Business & Money | Friday 23 September, 2016 3:06 am |

SAUDI ARABIA celebrates its 86th National Day on Sept. 23, 2016 with a strategic vision at hand that would take the Kingdom to new heights of progress and prosperity under the wise leadership of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, who has given top priority for the welfare and well-being of his citizens across the country.

The Vision 2030, which was unveiled by Deputy Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman, chairman of the Council of Economic and Development Affairs on April 25, 2016, is an ambitious yet achievable blueprint. The vision highlights Saudi Arabia’s long-term goals and expectations and reflects its strengths and capabilities.

The vision is based on three strong pillars. The first pillar is the Kingdom’s status as the heart of the Arab and Islamic worlds. “We recognize that Allah the Almighty has bestowed on our land a gift more precious than oil. Our Kingdom is the land of the Two Holy Mosques, the most sacred sites on earth, and the Holy Kaaba, the qibla or direction to which more than a billion Muslims turn at prayer,” said Prince Muhammad.

The second pillar is the Kingdom’s determination to become a global investment powerhouse. The country’s strong investment capabilities would be harnessed to stimulate the national economy and diversify revenues.

The third pillar is transforming the Kingdom’s strategic location into a global hub connecting three continents — Asia, Europe and Africa.

The unique vision aims to exploit the Kingdom’s natural resources. “We are not dependent solely on oil for our energy needs. Gold, phosphate, uranium, and many other valuable minerals are found beneath our land. But our real wealth lies in the ambition of our people and the potential of our younger generation. They are our nation’s pride and the architects of our future,” the Deputy Crown Prince said.

While launching Vision 2030, the Deputy Crown Prince paid rich tribute to the late King Abdul Aziz Al-Saud, may Allah bless his soul, the father of the nation who unified the Kingdom in 1351H (1932) after an epic battle that lasted for 32 years.

King Abdul Aziz

King Abdul Aziz retrieved Riyadh, capital of the Kingdom of his ancestors and fathers on Shawwal 5, 1319, corresponding to Jan. 15, 1902. On the 17th of Jumada Al-Oula 1351H, a royal decree was issued by the King to declare the unification of all parts of the country. King Abdul Aziz chose Sept. 23, 1932, as the day of the proclamation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia or the National Day.

An epitome of wisdom, King Abdul Aziz was born in Riyadh in 1876. His father was Imam Abdul Rahman Bin Faisal Bin Turki Bin Abdullah Al-Saud. He learned the Qur’an and Islamic theology at the hands of Sheikh Abdullah Al-Khereiji and Sheikh Abdullah Bin Abdullatif Al-Asheikh. King Abdul Aziz was well known for his courage, chivalry and lofty manners and was immensely influenced by the nomadic life of Bedouins.

King Abdul Aziz was a staunch supporter of Islamic causes including the Palestinian issue. When the Arab League was established in Cairo in 1945 Saudi Arabia became one of its first members. He gave instructions to establish schools and institutes and encouraged publishing especially Islamic books. He took care of the two holy mosques and enhanced facilities for pilgrims who come for Haj and Umrah.

The production of oil in commercial quantities in 1937 from the Eastern Province was one of the most important achievements of King Abdul Aziz as it changed the face of Saudi Arabia. His era witnessed the launch of Saudi Arabian Airlines, the rail link between Riyadh and Dammam, Saudi Arabian Monetary Fund and the Shoura Council. He declared the Shariah as the basis of the Kingdom’s Constitution.

Opening the Shoura Council in1349H, King Abdul Aziz said: “All of you know that the base of our governance is the Islamic Law, therefore you are free to pass bills and enact laws that you believe suitable for this country. These laws must not contradict the Islamic law because laws that are contrary to the Islamic law will not be of any benefit to anyone. It is really bad and damaging to enact a law in violation of the Shariah.”

Successful administrator

King Salman, who assumed power as the seventh ruler of Saudi Arabia after King Abdul Aziz, King Saud, King Faisal, King Khaled, King Fahd and King Abdullah, is a successful administrator. He has 60 years of experience as governor of Riyadh, defense minister, Crown Prince and deputy premier. Saudi officials and businessmen have commended his wisdom and said they are fortunate to have King Salman as their new leader.

