Jeddah: His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chaired a Cabinet session held in Jeddah. HRH the Crown Prince, representing the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, extended a warm welcome to pilgrims who have arrived in Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj rituals this year. He expressed gratitude to Allah Almighty for granting Saudi Arabia the honor of serving the two holy mosques and ensuring the pilgrims' safety and comfort.
According to Saudi Press Agency, Minister of Media Salman Al-Dossary stated following the session that the Cabinet reviewed significant progress in the Kingdom's economic performance indicators, increased investment levels, and greater private sector participation in development. The ongoing integration efforts among government sectors aim to maximize national resource utilization.
The Cabinet confirmed the record performance of non-oil exports in 2024 and their consistent growth, which signifies Saudi Arabia's accelerated efforts to diversify income in line with Vision 2030 goals. It also praised the digital service enhancements across vital sectors, contributing to the Kingdom ranking first among Middle East and North African countries for the third consecutive year in the 2024 Government Electronic and Mobile Services Maturity Index by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia.
Additionally, the Cabinet noted the Kingdom's significant leap of 92 positions in the 2024 Open Data Inventory report by Open Data Watch, reflecting its commitment to improving statistical indicators, facilitating information access, and ensuring transparency.
The minister highlighted the Cabinet's discussion on recent regional and international developments and Saudi Arabia's efforts to de-escalate tensions. The Kingdom continues to collaborate with friendly nations to address crises and promote international law for global stability and prosperity.
The Cabinet reiterated efforts to mobilize international support to end violence in Palestine, protect civilians, and deliver humanitarian aid. It reaffirmed the commitment to a two-state solution for lasting peace and security. Strong condemnation was expressed against Israeli attacks on Syria's sovereignty and security, warning of the risks of regional violence due to such actions.
The Cabinet urged an immediate end to the war in Sudan, emphasizing a Sudanese-led political solution respecting the country's sovereignty. Other agenda items included approving and authorizing various memoranda of understanding and cooperation agreements with countries such as France, the US, Belize, Djibouti, Estonia, Bulgaria, and Uzbekistan, focusing on areas like minerals, tourism, tax administration, and combating desertification and human trafficking.