The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chaired the Cabinet's session at Al-Yamamah Palace in Riyadh on Tuesday afternoon.
At the outset of the session, the King briefed the Cabinet on the outcomes of his talks with President Omar Hassan Al-Bashir of the Republic of Sudan and former President Nicolas Sarkozy of Republic of France.
The Cabinet appreciated the affirmation of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Premier, Minister of Defense and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Public Investment Fund during his participation in the Future Investment Initiative concluded in Riyadh that the Saudi people with their will, serious determination, principles and great values have contributed to the Kingdom's arrival at new horizons in its development and progress, in addition to their stand by their leadership to achieve their hopes and aspirations.
The Minister of Culture and Information Dr. Awwad bin Saleh Al-Awwad said in a statement to Saudi Press Agency following the session that the Cabinet welcomed wide repercussions and Arab and international reactions following the announcement of the Crown Prince of Neom Project, the future destination, which is considered the first of its kind and the most efficient around the world, and embodies an ambitious economic vision and a transformation into a pioneering global model, commending the outcomes of the Crown Prince's meetings with a number of leaders, senior economic officials and presidents of international companies in enhancing investment opportunities and agreements within the Future Investment Initiative in line with the Kingdom's vision 2030.
The Cabinet pointed out that the vision 2030 confirms that the transformation being witnessed by the Kingdom contributes to supporting the stability of the region in general and enhancing the trend of making the Kingdom a center for the region and a heart of the Islamic world, and that the vision came in response to internal developmental needs and affirmation of a policy seeking for building a multi-sources economy and developmental goals in all fields, and addressing any fluctuations that may occur in the global economy.
The Minister of Culture and Information said that the Cabinet lauded the program launched by the Public Investment Fund for 2018-2020, including 30 initiatives that contribute to achieving four main objectives to enhance the role of the Fund as an effective engine to diversify the economy in the Kingdom and deepen the impact and role of the Kingdom at regional and global levels..
The Cabinet pointed to what has been stressed by the statement issued by the meeting of the Foreign Ministers and Chiefs of Staff of Member States of Coalition for Supporting Legitimacy in Yemen that their countries' political and military movement came in response to the Yemeni legitimate government's appeal against coup militias and in accordance with Security Council resolution 2216 and the statement's condemnation of the role being played by Iranian regime in supporting the militias with weapons and ammunition, as well as holding it and its proxies the responsibility for tampering with the security of the region.
The Cabinet also hailed the efforts being exerted by the State Security Presidency to target the financing of terrorism and the terrorist groups that pose a threat to the interests and security of States in addition to the announcement by the State Security Presidency of the inclusion of two entities and 11 names of leaders, financiers and supporters of Al-Qaeda and Daesh terrorist organizations in Yemen within the Global Center for Combating Terrorism Financing.
The Cabinet expressed the Kingdom's strong condemnation and denunciation of the terrorist bombing of a bus transporting police in the Kingdom of Bahrain and the two car bomb explosions in the Somali capital Mogadishu, which resulted in dozens of deaths and injuries, renewing its stand by and solidarity with Bahrain and Somalia, wishing the wounded a speed of recovery.
Dr. Awwad bin Saleh Al-Awwad said that the Cabinet was briefed on the session's agenda, including some items co-studied by Majlis Al-Shura. The Cabinet issued the following decisions:
First: the Cabinet authorized the Minister of Economy and Planning - or his deputy - to discuss and sign with the UAE side a draft memorandum of understanding between the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Government of the United Arab Emirates in the field of youth.
Second: the Cabinet authorized the Minister of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources - or his deputy - to discuss and sign with the Russian side a draft memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Energy of the Russian Federation for cooperation in the energy sector.
Third: the Cabinet authorized the Minister of Foreign Affairs - or his deputy - to discuss and sign with the Angolan side a draft general agreement for cooperation between the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Government of the Republic of Angola.
Fourth: the Cabinet authorized the Minister of Foreign Affairs - or his deputy - to discuss and sign with the Paraguayan side a draft memorandum of understanding on the political consultations between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Paraguay.
Fifth: the Cabinet authorized the Minister of Finance - or his deputy - to discuss with the Iraqi side a draft agreement between the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Government of the Republic of Iraq on establishment of Iraqi Arar Port.
Sixth: the Cabinet approved a regulation of Law of Terrorism Crimes and Financing.
Seventh: the Cabinet approved that the Minister of Housing shall determine remuneration for the members of the committee to look into violations of the provisions of the white (vacant) land regulations and its executive regulations.
Eighth: the Cabinet approved a committee headed by the Minister of Finance, and membership of Dr. Isam bin Sae'ed, Minister of the State and Member of the Cabinet; the Minister of Trade and Investment; the Minister of Housing and the Adviser at the Cabinet's Secretariat General. This committee is assigned to review the results of the timetable program for applying charges. The committee may take any action it deems appropriate in order to submit an annual report for the Cabinet.
Ninth: the Cabinet approved a number of appointments at the Board of Directors of Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA).
Tenth: the Cabinet approved a number of promotions to 14th and 15th ranks:
1- Moushwah bin Abdurrahman bin Ali Al-Hoshan is promoted to the post of undersecretary for social development (rank 15) at the Ministry of Labor and Social Development.
2- Abdulaziz bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Baraidi is promoted to the post of Director General of the Minister's Office (rank 14) at the Ministry of National Guard.
3 - Ali bin Hussein bin Abdullah Al-Awaji is promoted to the post of Director General of General Warehouses (rank 14) at the Ministry of National Guard.
4 - Abdullah bin Ali bin Yahya Al-Ameri is promoted to the post of Assistant Undersecretary for Islamic Affairs (rank 14) at the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance.
5 - Abdullah bin Hamoud bin Mohammed Al-Falai is promoted to the post of Director General at King Abdulaziz International Airport Customs (rank 14) at the General Customs Authority.
The Cabinet reviewed a number of general issues on its agenda, including two annual reports for each of the Saudi Geological Survey and Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA), covering a previous fiscal year.
The Cabinet discussed the items and took the necessary instructions.
