The Saudi Council of Economic and Development Affairs is one of two subcabinets of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It was established by King Salman to replace the Supreme Economic Council, and is led by the King Salman’s son and Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, who holds additional roles such as Defense minister.
History The fall in oil prices in 2014, coupled with developing security threats led King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud to reshuffle the existing cabinet structure and staff. On 29 January 2015, days after assuming the throne, King Salman bin Abdulaziz ordered major changes to government including a cabinet reshuffle, via royal decree. He replaced a dozen existing cabinets, or advisory bodies, with two new ones: the Council of Political and Security Affairs, and the Council of Economic and Development Affairs, in order to improve efficiency in the government’s decision-making apparatus.
Each year, a meeting is chaired by the crown prince to review and assess the Council’s actions and decisions. Following an inaugural session in February 2015, review sessions were held in February 2016 and 2017: the first included briefs made by the Project Management Office (within CEDA) and the second featured briefs by the Ministry of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources as well as the Minister of Justice, on improving their respective entities’ outputs, to be in line with the kingdom’s Vision 2030.
Structure and function The Council of Economic and Development Affairs aims at establishing the overall governance, the mechanisms and measures necessary to achieve Saudi Vision 2030. The body addresses issues spanning all Saudi domestic affairs, from health, labor, education and Islamic affairs.
The council shall also make decisions on any matter under its jurisdiction that could prevent programs from achieving their goals. Several dedicated committees and management offices have been set up. The council breaks down the roles and responsibilities of the relevant government agencies and mechanisms, including a strategic committee and an office of strategic management.
Membership Council of Economic and Development Affairs Prince Mohammad bin Salman Al Saud Crown Prince and Prime Minister, President Dr. Walid bin Mohammed bin Saleh Al-Samaani Minister of justice, Member Dr. Musaad bin Mohammed Al Aiban Minister of State, Member of the Council of Ministers, MemberEng. Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al-Falih Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, MemberMohamed Bin Abdullah Al-Jadaan Minister of Finance, Member Minister of Labor and Social Development, Member Majed Al-Hogail Minister of Housing, Member Dr. Mohammad Saleh bin Taher Benten Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Member Mohammad Al-Tuwaijri Minister of Economy and Planning, MemberDr.Majid bin Abdullah Al Qasabi Minister of Commerce and Investment, MemberSaleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser Minister of Transport, Member Abdullah bin Amer Al-Sawaha Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Member Mohammed bin Abdulmalik Al Al Sheikh Minister of State, Member of the Council of Ministers, Member Fahad Al-Jalajel Minister of Health, Member Minister of Civil Service, Member Eng. Abdulrahman bin Abdulmohsen Al-Fadhli Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture, Member Dr. Hamad bin Mohammed Al Al-SheikhMinister of Education, MemberTurki Al-Shabanah Minister of Media, MemberBadr bin Abdullah bin Mohammed Al FarhanMinister of Culture, MemberFaisal bin Farhan Al SaudMinister of Foreign Affairs, MemberDr. Minister of State, Member of the Council of Ministers, Member Ghassan bin Abdulrahman Al-ShiblChairman of the board of directors of the Local Content and Government Procurement Commission, MemberAhmad bin Aqeel Al-KhatibChairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage, MemberMohammed bin Sulaiman Al-AjajiHead of experts commission at the Council of Ministers, Member
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