Saudi non-oil economy expected to grow by 4.3 percent, says IMF official

The IMF expects growth in the non-oil economy to be driven by a recovery in consumption as the country emerges from a year of lockdowns. (Reuters)
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  • The Saudi economy is estimated by the IMF to grow by 2.4 percent overall this year

RIYADH: The Saudi non-oil sector is expected to grow by 4.3 percent this year, according to the head of the International Monetary Fund’s mission to the Kingdom.
Growth in the non-oil economy is expected to be driven by a recovery in consumption as the country emerges from a year of lockdowns, Tim Callen, who leads the International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission to Saudi Arabia, told Al Arabiya. He also anticipates a decrease in the Saudi budget deficit.
However, the oil sector may record negative growth by 0.5 percent as a result of reduced output arising from the OPEC+ group’s efforts to stabilize oil markets.
The Saudi economy is estimated by the IMF to grow by 2.4 percent overall this year.
The Saudi Ministry of Finance is holding a virtual seminar in the presence of officials from the IMF to discuss economic performance.