Monday's session, which made several decisions, was chaired by Shoura Council Chairman Abdullah Al-Asheikh.

Following the session, Muhammad Al-Ghamdi, secretary general of the Shoura Council, said the house made some recommendations when it went through the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Call and Guidance’s annual report.

The members recommended that adequate funds must be allocated by the ministry to build its own headquarters and carry out e-governance in all its departments.

The house also ratified the amended draft of the international convention for the simplification and harmonization of customs procedures, or the Kyoto Convention.

The house also gave the green light for the approval of a convention on temporary admission, the Istanbul Convention, a single international instrument combining all existing conventions on temporary admission. It is aimed at simplifying and harmonizing temporary admission procedures.

It entered into force on Nov. 27, 1993. Temporary admission without payment of customs duties is established to minimize the costs of border crossings and provides an important incentive for the development of a country’s economic activity.

The convention provides for the free movement of goods across frontiers and their temporary admission into a customs territory with relief from duties and taxes.

It also requires contracting parties to accept the ATA carnet, an international customs document that assures through an international guarantee system that duties and taxes will be paid in cases of misuse. To attract more foreign direct investments to Saudi Arabia, the house said that ways and means should be explored to provide a more conducive environment to attract more investments.

The house called on the Saudi Arabian Investment Authority to coordinate with the Ministry of Planning and Economy in overseeing the implementation of ongoing economic city projects throughout the Kingdom after going through the authority’s annual report.

Members also recommended that the General Organization For Social Insurance (GOSI) embrace all public servants under its scheme, adding that it should also have competent tribunals to settle disputes among its policy holders.