Assaf said that an amount of about SR 180 billion was spent on projects last year, an increase of 37% in comparison with the year 2008, adding that the Ministry of Finance approved contracts amounting to SR 126.88 billion, an increase of 24% in comparison with the year 2008. He indicated that the Ministry of Finance approved 652 contracts valued at about SR 40 billion since the beginning of this year until the end of April. --More