YEAR PLAN 1425-1430 IS TO BUILD ON WHAT HAS BEEN ACHIEVED IN THE PREVIOUS PLANS AND TO EMBODY A NEW DEVELOPMENT BOOST. IT HAS BEEN DESIGNED ACCORDING TO A STRATEGIC PERSPECTIVE AIMING AT ACHIEVING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT. THE PLAN HAS FOCUSED ON A PACKAGE OF PRIORITIES, LED BY THE PRESERVATION OF ISLAMIC VALUES, ENHANCEMENT OF NATIONAL UNITY, NATIONAL SECURITY AND SOCIAL STABILITY, UPGRADING STANDARDS OF LIVING, PROVISION OF JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR SAUDI JOB-SEEKERS, DEVELOPMENT OF HUMAN LABOR FORCE, UPGRADING HIS SKILLS, DIVERSIFICATION OF ECONOMIC BASE, INCREASE OF PRIVATE SECTOR CONTRIBUTION TO THE DEVELOPMENT, ACHIEVEMENT OF BALANCED DEVELOPMENT IN ALL PARTS OF THE KINGDOM, DEVELOPMENT OF SCIENCES, TECHNOLOGY AND INFORMATICS, SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT, PRESERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF WATER RESOURCES AND PROTECTION OF ENVIRONMENT. A FOLLOW-UP REPORT ON THE PERFORMANCE OF THE PLAN'S FIRST YEAR HAS REVEALED THAT IN 1425-1426 H. ALL, AND SOMETIMES EVEN MORE, THE TARGETED GOALS OF THE PLAN HAVE BEEN ACCOMPLISHED. DUE TO THE IMPORTANCE OF INVESTMENT IN THE NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, WE ARE PLANNING TO CONTINUE OUR SUPPORT FOR THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO BECOME A STRATEGIC PARTNER IN THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND WE ARE PLANNING TO REMOVE ALL OBSTACLES FACING SAUDI AND FOREIGN INVESTORS TO MAKE THEM BENEFIT, WHATEVER POSSIBLE, FROM THE PROPORTIONAL PRIVILEGES IN THE SAUDI ECONOMY. THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA HAS EVEN OVER PASSED THE PRESCRIBED CEILING IN A NUMBER OF DEVELOPMENTAL GOALS STATED IN THE UNITED NATION'S MILLENNIUM DECLARATION 2000. THE KINGDOM IS ALSO ON ITS WAY TO SCORE NEW GOALS IN THIS FIELD EVEN BEFORE THEIR SET DATES. WHAT CHARACTERIZES THE SAUDI EXPERIMENT IN ITS ENDEAVOR TO ACHIEVE THE MILLENNIUM'S DEVELOPMENTAL TARGETS IS THE GREAT MOMENTUM OF THE DISTINGUISHED EFFORTS SUCCESSFULLY REACHING THE STATED GOALS BEFORE THEIR TIMED CEILINGS AND SUCCESSFULLY MERGING THE DEVELOPMENTAL GOALS OF THE MILLENNIUM INTO THE EIGHTH DEVELOPMENT PLAN'S GOALS AND MAKING THE DEVELOPMENTAL GOALS OF THE MILLENNIUM PART OF THE DEVELOPMENTAL ADDRESS AND PHASED AND LONG-TERM POLICIES OF THE KINGDOM. DURING MY VISITS TO THE REGIONS OF THE KINGDOM, I WAS PLEASED TO SEE A VAST AND COMPREHENSIVE DEVELOPMENT BUT I NOTICED THAT SOME PARTS OF THE COUNTRY STILL NEED MUCH CARE AND INTEREST BEFORE WE REACH A BALANCED DEVELOPMENT, A MATTER THAT WE WILL DO. WE HAVE ALLOCATED PART OF THE SURPLUS OF THE BUDGETS OF THE LAST THREE YEARS TO REDUCE THE PUBLIC DEBIT WHICH HAS COME DOWN FROM SR660 BILLION IN 1423 - 1424 H., EQUIVALENT TO 82 % OF THE GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT, TO SR366 BILLION IN 1426 - 1427 H. WHICH REPRESENTS 28% OF THE GDP. A NUMBER OF NEW DEVELOPMENTAL PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS HAVE BEEN ACCREDITED IN ADDITION TO WHAT HAS BEEN DECIDED IN THE 8TH FIVE-YEAR PLAN OR THE STATE'S BUDGET. THESE PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS INCLUDE THE HOLY MOSQUE AND SACRED PLACES PROJECTS, IMPROVEMENT OF THE COUNTRY'S INFRASTRUCTURE, PRIMARY HEALTH CARE, GENERAL, HIGHER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION, POPULAR HOUSING, UPGRADING DEVELOPMENT FUNDS' CAPITAL. THE STATE'S RESERVES WERE ALSO ENHANCED AND THE GENERAL INVESTMENTS FUND WAS SUPPORTED. THIS YEAR'S BUDGET AUGURS WELL AS BIG AMOUNTS OF MONEY HAVE BEEN APPROPRIATED FOR ACHIEVING A QUALITATIVE LEAP IN THE FIELD OF HUMAN FORCE DEVELOPMENT WHICH REPRESENTS THE BASIC PILLAR FOR COMPREHENSIVE DEVELOPMENT AND FOR SUPPORTING HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE BY INCREASING THE APPROPRIATIONS OF ORPHANS, DISABLED AND THE POOR. --MORE
