes eventually falling to 500,000–600,000 bpd, compared with an average 1.7 million bpd last year. India's Russian oil imports topped 2 million bpd in mid-2025.

The intake of Russian oil by India, the world's third-biggest oil consumer and importer, declined to its lowest level in two years in December, data from trade and industry sources show.

 


IMF and Arab Monetary Fund Sign MoU to Enhance Cooperation

The MoU was signed by IMF Managing Director Dr. Kristalina Georgieva and AMF Director General Dr. Fahad Alturki - SPA
The MoU was signed by IMF Managing Director Dr. Kristalina Georgieva and AMF Director General Dr. Fahad Alturki - SPA
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IMF and Arab Monetary Fund Sign MoU to Enhance Cooperation

The MoU was signed by IMF Managing Director Dr. Kristalina Georgieva and AMF Director General Dr. Fahad Alturki - SPA
The MoU was signed by IMF Managing Director Dr. Kristalina Georgieva and AMF Director General Dr. Fahad Alturki - SPA

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Arab Monetary Fund (AMF) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the sidelines of the AlUla Conference on Emerging Market Economies (EME) to enhance cooperation between the two institutions.

The MoU was signed by IMF Managing Director Dr. Kristalina Georgieva and AMF Director General Dr. Fahad Alturki, SPA reported.

The agreement aims to strengthen coordination in economic and financial policy areas, including surveillance and lending activities, data and analytical exchange, capacity building, and the provision of technical assistance, in support of regional financial and economic stability.

Both sides affirmed that the MoU represents an important step toward deepening their strategic partnership and strengthening the regional financial safety net, serving member countries and enhancing their ability to address economic challenges.


Saudi Chambers Federation Announces First Saudi-Kuwaiti Business Council

File photo of the Saudi flag/AAWSAT
File photo of the Saudi flag/AAWSAT
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Saudi Chambers Federation Announces First Saudi-Kuwaiti Business Council

File photo of the Saudi flag/AAWSAT
File photo of the Saudi flag/AAWSAT

The Federation of Saudi Chambers announced the formation of the first joint Saudi-Kuwaiti Business Council for its inaugural term (1447–1451 AH) and the election of Salman bin Hassan Al-Oqayel as its chairman.

Al-Oqayel said the council’s formation marks a pivotal milestone in economic relations between Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, reflecting a practical approach to enabling the business sectors in both countries to capitalize on promising investment opportunities and strengthen bilateral trade and investment partnerships, SPA reported.

He noted that trade between Saudi Arabia and Kuwait reached approximately SAR9.5 billion by the end of November 2025, including SAR8 billion in Saudi exports and SAR1.5 billion in Kuwaiti imports.