RIYADH: Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan on Tuesday said the Kingdom is intentionally running a budget deficit to achieve its development goals.

The Finance Ministry announced the quarterly budget performance report on Sunday. As per the report, the Kingdom posted a deficit of SR12.4 billion ($3.3 billion) in Q1, marking the sixth consecutive quarterly deficit with revenues amounting to SR293.4 billion and expenditures hitting a record SR305.8 billion.

“We’re intentionally running a sustainable deficit for economic development, contrasting with mandatory borrowing in some nations for essential but unproductive expenses,” the minister told Al-Eqtisadiyah in an interview.

He said the deficit is not merely a consequence but an attempt to achieve development goals. The minister said the government prioritizes spending to accelerate the implementation of its development strategies and projects.

Al-Jadaan also shed light on the overall situation of the global economy and how Saudi Arabia’s prudent fiscal policies have supported growth and enhanced the Kingdom’s resilience in dealing with changes.

Regarding the budget deficit and its potential impact on the economy, he reassured citizens that managing the budget deficit is a top priority.

The minister clarified that as long as the deficit is directed toward productive expenses, the government views it as acceptable, as it generates economic returns that exceed the cost of debt.

Highlighting sustainable financial policies, Al-Jadaan cited the government’s efforts to reduce its reliance on oil revenues by diversifying sources of income.

He said non-oil revenues made up 38 percent of the total income in 2023, compared to 9 percent in 2015. The minister said the ratio of non-oil revenues to covering expenditure ceilings was about 17 percent in 2015 and surged to reach 35 percent in 2023.

Al-Jadaan said: “Financial policies can enhance financial inclusion and access to funding, both vital for supporting entrepreneurship, small and medium-sized enterprises, and innovation. This contributes to achieving the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, which has succeeded in unprecedented achievements across various sectors.”

He also addressed the efficiency of government spending and its pivotal role in fostering economic development and bolstering economic resilience.

“We are committed to optimizing government expenditures by directing them toward promising strategies aimed at diversifying the economic base,” the official added.

He said by the end of 2023, total government spending had reached approximately SR1.29 trillion, reflecting continued progress in implementing initiatives and structural reforms.

These initiatives include regional and sectoral strategies supportive of structural transformation for comprehensive sectoral development and economic diversification, Al-Jadaan added.

Moreover, the finance minister revealed that active efforts are underway to attract both domestic and foreign investments that stimulate economic growth and contribute to reducing the budget deficit.

Commenting on the impact of strategic spending on the national economy, he said it “involves directing and allocating financial resources toward specific goals and priorities that align with long-term economic objectives.”

This is achieved by strategically guiding funds, enabling governments and institutions to stimulate economic growth and development, foster innovation, and enhance productivity, he explained.

The minister went on to say that for instance, investments in additional industrial zones, expanding ports’ capacities, and investing in roads have led to significant growth in industrial investments and logistics services, creating business opportunities and employment for many citizens.

“This supports economic activity and raises the non-oil gross domestic product, thereby increasing non-oil revenues and covering additional debt costs,” he added.

Al-Jadaan said that strategic spending has a multiplier effect on the economy, like creating jobs and enhancing trade through infrastructure investments.

The minister also highlighted Saudi Arabia’s remarkable international presence over the past seven years.

He emphasized that Saudi Vision 2030 has positioned the Kingdom as a preferred and leading destination worldwide.

Al-Jadaan explained: “The foreign direct investment as a percentage of GDP reached 2.4 percent, which stimulated economic growth and bolstered the Kingdom’s competitiveness in the global market, leading it to advance seven positions to become one of the top 20 countries in the Global Competitiveness Report for the year 2023.”

Additionally, Saudi Arabia participated in regional economic integration initiatives, strengthened close economic relations with neighboring countries, and capitalized on regional markets to achieve mutual benefits.

“The Ministry of Finance has undertaken the task of enhancing international cooperation in financial policies through fostering international economic and trade partnerships, exchanging expertise, and promoting development at both regional and global levels,” the minister said.

