المملكة: "Shura" Demands the implementation of the Jubail-Qassim road and a study of the establishment of the coastal train

Hold The Shura Council Today held its twenty-eighth regular session of the work of the second year of the ninth session – via video conference – headed by the Deputy Chairman of the Council, Dr. Mishal bin Fahm Al-Sulami.

At the beginning of the session, the Council reviewed the agenda of its session, and the items contained therein, and took the necessary decisions regarding them, as it issued a decision regarding what was included in the annual report of the Spending Efficiency Authority and Government projects For the fiscal year 1446/1447 AH, in which the Authority for Expenditure Efficiency and Government Projects requested the development of a national framework; To measure the overall impact of its initiatives on the quality of services; Including the financial, economic, social and development dimensions.

The Council took its decision after listening to the point of view of the Financial and Economic Committee, which was read by the Council member and Chairman of the Committee, Dr. Fahd Al-Takhaifi, regarding the members’ observations and opinions that they expressed in a previous session regarding what was included in the annual report of the Spending Efficiency and Government Projects Authority.

In its decision, the Council asked the Authority to coordinate with the relevant authorities; To develop a governance mechanism to manage the life cycle of government projects; This contributes to avoiding default and maximizing the return on government investments.

Efficiency of financial planning

In his decision, he called on the authority to coordinate with Ministry of Finance, Digital Government Authority and relevant authorities; To expand direct technical connectivity with government financial and executive systems; In a way that enhances the efficiency of financial planning, supports proactive decision-making, and contributes to raising operational efficiency.

In the same decision, the Council called on the Authority to include consulting services in the list of goods and services in the system of framework agreements to enhance competitiveness in prices, raise technical specifications, and achieve higher efficiency in government spending.

In its decision, the Council called on the Authority to expand the application of the pillars program for sustaining spending efficiency; To include a larger number of government agencies; In order to enhance investment in the infrastructure, and contribute to raising the level of institutional maturity at the public sector level.

Personal Status Issues

He issued another decision during the session in which he called on the Ministry of Justice to coordinate with the relevant authorities; To adopt an initiative to raise awareness of personal status issues, while developing implementation mechanisms and indicators to measure impact; In a way that reduces family conflicts.

The Council took its decision after hearing a response from Council member and Chairman of the Islamic and Judicial Affairs Committee, Dr. Assem Madkhali, regarding the observations and opinions expressed by Council members after the annual report of the Ministry of Justice for the fiscal year 1446/1447 AH was presented for discussion.

In its decision, it called on the Ministry to take the necessary measures for notaries to perform all the services stipulated in Article (Fifteen) of the Law. documentation; Issued by Royal Decree No. M/164 dated 11/9/1441 AH.

The Council also issued another decision during this session in which it requested the General Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises to coordinate with the relevant authorities; To develop flexible standards for government fees and financial compensation that take into account the size of the establishment, its age, its geographical area, and the nature of its activity.

Trade and Investment Committee

The Council made its decision after listening to the viewpoint of the Trade and Investment Committee, which was read by Council Member and Vice Chairman of the Committee, Thamer Nassif, regarding the members’ observations and opinions that they expressed in a previous session regarding what was included in the annual report of the General Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises for the fiscal year 1446/ 1447 AH.

In his decision, he called on the Authority to coordinate with the relevant authorities. To expand the scope of the initiative "recovery"; To include small and medium-sized non-profit organizations, as well as coordination with relevant authorities; To develop specific initiatives and incentives; To raise the nationalization rates in small and medium enterprises that are intensive with foreign workers, in a way that does not affect their financial sustainability.

In the same decision, the Shura Council called on the General Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises to coordinate with the Small and Medium Enterprises Bank; To facilitate emerging companies’ access to financing through the localization of innovative investment financing tools, and to enhance their acceptance in the judiciary and arbitration.

The Council stressed in its decision that the Authority must develop a comprehensive national framework; To measure impact with a focus on qualitative results and sustainability of facilities.

Transport and Logistics Services

In addition, the Council discussed the annual report of the Ministry of Transport and Logistics Services for the fiscal year 1446/1447 AH, after listening to a report submitted by the Committee on Transport, Communications and Information Technology, followed by Council member and Chairman of the Committee Dr. Issa Al-Otaibi, regarding what was included in the Ministry’s annual report.

After putting the committee’s report up for discussion, the Council members expressed a number Among the observations and opinions regarding what was included in the annual report of the Ministry of Transport and Logistics Services, the member of the Shura Council, Dr. Maida Al-Ghamdi, called on the Ministry of Transport and Logistics Services to invest in creating an integrated artificial intelligence system based on the data available through machine learning models to analyze the movement of freight and traffic, and to predict bottlenecks and supply interruptions before they occur, enabling decision makers to proactively intervene and improve operational efficiency at the national level.

In turn, Council member Fadel Al-Buainain pointed out the importance of completing the link Roads in various regions of the Kingdom, in order to enhance the system of transportation, logistics services, commercial flows, and supply chains, calling for the start of implementation of the Jubail-Qassim Road Project, Yanbu Axis, because of its importance in linking the east of the Kingdom with its west.

