Al-Qasabi: 1000 economic reforms to improve the business environment in Saudi Arabia
The Minister of Commerce and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Center for Economic Business, Dr. Majid bin Abdullah Al-Qasabi, affirmed that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has succeeded in implementing more than 1,000 economic and developmental reforms, in a strategic step aimed at improving the business environment and raising the Kingdom’s competitiveness on the global map.
This announcement came during the inauguration ceremony of the Saudi Center for Collaborative Business branch at the headquarters of the Makkah Chamber of Commerce, where Al-Qasabi explained that these reforms are a translation of the directives of the wise leadership, which has placed the empowerment of the business sector at the top of its development priorities, in an effort to facilitate procedures and raise the quality of services provided to investors and entrepreneurs.
Vision 2030 and the journey of economic transformation
These accelerated steps come within the framework of achieving the goals of "Vision 2030," which seeks to diversify national income sources and reduce dependence on oil by stimulating the private sector and attracting foreign direct investment. The Kingdom is working diligently through the National Competitiveness Center and its partners to monitor and address the challenges facing the private sector, which has contributed to significant progress for the Kingdom in international economic indicators related to ease of doing business.
These reforms form a solid legislative and procedural infrastructure aimed at creating an attractive and safe investment environment that guarantees investors’ rights and saves time and effort, thus enhancing Saudi Arabia’s position as a leading investment destination in the Middle East and the world.
Integrated services under one roof in Mecca
In detailing the new branch in the Holy City of Mecca, Dr. Al-Qasabi pointed out that this branch represents a model of government integration, bringing together more than 65 government entities under one roof. The new branch will offer over 6,000 diverse services through 62 affiliated government agencies, thus ending the era of lengthy paperwork and the need to travel between different departments.
The branch includes permanent representatives from a number of vital ministries and agencies directly related to the business sector, most notably:
- Ministry of Commerce.
- Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development.
- Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing.
- Ministry of Justice.
- Ministry of Tourism.
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
- Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority.
- The General Organization for Social Insurance.
Strategic partnership to serve the Holy Capital
For his part, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Makkah Chamber of Commerce, Abdullah Saleh Kamel, commended this step, emphasizing that the branch's opening represents a qualitative leap in supporting the business environment in Makkah. He pointed out that the center's location within the Chamber's headquarters strengthens the concept of partnership between the public and private sectors and directly contributes to expediting procedures and stimulating economic growth in the region, especially given Makkah's religious and commercial significance as a global destination for Muslims.
This expansion of the Saudi Business Center's branches reflects the government's commitment to digital transformation and providing a seamless beneficiary experience that meets the best global standards in providing government services to the financial and business sector.
