The council’s 39th regular meeting was held with its Chairman Abdullah Al-Asheikh presiding over the session on Sunday.
Shoura Council Secretary-General Muhammad Al-Ghamdi said members discussed the issue when the council’s Economic Affairs and Energy Committee presented a report on the Ministry of Economy and Planning’s development plans to promote development in the Kingdom.
In April, the Council of Ministers endorsed the general objectives of the Ninth Five-Year Development Plan (2010-2015), which focuses on human rights, education, national security, and the sustained progress and balanced development of regions in the Kingdom. The plan includes 65 operational plans in all of the Kingdom’s regions.
While appreciating intensive efforts of the ministry concerned to implement the scheme, Al-Ghamdi said members want further discussions on the matter, as they want to know the volume of investments, funding procedures, the project as a whole, the mode of implementation, contributions of private and public sector agencies, and the role of the project’s beneficiaries.
The house subsequently approved a draft Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the government and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. The main features of the MoU include continuing consultation and mutual understanding and cooperation between the two organizations on matters relating to the welfare of refugees and the organization of humanitarian assistance to refugees in the Kingdom.
Meanwhile, a meeting was held with members of the Saudi-Cote d’Ivoire Parliamentary Friendship Committee under the chairmanship of council member Mohammed bin Amin Al-Jafri on Sunday in Riyadh. During the meeting, issues of common interests were discussed and ways of enhancing parliamentary cooperation between the council and the Cote d’Ivoire National Assembly was reviewed. The meeting was attended by a number of officials.
Shoura Council Chairman Abdullah Al-Asheikh presented a check donation to the leader of the delegation to renovate the Cote d’Ivoire parliamentary premises which was damaged in a recent fire. Al-Asheikh said the contribution was being made under instructions from Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah.
The discussion was followed by a luncheon held in honor of the committee.
