Saudi-Arabien Wirtschaftshandbuch Saudi Arabia Business ... - Ghorfa

von 120 Mrd. US$ und Ausgaben von 109 Mrd. US$
mit einem Überschuss abschließen.
Der Internationale Währungsfonds hat anlässlich seiner
zuletzt im September 2007 mit Saudi-Arabien geführten
Konsultationen die von der Regierung ergriffenen Sparmaßnahmen
im Staatswesen, die weitere Verringerung
der Verteidigungsausgaben, den Subventionsabbau sowie
die Verbreiterung der Einkommensbasis als bedeutungsvoll
für die weitere Konsolidierung des Budgets
hervorgehoben. Ferner hat der IWF die Regierung ermuntert,
die Vorbereitungen für die Einführung einer
mittelfristigen Finanzplanung zügig umzusetzen.
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StAte fInAnceS
Generally, the status of the state budget depends on the
development of the oil price as the oil economy generates
around 82% of the budget income. In light of the current
oil price developments, the budget situation has stabilised
significantly since 2000; this is reflected in the abovementioned
reduction of the internal level of debt. Also,
the balance sheets of the autonomous state institutes, such
as the Public Pension Agency, the General Organization
for Social Insurance and the Public Investment Fund,
have been improved.
The oil income more than doubled in the period between
2001 and 2007 whilst the non-oil income grew by approx.
60%. This clearly shows that the government needs
WirTSchAfTSTrenDS – – economIc trendS
to strive to make the tax system more effective and to rationalise
the price structure of state goods and services.
With regard to expenditure, the reduction of subsidies is
still on the agenda. The favourable development of the
income allows a significant increase in expenditure in
social areas, which the state feels are important, such as
education, health, social welfare and the labour market.
The percentage of this expenditure compared to the total
expenditure is around 36% (2007); however the percentage
of public administration costs is still 21%, whilst the
investment expenditure totals 8%.
Continued economic growth and increasing oil prices
have led to a favourable budget trend with growing surpluses
in recent years. These budget surpluses will be used
specifically to further reduce the internal debt, to realise
infrastructure measures and to stock up the state development
funds.
The budget for 2007 continues with the previous primary
economic policies. Income of 193.7 billion US$ was
achieved against expenditure of 122.2 billion US$, which
again meant that a surplus was generated. The main areas
of the expenditure are the social fields of education, health
and the labour market and also the sectors of water, waste
water and traffic infrastructure (roads, ports, airports, railways).
New projects in the industrial towns of Jubail and
Yanbu and agricultural projects were given priority here.
The state costs were also high. The high level of expenditure
for personnel combined with the social system and defence
expenditure also burdened the budget heavily.
The budget draft for 2008 again concentrates on the
development of the social infrastructure, in particular
education, health, water and roads. The central focus is
also on research and development projects and the introduction
of information technology in the public administration
system. Furthermore, the aim is to also support
economic growth and create jobs by increasing the investment
expenditure. In 2008 again, the budget will generate
a surplus based on a planned income of 120 billion
US$ and expenditure of 109 billion US$.
After meetings with Saudi Arabia in September 2007,
the International Monetary Fund highlighted the economy
measures taken by the government in the state administration,
the further reduction of defence expenditure,
the reduction of subsidies and the broadening of the
income base as important for the further consolidation of
the budget. Also, the IMF encouraged the government to
finish the preparations for the introduction of a mediumterm
financial plan quickly.
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