Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman chairs a meeting of Board of Trustees of King Fahd National Library at Al-Yamamah Palace in Riyadh on Tuesday. (SPA)

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman’s first year on the throne has provided further security and prosperity for citizens, and elevated the country’s status globally with its fight against terrorism, including setting up an alliance of 34 Muslim nations.

Ali Al-Naimi, minister of petroleum and mineral resources, said in a statement to SPA that the country has maintained its cohesion despite regional political instability and economic weakness.

Al-Naimi said the Kingdom would continue on this path toward further economic prosperity under the National Transformation Program 2020, which assesses and evaluates the performance and plans of the state’s agencies, focuses on the diversification of income, rationalizes spending, rearranges priorities, and provides jobs for Saudis.

He said the strategy also aims to attract and facilitate investment in the mining sector. The sector has witnessed significant developments, with the establishment of two industrial cities, Ras Al-Khair City for Mining Industries on the Arabian Gulf for phosphate and bauxite, and the King Abdullah Project for the Development of Waad Al-Shamal City in the Northern Border Region. He said these two industrial cities would diversify income, provide employment opportunities for citizens, and raise the average income of families in the Kingdom.

He said the Kingdom has proven that it plays a crucial role in ensuring economic and political stability across the globe. King Salman’s vision has ensured this continues, particularly as the world’s largest oil exporter with the most proven reserves, and the producer of increasing amounts of natural gas for domestic use in the country.

Related articles across the web

• Saudi Arabia foils large-scale fuel smuggling bid
• GCC chases 'Gulf union' dream at Riyadh summit - Khaleej Times
• Crude falls below $35 a barrel for first time since 2009
• Effat launches virtual reality research center
• Opec to keep pumping out record oil volumes despite growing global glut, sources say
• Hajj stampede killed three times Saudi Arabia's official number, says report
• Saudi students abroad
• Confusion clouds Saudi Arabia's coalition against militancy | Reuters
• Initial Results Show 5 Saudi Women Elected for First Time
• Mohammed Ismail F