JEDDAH, 27 April 2003 — Saudi Arabia is likely to create new ministries and merge some of the existing ones as part of a Cabinet reshuffle scheduled for early next month, informed sources told Arab News.
The sources said the plan to create and merge ministries came in response to the recommendations of a ministerial committee in charge of administrative reforms.
The Ministry of Industry and Electricity is likely to be merged with the Commerce Ministry. Two new authorities will be set up to regulate electricity services and industrial cities, the sources said.
“The two authorities will have most powers currently vested with the Ministry of Industry and Electricity. So, there will not be any need for a separate ministry,” the sources said.
The sources also indicated the possibility of establishing a new ministry of foreign trade with two main goals: Boosting exports and expediting the Kingdom’s admission to the World Trade Organization.
There is another possibility to separate economy from the existing Ministry of Finance and National Economy and merge it with the Ministry of Planning as recommended by the Shoura Council.
Expectations are high for the formation of a new ministry of environment and appointment of a new state minister for foreign affairs, the sources said.
The Cabinet reshuffle could be announced on May 4, the sources said, adding that the coming Cabinet meeting will be the last of the present Cabinet.
There are reports that 11 ministers, who have completed two four-year terms, will be replaced in the Cabinet reshuffle.
According to the Council of Ministers System introduced by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd in 1995, a minister who has completed two four-year terms would not be re-appointed unless excepted by the king.
A report carried by Al-Watan said 11 ministers may not be part of the new Cabinet as they have completed two terms.
The most prominent among the 11 ministers are: Petroleum and Mineral Resources Minister Ali Al-Naimi, Commerce Minister Osama Faqeeh, Information Minister Dr. Fouad Al-Farsy, Higher Education Minister Dr. Khaled Al-Anqari and Education Minister Dr. Muhammad Al-Rasheed.
The remaining six are: Communications Minister Dr. Nasser Al-Salloum, Municipal and Rural Affairs Minister Muhammad Al-Jarallah, Industry and Electricity Minister Dr. Hashim Yamani, Agriculture Minister Abdullah Muammar, Health Minister Osama Shubokshi and Justice Minister Abdullah Al-Sheikh.
Next month’s Cabinet reshuffle will be the third. The first took place in 1995 and the second was on June 16, 1999.
It is widely expected that the new Cabinet ministers will be selected from the Shoura Council, which Saudis say has become a training ground for heading a ministry.
The present Cabinet consists of the prime minister, two deputy prime ministers, 20 executive ministers, seven state ministers, a secretary-general, an assistant secretary-general and the king’s advisers.
A new ministry was created last year for water, separating it from the Ministry of Agriculture and Water.
