RIYADH: A new government policy-making council may accelerate privatizations of state-owned companies in Saudi Arabia, said Saudi Stock Exchange CEO Adel Al-Ghamdi.

The Council of Economic and Development Affairs, comprising top officials, was created by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman when he took the throne in January.

Al-Ghamdi, speaking at a major financial conference a day after the Capital Market Authority released rules allowing direct foreign investment in the Saudi stock market, said he had counted 10 companies that might be candidates for privatization.

He did not name them.