In his intervention on the report, Council Member Dr. Abdullah Al-Wagdani called on the Ministry of Transport and Logistics Services to study the construction of the coastal train, as it is characterized by low construction costs and multi-purpose as it serves Hajj, Umrah, tourism, and internal transportation for a number of regions of the Kingdom. It can also serve international transport, and the line can be used in the future by adding a freight train linking the Kingdom’s ports on the Red Sea coast.

Increasing logistical centers

For her part, Shura Council member Dr. Aisha Arishi called on the Ministry of Transport and Logistics to study increasing logistical centers on the western coast of the Kingdom, and to work on finding plans that would contribute to raising the share of economic airlines from domestic flights.

In his intervention on the report, Council member Major General Dr. Abdul Rahman asked Al-Harbi Ministry of Transport and Logistics Services is working to find solutions to the challenges facing the ministry through coordination with various government agencies.

While Council member Dr. Ali Al-Lahim pointed out in his intervention the importance of the Ministry studying building an integrated national operating model based on digital integration and operational flexibility between different modes of transport (land, rail, sea and air), to ensure the efficiency of the sector, enhance its competitiveness, and achieve economic sustainability.

For his part, Council member Dr. Assem Madkhali called on the Ministry of Transport to coordinate With the relevant authorities – accelerating the completion of the coastal road project linking the west and south of the Kingdom.

At the end of the discussion, the committee asked to be given more time to study the opinions and proposals put forward by the members and to return its point of view to the council in a later session.

A national platform for social research

Among the topics on the agenda of this session, the council discussed the annual report of the National Center for Social Studies and Research for the fiscal year 1446/1447 AH, after listening to a report It was submitted by the Human Resources and Social Development Committee, followed by Council Member and Chairman of the Committee Abdullah Al Tawi, regarding what was included in the Centre’s annual report.

After the committee’s report was put up for discussion, the Council members expressed a number of observations and opinions regarding what was included in the annual report of the National Center for Social Studies and Research, where Shura Council member Dr. Ghada Al-Hudhali called on the National Center for Social Studies and Research to monitor and analyze the phenomena and issues under study in their initial stages so that it can formulate early effective solutions and treatments that support Decision making and creating a sustainable impact.

For his part, Council member Dr. Abdullah Al-Najjar called on the National Center for Social Studies and Research, in coordination with relevant authorities, to work on developing a unified national platform for social research that includes a central database for research, identifies national research priorities, and works to direct funding towards issues with the highest impact.

Shura Council member Dr. Hani Aburas also pointed out the importance of the Center’s role not being limited to producing studies and developing tools, but rather it must be a reference to be relied upon in related fields. With its specializations, especially in light of its orientation towards studying phenomena in their early stages, the specialized national centers base their importance on their position in the system.

Study of various social phenomena

In turn, member of the Shura Council, Dr. Abdullah Al-Attas, pointed out the importance of the center strengthening its strategic partnerships to access data that is the real laboratory for studying various social phenomena accurately.

For his part, council member Dr. Muhammad Al-Aqeel called for studying the formation of a research body at the center to study and predict social developments before They occur and work to protect society from their harm by possible means.

In her intervention on the report, Council member Dr. Taqwa Omar pointed out the importance of strengthening institutional cooperation between the National Center for Social Studies and Research and the Research, Development and Innovation Development Authority, through establishing an official and sustainable coordination mechanism concerned with unifying and updating research priorities at the national level, aiming to invest resources, cover research gaps, and achieve integration between the strategic directions of research and actual social needs.

At the end of the discussion, the committee asked to be given more time to study what the members proposed. The Council discussed the annual report of the General Authority for Endowments for the fiscal year 1446/1447 AH, after listening to a report submitted by the Islamic and Judicial Affairs Committee, followed by the Council member and Chairman of the Committee, Dr. Assem Madkhali, regarding what was included in the Authority’s annual report.

After the committee’s report was presented for discussion, the Council members expressed A number of observations and opinions regarding what was included in the annual report of the General Authority for Endowments, where Shura Council member Dr. Ibrahim Al-Hadithi praised the role of the General Authority for Endowments in increasing societal legal awareness of the importance of endowments, which is a fundamental pillar for ensuring their sustainability and protection, calling on the Authority to strengthen its efforts to develop the governance of the sector.

For his part, Shura Council member Osama Al-Rabiah called on the General Authority for Endowments to implement a comprehensive regulatory framework for governance based on the principles of transparency to ensure efficient management of financial resources. And effectively, and to work with the competent authorities regarding the endowment system to fill the legislative vacuum related to regulating substantive provisions for endowments, and to give the endowment a legal personality and independent financial liability.

The National Center for Palms and Dates

At the end of the discussion, the committee asked to be given more time to study the opinions and proposals put forward by the members and to return its point of view to the Council in a later session.

During this session, the Council discussed the annual report of the National Center for Palms and Dates for the fiscal year. 1446/1447 AH, after listening to a report submitted by the Water, Agriculture and Environment Committee, followed by Council member and Chairman of the Committee, Dr. Khaled Zubair, regarding what was included in the Centre’s annual report.

After putting the committee’s report up for discussion, the committee requested in conclusion to be given more time to study the opinions or recommendations put forward by the members and to return its point of view to the Council in a later session.

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