The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is working hard to turn the society into a modern one, based on knowledge economy, the Kingdom's ambassador to Kuwait Dr. Abdulaziz bin Ibrahim Al-Fayez has said. The Saudi Vision 2030 is based on building vibrant society, a thriving economy and an ambitious nation, Al-Fayez told a press conference at the embassy on Tuesday. The Kingdom is working on transferring its economy from a traditional one based on a sole source of income to another that lives on modern technical developments, the envoy said, noting that the real wealth is the human element. Openness to the world does not at all imply that the Kingdom may offer concessions whatsoever, Al-Fayez stressed. Referring to similar plans announced by other Gulf states like Kuwait and the UAE, he said that it is a "complementary and symbiotic" matter. Any positive developments in the Kingdom will be reflected on sister countries like the GCC members. He pointed to the unprecedented falls in oil prices aid global trends toward new and renewable energy, and stressed the necessity of interacting with changes and diversifying sources of income. By 2030, the Saudi economy will have undergone radical changes, Al-Fayez said, highlighting the Kingdom's Arab and Muslim pivotal role. Vision 2030 is an ambitious plan that reflects enthusiasm and keenness by the Saudi leadership to promote the economy, he said. The Vision envisages increasing capacity to welcome Umrah visitors from 8 million at present to 30 million annually, in addition to offering five per cent of the Aramco for public prescription, he said. On Saudi women, the ambassador said that they had proved great success in various fields, especially education, and come to hold senior posts. Vision 2030 states that the "Saudi women are yet another great asset. With over 50 percent of our university graduates being female, we will continue to develop their talents, invest in their productive capabilities and enable them to strengthen their future and contribute to the development of our society and economy.
