- ARAB NEWS
- 05 May 2024
Since 1975
RIYADH: What extraordinary feats did Saudi Arabia accomplish to see itself ranked ahead of China, Germany and the UK on a global measure of economic competitiveness?
On its eighth anniversary, Saudi Vision 2030 has reached several remarkable milestones and made steady progress since its inception by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, revealing a transformative journey that continues to reshape the Kingdom’s future.
“It is an ambitious yet achievable blueprint, which expresses our long-term goals and expectations and reflects our country’s strengths and capabilities,” the crown prince said at Vision 2030’s launch in 2016.
“All success stories start with a vision and successful visions are based on strong pillars.”
According to a competitiveness report by the Swiss-based International Institute for Management Development, the Kingdom ranks third among G20 nations on this metric, and 17th among all countries.
Just what are the achievements the Kingdom has made to secure this high global ranking among competitive countries?
According to the latest annual Vision 2030 bulletin, Saudi Arabia achieved significant progress in four competitiveness factors evaluated in the report.
It leaped to sixth place in economic performance, advanced to 11th in government efficiency and 13th in business efficiency, while holding steady at 34th in infrastructure ranking.
Other performances include that the Kingdom is third among G20 countries, fifth globally in the financial market index, and second in the cybersecurity indicator.
PIF: An investment powerhouse
As the most crucial driver of economic diversification and the revitalization of vital sectors, the Public Investment Fund possesses leading investment portfolios.
These are designed to direct investments toward diversifying the economy, developing infrastructure, stimulating innovation, and strengthening global economic ties.
The fund has broadened its portfolio to encompass promising sectors with significant growth potential, covering everything from tourism and entertainment to financial technology, gaming, and sports.
Its investment competence has swiftly increased, positioning PIF as a global leader in capitalizing on economic opportunities at both national and international levels.
Transport infrastructure
The transportation sector is crucial for sustainable development and plays a key role in improving safety by enhancing roads and implementing advanced transportation systems.
These efforts help reduce road accidents, injuries, and fatalities, creating a safer environment and boosting overall quality of life — all part of the goals of the National Transport Strategy, within the framework of Vision 2030.
The report outlined traffic safety indicators and highlighted that the road fatality rate dropped from 28.8 per 100,000 people in 2016 to 13.3 by 2022.
It also noted that the injury rate fell to 71.67 injuries per 100,000 individuals in 2022.
Competitive financial market
Saudi Arabia’s financial market has experienced significant growth and activity since Vision 2030 was announced, demonstrating the strength and robustness of the Kingdom’s financial sector.
The Kingdom was ranked fifth globally — and third among G20 countries — in the Financial Markets Index, according to the 2023 International Competitiveness Yearbook by the World Competitiveness Center.
The number of financial technology entities in 2023 reached 216, far exceeding the target of 150. This indicates rapid growth and development in the financial technology sector.
Furthermore, the number of listings in the financial market for 2023 reached 43, surpassing the target of 24, indicating increased interest from companies to list on the market.
This growth is a positive sign of investor confidence and the attractiveness of the market for public offerings, as the total number of listed companies is now 310, indicating a diverse and extensive market.
A high percentage of micro and small enterprises listed on the market, at 76.7 percent compared to the target of 44 percent, demonstrates that even smaller businesses are finding opportunities to go public, according to the report.
Saudi Arabia’s story of transformation has many authors, including the government, Saudi citizens, the private sector, and international partners.
In 2023, their combined efforts made Saudi Arabia an even better place to live, work, and visit.
Together, they are writing the next chapter in 2024 — a year of unrivaled opportunity for the Kingdom and anyone who wants to be part of the story.
