Municipality services: a. Total expenditure amounts to SR (15.5) billion. b. New capital budget total SR (11.1) billion. New project include inter-city roads, intersection and bridges, road lights, and cleaning-related projects. 3- Transportation and telecommunication : a. Total expenditure amounts to SR (13.6) billion. b.New capital budget total SR (9.3) billion. New projects include roads totaling (8000) km to be added to (16000) km of roads currently under construction, ports, airports, and railroads development, and new postal services. 4- Water, Agriculture, and Infrastructure Sector: a.Total expenditure amounts to SR (24.8) billion. b. New capital budget total SR (21.7) billion. They include projects for water, sewage, and desalination projects amounting to SR (16.4) billion. In addition, the budget includes appropriation for the two industrial cities of Jubail and Yanbu, agricultural projects, and flour mill projects. 5- Specialized Credit Development Institutions and Government financing programs a. As mentioned earlier, there will be an increase in the capital of Public Investment Fund by SR (20) billion, and it will continue with other lending institutions to provide credits to projects and services in the areas of industry, agriculture, and major infrastructure projects. b. Loans disbursed by Real estate Development Fund, Saudi Industrial Development Fund, Saudi Credit and Saving Bank, and Agricultural Bank since their inception and up to the end of 2006 amounted to SR (216) billion. SR (14) billion is expected to be disbursed in 2007. c. Private higher education scholarship program will be initiated in 2007. d.Saudi Export Program managed by the Saudi Fund for Development financed SR (6.7) billion up to the end of 2006. Economic Developments in 2006: 1- Gross Domestic Product According to Central Department of Statistics and information, GDP is estimated to grow in 2006 by (12.4) percent in current prices (4.2) percent in constant prices ), reaching SR (1301) billion. Oil sector is expected to grow by (16) percent and private sector by (7.9) percent in current prices. --MORE
