Multilateral action needed to promote sustainable economic growth, says Saudi finance minister

Saudi Minister of Finance and Chair of the International Monetary and Financial Committee Mohammed Al-Jadaan. X/@MAAljadaan
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Updated 22 October 2024
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Multilateral action needed to promote sustainable economic growth, says Saudi finance minister

  • Saudi minister of finance said low-income nations are most affected by challenges facing global community
  • Mohammed Al-Jadaan said global financial institutions must continue to adjust quickly and decisively to solve challenges

RIYADH: Multilateral action should be adopted to address current risks and promote future sustainable economic growth and human development, a top Saudi official reiterated.  

While attending Macro Week at the Peterson Institute for International Economics on Oct. 21 in Washington, D.C., alongside the 2024 International Monetary Fund and World Bank Group Annual Meetings, Saudi Minister of Finance and Chair of the International Monetary and Financial Committee Mohammed Al-Jadaan highlighted that low-income nations are the most affected by challenges facing the global community.  

During his speech, Al-Jadaan also underlined that it is essential that global financial institutions continue to adjust quickly and decisively to solve challenges such as poverty and inequality, according to a statement.   

This commitment falls in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 goal of a “Thriving Economy,” which stipulates generating diversified opportunities and attracting global talents and expertise to contribute to Saudi Arabia’s economic development.   

It also aligns well with the Sustainable Development Goal of promoting inclusive and long-lasting economic growth and achieving full and productive employment, decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value by 2030.   

“MDBs (Multilateral Development Banks) need to increase their focus on capacity-building, as well as provide the support and advice needed,” Al-Jadaan said during his speech.

“Today, I participated in the PIIE Macro Week on the sidelines of the 2024 Annual Meetings of the IMF and the World Bank, during which I stressed the importance of strengthening multilateral action to achieve sustainable economic growth.,” the minister said in a statement on X. 

The SDGs cover several aspects, including strengthening the capacity of domestic financial institutions to encourage and expand access to banking, insurance, and financial services for all.

It also entails protecting labor rights and promoting safe and secure environments accessible to everyone, including migrant workers – mainly females – and those in precarious employment. 

PIIE is recognized as a prominent global research institution that offers policy analysis and pragmatic approaches to bolster the resilience of the global economy. 

The organization strives to enhance global economic stability through actionable solutions by engaging top-tier experts in the field. 

PIIE Macro Week aims to assemble finance ministers, central bankers, governmental authorities, and industry influencers worldwide for deliberations on macroeconomic matters. This event also seeks to identify strategies to fortify global economic steadiness and advancement.


Oman money supply rises 6.4% to $68.6bn in November 

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Oman money supply rises 6.4% to $68.6bn in November 

JEDDAH: Oman’s money supply climbed 6.4 percent to 26.4 billion Omani rials ($68.6 billion) in November, signaling solid liquidity conditions and continued growth in bank deposits, official data showed.  

The increase in broad money — a measure that includes cash in circulation and bank deposits — was driven by a 12.2 percent rise in cash and demand deposits, alongside a 4.1 percent increase in savings and time deposits, the Oman News Agency reported. 

The latest reading follows steady gains earlier in 2025, with money supply up 6.1 percent in the three months through August. This was supported by a 6.9 percent rise in narrow money and a 5.8 percent increase in quasi-money. The trend reflects sustained liquidity conditions and stronger deposit growth across the banking system. 

The expansion in monetary aggregates points to continued liquidity and policy support for private-sector lending, as Oman advances fiscal and economic reforms under its Vision 2040 strategy. 

“During the same period, currency in circulation increased 1.9  percent, while demand deposits rose 14.1 percent,” the ONA report stated. 

At conventional commercial banks, the weighted average deposit rate in Omani rials declined to 2.50 percent in November from 2.73 percent a year earlier, while the weighted average lending rate eased to 5.45 percent from 5.67 percent over the same period. 

The overnight interbank lending rate averaged 3.92 percent in November, down from 4.56 percent a year earlier, reflecting a decline in the weighted average repo rate to 4.5 percent from 5.30 percent, influenced by US Federal Reserve policy shifts. 

Meanwhile, total assets of Islamic banks and windows reached about 9.3 billion Omani rials by the end of November, accounting for 19.4 percent of the Gulf state’s total banking sector assets.  

“This marks a 12.3 percent increase compared with the same period in 2024,” ONA reported, citing data from the Central Bank of Oman. 

Total financing by Islamic banking units rose 10.3 percent to around 7.5 billion rials, while deposits increased 10.9 percent to approximately 7.3 billion rials by the end of November. 

The November data follows the International Monetary Fund’s 2025 Article IV consultation report, released earlier this month, which highlighted the continued resilience of Oman’s economy amid global uncertainty. 

The IMF cited steady growth in non-hydrocarbon sectors, low inflation, and broadly sound fiscal and external positions, underscoring the effectiveness of Oman’s coordinated economic and financial policies.