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A delegation from the General Authority for Statistics, led by Dr. Fahad bin Abdullah Aldossari , GASTAT President, met with several government officials and private sector representatives in Estonia as part of their visit to the Republic of Estonia. During the meetings, they discussed ways to enhance cooperation in the statistical field, reviewed the latest developments in statistical practices, and strengthened the exchange of expertise. It is worth noting that this visit is part of a series of reciprocal visits with statistical agencies aimed at fostering cooperation, sharing experiences, and localizing practices that add value to GASTAT’s initiatives. The delegation also aimed to demonstrate the progress in statistical work in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which is supported by the generous leadership, reflecting its commitment to providing data and statistical indicators that aid in development planning and inform both the local and international community about the advancements occurring in the Kingdom across all sectors.

The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) announced today a 10.5% increase in non-oil exports in the second quarter of 2024 compared to the second quarter of 2023. Additionally, national non-oil exports, excluding re-exports, increased by 1.4%, while the value of re-exported goods rose by 39.1% during the same period, according to the International Trade Publication for the second quarter of 2024. The Publication's results revealed a 4.3% rise in non-oil exports, including re-exports, while merchandise exports saw a 0.2% decline in the second quarter of 2024 compared to the same quarter in 2023. Imports also decreased by 5.6%, driven by a 3.3% decrease in oil exports. The share of oil exports in total exports fell to 75.0% in the second quarter of 2024, down from 77.4% in the corresponding quarter of the previous year. The Publication also reported a 3.0% increase in the Kingdom's imports during the second quarter of 2024. As for the trade balance, the surplus decreased by 6.0% compared to the same quarter of the previous year. Compared to the first quarter of 2024, the value of merchandise exports remained stable, while the value of imports decreased by 5.6%. The trade balance surplus increased by 13.2% compared to the first quarter of 2024. Additionally, the International Trade Publication for June 2024 indicated that the value of non-oil exports (including re-exports) reached SAR 21.6 billion in June 2024, compared to SAR 20.1 billion in June 2023, an increase of SAR 1.5 billion, or 7.3%. Meanwhile, the value of oil exports amounted to SAR 66.3 billion in June 2024, compared to SAR 73.2 billion in June 2023, a decrease of SAR 6.8 billion, or 9.3%. The decline in oil exports had the greatest impact on the decrease in merchandise exports. The value of merchandise exports was SAR 87.9 billion in June 2024, compared to SAR 93.3 billion in June 2023, a decrease of SAR 5.4 billion, or 5.8%. In contrast, the value of the Kingdom's merchandise imports was SAR 57.7 billion in June 2024, compared to SAR 60.8 billion in June 2023, a decrease of SAR 3.1 billion, or 5.1%.

The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) signed a memorandum of cooperation with Qassim University aimed at enhancing collaboration, improving coordination, and integrating efforts in their respective fields. The agreement also includes joint research initiatives between the two parties. It was signed by Dr. Fahad bin Abdullah Aldossari, President of GASTAT, and Prof. Mohammed bin Fahad Alsharekh, President of Qassim University. The agreement covers several areas, such as collaboration in developing and supporting academic programs focused on statistics, conducting external reviews of curricula, and providing researchers with access to interactive maps for estimating and analyzing statistical data. It also includes cooperation in data sharing, statistical indicators, and the execution of statistical surveys, along with the organization of lectures, seminars, and workshops in statistics and related disciplines. Furthermore, the agreement offers opportunities for cooperative and summer training for university students. In this regard, Dr. Fahad Aldossari, President of GASTAT, highlighted that statistical work plays a vital role in achieving the goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 by establishing and assessing statistical indicators. He pointed out that the collaboration with Qassim University aids in tracking progress towards national goals and sustainable development targets through joint efforts to improve data exchange performance, address the needs of both parties, and stay abreast of statistical advancements in scientific research and future trends for developing statistical products that bolster the national economy and sustainable development. The partnership also seeks to enhance community awareness and understanding of various sectors and their activities. It is worth noting that the General Authority for Statistics is the official entity responsible for statistics in the Kingdom, serving as the sole official reference for conducting statistical work and supervising its technical and organizational aspects. GASTAT tasks include collecting statistical data and information from public and private entities as well as individuals, in addition to analyzing and studying this data to calculate various statistical indicators. GASTAT also provides consultancy and statistical reports for surveys and research, among other data and statistics services within its scope of work. Qassim University, in turn, is dedicated to achieving its educational and scientific goals and strategic plans, playing a significant and active role in development efforts by building bridges of cooperation with government entities across various sectors. The university aligns with the Kingdom's ongoing development in all fields, channeling its efforts to enhance the nation's status and support the continuous work towards achieving Vision 2030.

The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) invites graduates from the statistics and mathematics departments, along with several other specializations, to join the Saudi Statistician Program. This initiative aims to attract young national talents to develop a distinguished cadre of national specialists in the field of statistics, enabling Saudi youth with expertise in the field of statistics to contribute to GASTAT’s  national role. GASTAT emphasized that this initiative aligns with the ongoing efforts to empower university graduates, enhance their capabilities and skills, and add value to the statistical sector. It aims to build a generation capable of supporting statistical activities and national institutions in both the public and private sectors, recognizing the critical role of the sector in aiding policy and decision makers. In this context, GASTAT outlined several stages for joining the program. These include employing recent graduates to work directly at GASTAT for one year, during which they will receive intensive training in statistical work. This is followed by sponsoring them to pursue a master's degree. The program, open for applications until August 29 of this year, specifies the required specializations: statistics, mathematics, big data and analytics, economics, data science, quantitative methods, and data engineering. It is noteworthy that GASTAT aims to achieve achieve leadership and advancement in the statistical sector, striving to be the most distinguished and innovative statistical reference to support social and economic development in Saudi Arabia, following the best international standards and practices.