New economic research unit at KPMG

KPMG Al-Fozan & Partners, a leading provider of audit, tax and advisory services, has established a specialized Research and Economic Studies unit. The new unit will conduct research on various aspects of the Saudi economy and publish reports based on such studies. It will also provide advice to investors through in-depth reports about the investment climate, impact on the economy and an analysis of economic indicators relevant to the Saudi economy.
KPMG Al-Fozan & Partners appointed Hussein Abusaaq as its chief economist and head of the Research and Economic Studies unit. Abusaaq will lead the new unit, which will cover the different business sectors in the Saudi economy.
He holds a doctorate in economics from the University of Florida, USA; a master’s degree in financial engineering; a master’s in financial economics from the US, as well as a bachelor’s in information systems management with honors from the King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM). Abusaaq has published several scientific research papers at global conferences in the US, and has participated in scientific seminars in a number of economic organizations. He served as an economist at the Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority since 2004 prior to joining the Ministry of Economy and Planning.
Abdullah Al-Fozan, chairman of KPMG MESA and KPMG Saudi Arabia, said: “Establishing this valuable unit coincides with the economic, investment, and development boom being witnessed by the Kingdom, in line with the Saudi Vision 2030 and its proposed programs, which is set to make Saudi Arabia a key attractive destination for investments in the region and the world.”
Abusaaq said that the Research and Economic Studies unit aims to fulfill the aspirations of relevant stakeholders in both the public and private sectors. “The unit will provide valuable studies related to the investment climate and analysis of economic indicators. It shall also keep track of and examine economic changes and assess all new developments taking place at the local level.”