The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chaired the Cabinet session held at Al-Salam Palace here today. At the outset of the session, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques briefed the Cabinet on the discussions with the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on the efforts exerted by the United Nations to achieve peace and stability in the world and stop bloodshed in some spots in the region, in addition to the exerted efforts on combating terrorism under the umbrella of the United Nations. In a statement to Saudi Press Agency (SPA) following the session, Minister of Culture and Information Dr. Abdulaziz bin Mohieddin Khoja said the Cabinet reviewed a number of reports on the latest developments at international arena and a number of issues at the domestic level. Then, the Cabinet listened to a brief presentation by the Secretariat General of the Cabinet highlighting a statistical, accurate and comprehensive report prepared by the Orders and Decisions Department at the Royal Court. The report dealt with the current situation of developmental and service projects in a number of ministries and governmental departments and commissions (20 bodies) over the period from 1/1/1427H to 1/1/1433H. The report classified the projects into those achieved, currently under implementation, and those not yet carried out. The report also quoted the relevant reporting offices of those governmental bodies in explaining why some projects were not implemented and the proposed solutions to overcome the impediments of implementation. Referring to the above-mentioned period, 39% of the projects has been implemented, 41% is still under implementation, and 20% is not yet implemented. No single department shoulders any of the above-mentioned percentage. It is shared by all of them at different levels, the report said. The report concluded that the governmental bodies have shown positive cooperation with the Royal Court's follow-up department. This will help the follow-up department to perform its duties in the future to achieve the aspirations of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz without delay. Dr. Khoja said the Cabinet hailed the role played by the Saudi Industrial Development Fund (SIDF) in developing the industrial sector in the Kingdom, including the SIDF's decision this week to support the less developed regions and cities in addition to a strategy of balanced development by raising the maximum loan in those regions and cities to SR 1.2 billion following a royal order to raise the capital of SIDF to SR40 billion. According to Dr. Khoja, the Cabinet then continued its discussion of the domestic agenda and issued the following decisions: The Cabinet gave the Ministry of Education the right to review the tuition fees of private schools in accordance with the regulations of the Ministry in this regard. It also has the right to amend such fees in line with those regulations. The Cabinet approved a number of measures regarding providing financial facilities for investors within the framework of King Abdullah Initiative for Agricultural Investment Abroad, including the stipulation that funding will not exceed 60% of investment volume. The Cabinet authorized the Ministry of Water and Electricity with the participation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Electricity and Co-Generation Regulatory Authority and Saudi Electricity Company to discuss with the Turkish side a draft electrical grid between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Republic of Turkey. The Cabinet approved a number of position transferences and appointments as follows: 1- Hamad bin Abdullah Al-Tuweijiri is appointed to the post of Adviser for Rural Affairs (rank 15) at the National Guard. 2- Eng. Aâ€TMbid bin Abdullah Al-Sadoun is appointed to the post of Petroleum Adviser (rank 15) at the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources. 3- Abdullah bin Mohammed Al-Madhi is appointed to the post of Minister Plenipotentiary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 4- Eng. Yunis bin Omar Al-Barrak is appointed to the post of Architect Consultant Engineer (rank 14) at the Ministry of Education.