Being a close associate of all the previous Kings, Salman has gained immense knowledge and expertise in politics, administration and crisis management. “King Salman has gained a lot of experience in administration as a result of his close association with all the six previous Kings. He supported those Kings in administration and played a key role in their success stories,” said Dr. Abdul Rahman Al-Zamil, president of the Council of Saudi Chambers.

During his 56-year tenure as governor of Riyadh, the capital city witnessed unprecedented progress. “There are now more than 1,000 industrial plants in Riyadh. This reflects King Salman’s support for the private sector.”

Salman has been acting as a bridge between different segments in the country. “The unity of the political leadership given by the royal family and the religious leadership strengthens the Kingdom’s stability.”

Kingdom’s stability

In a previous National Day statement, King Salman underscored the significance of security and stability enjoyed by the Kingdom. “History is a witness and a teacher. It guides us that the civilizations of nations always start from the stability of the state and governance, ensuring application of laws and preservation of rights. It provides safe working environment and production that stimulates growth, encourages investment, and creates more opportunities for jobs, expansion and development.

Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Naif and Deputy Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman give King Salman their full backing to steer the Kingdom to greater progress, braving challenges. Prince Muhammad Bin Naif studied political science in the US and received “advanced law enforcement and counter-terrorism” training in the US and Britain. He has worked in the Interior Ministry since 1999, initially under his father, overseeing a crackdown on Al-Qaeda, which attacked security officers and foreigners between 2003 and 2007.

Prince Muhammad Bin Salman, the main architect of Vision 2030, is the second in line to the throne. He is chairman of the body overseeing Saudi Aramco, the world’s largest crude oil producer. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in law from King Saud University. US President Barack Obama last year described him of being “wise beyond his years.”

Prince Muhammad Bin Salman is determined to amaze the world again and is optimistic about the Kingdom’s future. “With all the blessings Allah has bestowed on our nation, we cannot help but be optimistic about the decades ahead. We ponder what lies over the horizon rather than worrying about what could be lost,” the prince said.

The Vision 2030 aims to attract a large number of Muslims to Makkah to perform Haj and Umrah. “We are determined to reinforce and diversify the capabilities of our economy, turning our key strengths into enabling tools for a fully diversified future. As such, we will transform Aramco from an oil producing company into a global industrial conglomerate.”

The vision would transform the Public Investment Fund into the world’s largest sovereign wealth fund. “We will encourage our major corporations to expand across borders and take their rightful place in global markets. As we continue to give our army the best possible machinery and equipment, we plan to manufacture half of our military needs within the Kingdom to create more job opportunities for citizens and keep more resources in our country,” he explained.

Prince Muhammad Bin Naif and Prince Muhammad Bin Salman are working tirelessly to realize the vision’s objectives. Agreements have been signed with advanced countries including the US, France, China, Japan, India and South Korea to boost investment projects. “Our ambition is for the long term. It goes beyond replenishing sources of income that have weakened or preserving what we have already achieved. We are determined to build a thriving country in which all citizens can fulfill their dreams, hopes and ambitions,” the Deputy Crown Prince said.

The new vision aims to provide equal rights and opportunities to all citizens. “We commit ourselves to providing world-class government services, which effectively and efficiently meet the needs of our citizens. Together we will continue building a better country, fulfilling our dream of prosperity and unlocking the talent, potential, and dedication of our young men and women. We will not allow our country ever to be at the mercy of a commodity price volatility or external markets.”

While marking the National Day, the Saudi leaders are confident that the Kingdom has all the means to achieve its people’s dreams and ambitions. “There are no excuses for us to stand still or move backwards. Our vision is a strong, thriving, and stable Saudi Arabia that provides opportunity for all. Our vision is a tolerant country with Islam as its constitution and moderation as its method and policy. We will welcome qualified individuals from all over the world and will respect those who have come to join our journey and our success,” the vision statement said.