MINISTER OF FINANCE DR IBRAHIM AL-ASSAF HAS REITERATED THE GREAT ATTENTION GIVEN BY THE CUSTODIAN OF THE TWO HOLY MOSQUES KING ABDULLAH BIN ABDULAZIZ TO THE IMPORTANCE OF RATIONALIZATION OF WATER CONSUMPTION. BUT HE NOTED THAT RATIONALIZATION OF WATER CONSUMPTION SHOULD NOT HAVE AN ADVERSE IMPACT ON THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR. IN A PRESS STATEMENT HERE YESTERDAY, DR AL-ASSAF SAID THE STATE HAS MADE BIG STRIDES IN THIS RESPECT IN COORDINATION WITH THE CONCERNED AUTHORITIES, NAMELY: THE SUPREME ECONOMIC COUNCIL, AS WELL AS THE MINISTRIES OF FINANCE AND AGRICULTURE. UNDERLINING THE GREAT ATTENTION GIVEN BY THE STATE TO THE AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT, DR AL-ASSAF SAID THE AGRICULTURAL BANK WAS THE FIRST GOVERNMENTAL FINANCING INSTITUTION. HE NOTED THAT THE STATE HAS BEEN PROVIDING THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR WITH SUBSIDIES EITHER FROM THE BUDGET OF THE STATE OR FROM THE AGRICULTURAL BANK. DR AL-ASSAF SAID THE STATE'S GENERAL BUDGET WILL BE ANNOUNCED BEFORE THE END OF THIS YEAR. THE BUDGET WILL INCLUDE APPROPRIATIONS FOR A NUMBER OF IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS, HE SAID.
