Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Chairs Cabinet's Virtual Session

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Prime Minister, chaired today the Cabinet's virtual session.

At the outset of the session, the Cabinet considered the coming five-year strategy of the Public Investments Fund, which was approved by the fund's board of directors, held under the chairmanship of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, a key pillar for implementing the Kingdom's aspirations towards economic growth, upgrading the quality of life and achieving the concept of inclusive and sustainable development in all traditional and modern sectors to complete its previous giant investment and economic gains. These gains enabled the fund to reach important strategic goals and occupy a leading position on the world map as a pioneering sovereign fund able to invest, and manage huge capitals in diversified markets.

In this regard, the Cabinet lauded the contents of the HRH the Crown Prince speech, citing promising visions of a prosperous future for the Kingdom in which the fund contributes to the support the development march and continues to stimulate the growth and diversification of the economy through a number of targets. Most important of which are pumping at least SAR 150 billion annually in the domestic economy at an increasing rate until 2025 and contributes, through the subsidiaries affiliated to the fund, to the non-oil GDP at a cumulative amount of SARR 1.2 trillion so that the assets size would surpass SAR 4 trillion by the end of 2025 and creating 1.8 million jobs directly and indirectly.

In a statement to Saudi Press Agency (SPA) following the meeting, Acting Minister of Media Dr. Majid bin Abdullah Al-Qasabi said that the Cabinet was briefed on the latest developments of coronavirus pandemic locally and internationally, citing the recorded cases statistics in the Kingdom and the relevant indexes. The Cabinet was also briefed on a number of reports on the comprehensive and integrated efforts being exerted by the competent authorities to increase the levels of preventive measures against the virus and provide all necessary tools to preserve the health and safety of citizens and expatriates and the most highest degrees of health security coinciding with control on the health and precautionary measures.

The Cabinet pointed to the Kingdom world class advances achieved, in terms of the universities' endeavors to disseminate Coronavirus related researches, as it sustained its standings, ranking 1st among the Arab Countries, 14th in the world and 12th within the G20 member states. This embodies the continuous support accorded by the leadership to education as well as the attention it paid to research and innovation, in completion of the great efforts exerted by the Kingdom to combat Coronavirus pandemic, reflecting its potentials and prestige in dealing with crises.

Dr. Al-Qasabi indicated that the Cabinet reviewed the latest developments regionally and internationally, reiterating the Kingdom's strong condemnation and denunciation of the twin suicide bombing in Baghdad, affirming a categorical rejection of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, and standing in solidarity with the brotherly Republic of Iraq against what threatens its security and stability.

The Cabinet noted the security apparatus efforts in tracking down criminal networks' activities that used to smuggle narcotics into the Kingdom and the contribution of the General Directorate of Narcotics Control, in protecting the society's individuals from the harms of drugs, following foiling an attempt to smuggle 20 million tablets of narcotic Amphetamine.

The Cabinet was briefed on the issues on its agenda, including some co-studied by the Shura Council. The Cabinet was also briefed on the results reached by each of the Council of Economic and Development Affairs, the Council of Political and Security Affairs, the General Committee of the Cabinet, and the Cabinet's Bureau of Experts.

The Cabinet issued the following decisions:

First: The Cabinet authorized the Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Communications and Information Technology Commission - or his representative - to discuss and sign a draft memorandum of cooperation between the Communications and Information Technology Commission of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Telecommunications and Post Regulatory Authority of the Republic of Sudan, in the field of communications and information technology.

Second: Revoking the Diplomatic Quarter Authority and its organizational arrangements, and transferring all its missions, projects, rights, obligations and workers to Royal Commission for Riyadh City.

Third: Allowing the issuance of residence permits related to work permit and their renewal quarterly, every three months, as a minimum, with the exepetion of domestic workers and persons of similar status, and the division of obtaining the value of the work permit and the residence permit and the fees required to obtain the above-mentioned residence permits according to the period of residence.

Forth:

1- Amending the Saudi doctor under training program name to, Health practitioners training program, and adding the category of non-medical specialists accepted in the training programs implemented at the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties to the program.

2- Applying the scale of wages for health practitioners working within the employment programs in public, specialized and reference hospitals, approved by Royal Order No. (4097 / MB) dated 06/25/1432 AH, to the interns enrolled in the program.

Fifth: Renewing the membership of Dr. Ahmed bin Ibrahim Al-Amoud, and appointing Dr. Jalal bin Mohammed Al-Badri Basahi, as two well experienced members, at the Board of Directors of the Saudi Irrigation Organization.

Sixth: The Cabinet approved the national policy for occupational safety and health.

Seventh: The Cabinet approved the final account of the General Authority for Military Industries for the fiscal year (1440/1441 AH).

Eighth: The Cabinet approved two promotions at the 14th ranks.

The Cabinet was briefed on a number of issues on its agenda and took relevant recommendations.