JEDDAH: The National Council on US-Arab Relations (NCUSAR) and US-Saudi Business Council (USSBC) hosted a webinar discussing a new book due to be published later this year titled “Saudi Arabia’s Transformation: Uncertainty and Sustainability,” which assessed the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 goals and objectives, successful programs and initiatives.
The book is written by Dr. Turki Faisal Al-Rasheed, adjunct professor at the University of Arizona’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) and Dr. Paul Joyce.
The discussion was moderated by Hall Delano Roosevelt, president and CEO of USSBC.
The participants analyzed and discussed the strengths, opportunities and challenges of Saudi Vision 2030 in support of the implementation of a global strategic long-term vision including the G20 goals and objectives, which was mainly focused on the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Al-Rasheed highlighted in his presentation that the Saudi leadership was experimenting with how to turn the country’s system of development plans into modern strategic planning.
Meanwhile, Joyce elaborated on the Saudi government’s approach to improving its strategic planning, its long-term visions and implementation of those visions, strategy in pursuing partnerships, and capability-building efforts.
Roosevelt made some final remarks on the USSBC’s role in Saudi development, where he stressed the council’s capability to help any of the attendees if they needed assistance investing in Saudi Arabia or partnering with Saudi companies to take advantage of the business opportunities discussed.
Dr. John Duke Anthony, founding president and CEO of NCUSAR, ended the session noting that the US has more investments in Saudi Arabia than any other country, and its companies have the most joint partnerships with Saudi companies.
The program concluded that strategic transformation and economic diversification is achievable through the creation of long-term strategic visions, backed by the government’s increased ability to implement policies for the benefit of the country in achieving Saudi Vision 2030 goals and objectives.
In the face of constraints and challenges like the collapse of oil prices and the current coronavirus disease pandemic, the Kingdom has demonstrated its determination to pursue its sustainable and strategic transformation into a diversified economy.
“Saudi Arabia’s Transformation: Uncertainty and Sustainability” will be published by Routledge and the University of California, Los Angeles, under the Center for Middle East Development.
