The Cabinet Monday reviewed and approved the country's 9th Development Plan for the period 2010 to 2014, which will see a 67 percent increase in spending on the previous plan to a record new total of SR1,444 billion. Presiding over the Cabinet, King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, directed all government departments to implement their programs and projects as scheduled. He said that completing these projects on time serves to improve the quality of life for citizens. Most of the spending is allocated for the human resources sector that includes education and training. There will also be spending on social development, health, municipal services, housing, culture, transport, communications and other sectors. Long-term strategy for sustainable development In a statement on the eve of the approval of the Kingdom's 9th Five-Year Development Plan, Minister of Economy and Planning Dr. Khaled Bin Muhammad Al-Gosaibi, said the new plan is a long-term strategy for sustainable development. He said due attention has been given to the country's competitiveness, the growth of a knowledge economy and youth issues. Human development resources has received the lion's share at 50.6 percent; the social development and health sector 19 percent; and transportation and municipal and housing services respectively at 15.7 percent, 7.7 percent and 7.0 percent, said Al-Gosaibi. The Cabinet also approved an agreement between the Kingdom and Syria on double taxation and capital and income tax evasion which was signed in Damascus, Syria last year. It also approved a memorandum of understanding between the Saudi General Organization of Social Insurance and its counterpart in Yemen, which was signed in Riyadh earlier this year. King wishes Ummah a blessed Ramadan The King congratulated the people of Saudi Arabia and the Arab and Muslim World on the advent of the holy month of Ramadan, calling on everyone to appreciate the greatness of the month, to follow the example of the Prophet Muhammad, (peace be upon him), and to work for the welfare of Islam and Muslims. The King called on ministers and senior officials in charge of executing Ramadan Plan to exert more effort and have the best services available for visitors and Umrah pilgrims. Minister of Culture and Information Dr. Abdulaziz Khoja said in a statement to Saudi Press Agency (SPA) after the session, that the King briefed the Cabinet on his talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. The King also briefed members on a message he received from Yemen's President Ali Abdullah Saleh. Israeli aggression condemned The Cabinet also condemned Israel's attack on Lebanese territory last Tuesday, stressing that the attack is a violation of the international resolution number 1701 and is targeting the security and stability of Lebanon. The Council of Ministers called on the international community to play its role to prevent a repeat of Israel's aggression on the sovereignty of Lebanon. The Cabinet also expressed the Kingdom's condolences to the governments and peoples of Pakistan and China for the victims of floods resulting in the death of hundreds and the loss of millions of homes. The Cabinet welcomed the decision of the World Heritage Committee to register Hai Al-Turaif in historic Al-Diriya on its heritage list during its recent meeting in Brasilia, Brazil.
