RIYADH — Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman, deputy prime minister, chairman of the Council of Economic and Development Affairs (CEDA), announced the establishment and launch of the Strategic Offices for the development of Al Baha, Al Jouf and Jazan regions, which are considered to be the basis for the establishment of development authorities in the future. The Strategic Offices aim to capitalize on the unique competitive advantages each of the three regions have to offer, while ensuring the development of a strong investment environment attracting private sector engagement on different fronts. The announcement of the Strategic Offices in the three regions amplifies Crown Prince Muhammad's affirmation of comprehensive development throughout all cities and regions across the Kingdom benefiting all citizens as part of a vibrant society, a thriving economy and an ambitious nation. The Crown Prince also assured that the establishment of Strategic Offices in other regions where there are no development authorities or strategic offices will follow with the aim of developing all regions in the Kingdom without exception. The Strategic Offices will focus on all aspects of the development agenda in those regions. They will work on the distinct features and advantages of each region to maximize benefit and transform them into sustainable and permanent economic drivers for the regions. Moreover, the Strategic Offices will focus on the development of the regions, coordination with all relevant governmental entities and including the private sector in the development plans of the regions to ensure proper utilization of the regions' components. The establishment of the Strategic Offices for the development of the three regions follows Crown Prince's vision of creating comprehensive and sustainable development throughout the Kingdom by maximizing on each region's unique competitive advantages and building upon them as economic pillars. As a result, this will create job opportunities for the citizens of the different regions, while elevating the quality of life, enhancing basic services, and improving the infrastructure for the citizens of those regions. Al Baha is considered one of the most prominent touristic destinations in the Kingdom. The region includes a large number of forests and is well known for having the Raghdan Forest and the Qima'a and Shukran parks. The region is also the home of many ancient villages and forts. Al Jouf is considered to be home to one of the oldest settlements in the Arabian Peninsula dating back to the Paleolithic period. The region is known as the "Food basket of the Kingdom" as it contains fertile land with abundant water resources. It is a leader in olive oil production and is responsible for about 67% of the Kingdom's olive oil production. Jazan shows great promise in many economic sectors including logistics and agriculture. The region is home to one of the most important touristic destinations in the Kingdom, Farasan Islands and the Port of Jazan, which is considered to be the third largest port on the Red Sea Coast. The launch of the Strategic Offices in the three regions shows the dedication of the Crown Prince to the development of all regions across the Kingdom. This comes as a continuation to the announcement of the Asir region strategy, which is a holistic and comprehensive strategy ensuring the development of the region on all fronts.
