Saudis draw up plan for 2020
This marks the continued qualitative shift by the Saudi administration to have a developmental approach that is inclusive, transparent and accountable to all stakeholders in society.
Prince Mohammed bin Salman, deputy crown prince, defense minister, and chairman of the Council for Economic and Development Affairs, was at the helm of the initiative; urging business leaders to have an honest discussion with ministers, and pledging to hold them accountable to the people.
Saudis know and understand that under the firm leadership of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, ministers are not political appointees but rather technocrats with skills that must be used to serve their country.
This is important because Saudi Arabia is facing significant challenges, particularly on the economic front because of the decline in oil prices, which forms the main income for the country’s fiscus. Reducing this reliance on oil revenue has been spoken about for a while, but with little change happening.
In addition, there are new geopolitical realities to consider because of various wars and conflicts in the region, including the expansionist threats posed by some nations.
It is no secret that Saudi Arabia has a major budget deficit this year, but Prince Mohammed stated that the government has no interest in using up its considerable reserves, and has preferred issuing bonds to raise funds.
Most importantly, there’s a need to generate new income for the state, which requires a new management approach, restructuring and privatization, particularly in the water and electricity sectors that are most important for low and middle income families.
Such measures, coupled with a strong political will and clear future vision, would provide a considerable boost to the economy by doubling the country’s Gross Domestic Product, and creating six million jobs by 2030.
These reforms can only be achieved by ensuring complete transparency in terms of economic planning. The people would be ready to accept and live with difficult decisions once they realize that it serves the interests of current and future generations.
The national transformation project is not limited to the economy, rather it is an initiative that includes comprehensive social and education reforms. This means a move by the state to enshrine social justice, and citizenship based on various rights and obligations.
I was part of a session attended by Justice Minister Dr. Walid Al-Samani, where there was a discussion on his ministry’s plans. One woman attendee complained to the minister about the manner in which a judge had treated her and others.
The minister responded by saying that no one was above the law, and that violators would be punished. Even members of the Supreme Judicial Council can be dismissed if they are found guilty of wrongdoing, he said. This interaction between a minister and citizen, once difficult in the past, is now commonplace.
The other developments that must be factored into any discussion on the country’s future are the two strategic projects that have been initiated under this government. The first is Operation Decisive Storm that sought to restore Arab prestige by returning control of a neighboring country to its people from the hands of a regional power.
The second is the 34-nation Islamic alliance aimed at combating terror groups across the region and the world. This initiative has taken the world by surprise and was an attempt to show that Muslims are the main victims of terrorist groups, who do not operate in their name.
All these domestic and foreign policy initiatives show that the country is moving toward a new phase in its history. There will be challenges but these can be overcome and success achieved with firm and visionary decision-making.
Disclaimer: Views expressed by writers in this section are their own and do not necessarily reflect Arab News' point of view
