Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques chairs cabinet's session

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, chaired a cabinet's session held at Al-Yamamah palace today.
 
At the outset of the session, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques briefed the cabinet on the results of his talks with President Jair Bolsonaro of the Federative Republic of Brazil, President Uhuru Kenyatta of the Republic of Kenya, President Muhammadu Buhari of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and former British Prime Minister David Cameron, reviewing bilateral relations and aspects of cooperation in various fields. The king also briefed the cabinet on the contents of the message received from Prime Minister of Malaysia Dr. Mahathir Mohamad.

The cabinet followed joint statements between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Swiss Confederation, the Republic of India and the Federative Republic of Brazil on regional and international issues and issues of international peace and security, affirming enhancing cooperation and consultation between the Kingdom and those countries in a number of fields embodying close ties, supporting strategic partnerships, and contributing to maintaining peace, stability and security in the region and the world. The Cabinet also followed the exchange of cooperation agreements and exploring economic opportunities within the framework of the Kingdom's Vision 2030.

Minister of Media Turki bin Abdullah Al-Shabanah said, following the session, in a statement to the Saudi Press Agency that the Cabinet commended the works of the Future Investment Initiative 2019 with attendance and participation of a number of heads of states, prime ministers and government officials from the Arab world, Africa, the Americas and Europe, and some 300 prominent and business speakers and executives of international companies from more than 30 countries and the Initiative's discussions of global economic trends, the future of the international investment environment, and the signing of agreements, memorandums of understanding and cooperation in various fields which confirm confidence in the Kingdom's economy and investment climate and reflect its strength and durability regionally and internationally.

The cabinet considered Saudi Aramco's announcement and its intention to float some of its shares with an initial public offering on the Main Market of Tadawul, Saudi Stock Exchange as strengthening its pivotal role in the Kingdom and the global economy, contributing to meeting the global demand for energy, and maintaining securing global supplies. The Cabinet also considered it as an essential step towards achieving the Kingdom's Vision 2030 and making initiatives identified in the national transformation program, and a proof of the international status of Saudi financial markets.

The minister of media pointed out that the Cabinet reviewed the preliminary statement of the state budget for the fiscal year 1441-1442AH (2020), the evolution of the performance of public finance during 2019 and financial and economic targets for 2020, in the medium term. The Cabinet also reviewed the most important initiatives and programs to be implemented in 2020, within the framework of the Kingdom's Vision 2030, to achieve a balance between maintaining financial sustainability and promoting economic growth and development. The Cabinet commended the preliminary economic results and indicators of the remarkable progress in real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) with growth rates during the first half of 2019, supported by the growth of the non-oil sector, as part of the Kingdom's quest to be immune to local and global challenges.

The cabinet also referred to the statement expressed by the ministers of foreign affairs of the group of Mini-States on Syria consisting of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, France, Germany, Jordan, the United Kingdom and the United States of America in their joint statement, as they welcomed the launching of the meetings of the Syrian Constitutional Committee in Geneva, describing them as a positive step requiring a substantial commitment to reach their intended goal and their support for efforts aimed at a political settlement of the crisis under United Nations Security Council Resolution 2254.

The cabinet welcomed the announcement by the Presidency of the State Security and its partners in the Terrorist Financing Targeting Center of a joint classification of 28 names of companies, banks, and individuals for belonging to the Iranian regime's networks supporting terrorism in the region. The Cabinet considered the announcement as an active effort to expand and strengthen cooperation among the seven countries in combating the financing of terrorism and coordinating actions that hinder its funding.

The cabinet issued the following decisions:

First: the cabinet authorized the minister of energy or his deputy to discuss with the Tunisian side a draft memorandum of understanding in the field of renewable energy and energy efficiency and rationalizing its consumption between the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Government of the Republic of Tunisia, and submit the final signed version, to complete formal procedures.

Second: the cabinet approved a memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the agricultural field between the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the government of the Republic of Iraq.

Third: the cabinet approved the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's joining the multilateral agreement for the implementation of procedures related to tax treaties to prevent base erosion and profit shifting.

Fourth: the cabinet appointed Dr. Walid bin Ahmed Al-Shalfan, Dr. Abdullah bin Faisal Al-Sebaei and Dr. Talaat bin Hassan Habib as members of the Board of Directors of the National Waste Management Center.

Fifth: the cabinet approved the request of Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority (SAMA) to be authorized to establish a Saudi joint stock company, wholly owned by SAMA, owns all national payment systems, operates and develops them, creates infrastructure and operational environment for all national payment systems, and enables all government and commercial sectors to benefit from national payments.

Sixth: the cabinet approved the final account of Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University (PSAU), for previous fiscal years.

Seventh: the cabinet approved the organization of the National Institute for Vocational and Educational Development.

Eighth: the cabinet approved promotion to rank 15 and 14, as follows:

1- Ali bin Hussein bin Abdullah Al-Awaji to the post of Administrative Counselor, rank 15, at the Ministry of National Guard.
2- Abulmohsen bin Hidaib bin Abdulmohsen Al-Hidaib to the post of Director General of Administrative and Financial post, rank 15, at the Ministry of National Guard.
3- Humoud bin Abdullah bin Humoud Al Khaidair to the post of Counselor for Personnel's Affairs, rank 15, at the Ministry of National Guard.
4- Sami bin Ibrahim bin Mohammed Al-Shalfan to the post of Administrative Counselor, rank 15, at the Ministry of National Guard.
5- Fahd bin Ibrahim bin Abdulaziz Al-Mujalli to the post of Administrative Counselor, rank 15, at the Public Prosecution.
6- Habib bin Mohammed bin Abdulsamad Siba'a to the post of Assistant Undersecretary for Development Affairs, rank 14, at the Principality of Al-Jouf Region.
7- Abdullah bin Salal bin Obaissan Al-Issaimi to the post of Director General of the Legal Department, rank 14, at the Ministry of National Guard.
8- Mohammed bin Abdullah bin Hamad Al-Salamah to the post of Director General for Information, rank 14, at the Ministry of National Guard.
9- Abdulmohsen bin Abdulaziz bin Ahmed Al-Muhrij to the post of Director General of the General Department for Arms and Ammunitions, rank 14, at the Ministry of National Guard.
10- Ibrahim bin Rashid bin Ibrahim Al-Himaidhi to the post of Civil Service Counselor, rank 14, at the Ministry of Civil Service.

The cabinet reviewed a number of issues on its agenda, including two annual reports from Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance and the Ministry of Labor and Social Development, for a previous fiscal year, and took appropriate recommendations, in their regard.