RIYADH — The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) announced that the operating revenues of the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) recorded an increase to SR1,26 billion by 25% during 2021 compared to 2020. GASTAT added that the operating expenditure has also recorded an increase to SR659.5 billion by 33%, while employees' compensation in the SMEs amounted to SR155.8 billion, with an increase of 19% compared to 2020. It has noted that operating revenues of the medium-sized enterprises rose by 16%, amounting to SR562.6 billion in 2021, compared to the previous year, GASTAT indicated that this increase is due to revenues from manufacturing activities, wholesale and retail trade activities, construction activities. It added that, the arts and entertainment activities, accommodation and food service activities, have recorded a significant growth, recovering from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, as it has increased by 132% and 45%, respectively. The operating revenues of the small-sized enterprises increased by 35%, accounting to SR337.4 billion. This rise was largely affected by the revenues of wholesale and retail trade activities, construction activities. This is in addition to the manufacturing activities, which recorded the highest value of revenue compared to other economic activities. The operating expenditure of the medium-sized enterprises recorded an increase of 28% compared to 2020, with a value of SR275.1 billion, while the total compensation of the employees during 2021 amounted to SR70.7 billion. GASTAT said that the operating expenditure of the small-sized enterprises amounted to a value of SR178.4 billion in 2021, and the employees' compensation reached SR43 billion, with an increase of 45% and 20%, respectively, compared to 2020. Regarding micro enterprises, GASTAT revealed that the total operating revenues of micro enterprises amounted to SR365.4 billion, with an increase of 31%, compared to 2020. This increase is due to the revenues from wholesale and retail trade activities. Operating expenditures of micro enterprises have recorded an increase of 30% in 2021 compared to 2020, amounting to SR205.8 billion. GASTAT said the wholesale and retail trade activities had the highest amount of expenditure among micro enterprises. Moreover, the compensation of employees in micro enterprises increased by 26% in 2021 compared to 2020, amounting to SR41.9 billion.