Al-Jadaan emphasized Saudi Arabia’s commitment to promoting international dialogue. “We take pride in the Kingdom’s strong relations with international organizations, believing in the importance of international cooperation to achieve development, enhance peace and international security, promote human rights, combat climate change, and foster economic collaboration.”

Saudi Arabia chaired the G20 meetings, the most important global economic forum, in 2020 and effectively managed global consensus on addressing the COVID-19 pandemic.

He emphasized that the Kingdom has presented initiatives that are still being implemented globally, including the Debt Service Suspension Initiative for the benefit of poor countries, further enhancing its international standing.

Moreover, Saudi Arabia won the bid to host the 2030 International Expo, further solidifying its international position. The Kingdom’s nominees also secured victories in several international organizations.

In terms of financial and monetary policy, Saudi Arabia’s recent successes and its active participation in local, regional, and international events led the IMF to choose the Kingdom to chair the International Monetary and Financial Committee.

“This reflects the close and long-standing relationship between the two sides, affirming the Kingdom’s commitment to actively participate in shaping and implementing international financial and economic policies,” Al-Jadaan added.

The minister highlighted the IMF’s Riyadh-based regional office and said: “The opening of the IMF’s regional office in Riyadh is a strategic move that reflects the Kingdom’s commitment to enhancing international cooperation and promoting economic stability at the regional level.”

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All Share Index dipped on Tuesday, losing 14.51 points, or 0.12 percent, to close at 12,357.99.

The total trading turnover of the benchmark index was SR7.03 billion ($1.87 billion) as 70 of the listed stocks advanced, while 150 retreated.   

Similarly, the MSCI Tadawul Index decreased by 1.42 points, or 0.09 percent, to close at 1,547.71.

The Kingdom’s parallel market Nomu slipped by 49.36 points, or 0.18 percent, to close at 26,741.64. This comes as 24 of the listed stocks advanced while as many as 28 retreated.

The best-performing stock of the day was Batic Investments and Logistics Co., whose share price surged by 6.36 percent to SR3.51.

Other top performers include Development Works Food Co. Ltd and Electrical Industries Co., whose share prices soared 5.42 percent and 4.97 percent to SR128.40 and SR5.70, respectively.

Other top performers include Saudi Co. for Hardware and Zahrat Al Waha for Trading Co.

The worst performer was Saudi Real Estate Co., whose share price dropped by 7.61 percent to SR22.34.

Other worst performers were Al-Baha Investment and Development Co. as well as Americana Restaurants International PLC, whose share prices dropped by 7.14 percent and 5.07 percent to stand at SR0.13 and SR3.18, respectively.

Additional poor performers include United Cooperative Assurance Co. and AlSaif Stores for Development and Investment Co.  

On the announcements front, Americana Restaurants International PLC announced its interim financial results for the period ending on March 31, with revenues amounting to SR1.85 million, down from SR2.21 million in the corresponding period in 2023.

The company attributed the 16.3 percent decline to lower like-for-like sales due to ongoing geopolitical tensions in the region, as well as reduced sales volumes in March due to shifts in consumer behavior during Ramadan.

Net profits also decreased by 51.8 percent to reach SR105,090 in the first three months of 2024 compared to SR217,984 in the same period last year.

According to a statement by the company on Tadawul, this decrease was attributed to lower sales due to the geopolitical situation and the onset of Ramadan, as well as higher depreciation charges and rent expenses on account of new store openings during the period.

Saudi Real Estate Co. also announced its financial results for the same period, with revenues surging by 8.8 percent to reach SR427.6 million, compared to SR393 million in 2023.

The increase was primarily driven by a 28 percent surge in revenues from infrastructure projects, totaling SR56 million, and a 23 percent increase in rental revenue, totaling SR15 million.

However, the company’s net profits decreased in the first quarter of this year to SR2.9 million, marking a 67.4 percent decline compared to the same quarter in 2023.

This decline, as stated in an official Tadawul announcement, was attributed to an increase in cost of revenues resulting in a 13 percent increase, totaling SR34 million, a 14 percent rise in general and administrative expenses amounting to SR5 million, and an increase in finance costs by 14 percent with the amount of SR8 million