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The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) has signed a memorandum of cooperation with the National Debt Management Center aimed at enhancing collaboration, strengthening coordination and integration of efforts in their respective fields of expertise, It also aims to establish a general framework for joint activities and tasks. The memorandum was signed by Dr. Fahad bin Abdullah Al-Dossari, President of the General Authority for Statistics, and Mr. Hani bin Madini Al-Madini, CEO of the National Debt Management Center. The memorandum included several tracks, including the exchange of support, technical and scientific expertise according to each party's specialization, as well as advice in their respective fields of expertise, including research, studies, and publications. In addition, it provides an opportunity for the employees of both parties to participate in developmental courses, seminars, scientific conferences, and workshops. In this context, Al-Dosssri indicated that the creation and measurement of statistical indicators is a key component of the statistical work that is necessary to achieve the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030. He underlined how crucial it is for GASTAT and the National Debt Management Center to collaborate in order to provide statistical data and indicators, as well as how government entities should integrate with one another. This will positively impact the success of collaborative efforts in line with GASTAT's ongoing development and transformation. In order to improve the economic and social statistical products that support the country's economy and sustainable development, he said that this partnership will help both parties meet their requirements and understand statistical developments and future trends. On his part, Al-Madani emphasized the significance of this memorandum in the framework of enhancing the knowledge sharing in related fields amongst government sectors. This will improve the ability to analyze data required to demonstrate the Kingdom's strong credit position.

As part of its efforts to provide statistical data and indicators that contribute to the development of the Saudi economy and support the diversification of its sources, the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) launched the Comprehensive Economic Survey, which aims to provide accurate statistical data and indicators to update the base year in the Gross Domestic Product, in addition to updating the statistical business record. Additionally, the survey aims to provide the necessary statistical data that contribute to identifying opportunities and defining challenges in economy development. GASTAT demonstrated that this survey will help provide statistical data that enables decision-makers, policymakers, and investors to deal with data for the purposes of local, regional, and international comparisons, as well as for conducting studies and analyses. GASTAT also pointed out that participating in providing data for the Comprehensive Economic Survey will contribute to the development of strategies and development plans, programs, and performance indicators in establishments engaged in various economic activities. It will further assist in building an integrated system of measures for the development and support of economic activities in the Kingdom, in a way that achieves the desired growth and sustainability. GASTAT has highlighted its ongoing commitment to utilizing all available resources to achieve precise statistical indicators, in line with the latest scientific methodologies and standards. This includes the implementation of the Comprehensive Economic Survey. It detailed that survey procedures would encompass telephone communication, self-completion, and field visits to collect economic data across different sectors. The objective is to offer a distinct overview of the economic indicators essential for understanding growth rates across various and economic establishments and sectors. This initiative is considered a crucial step towards fulfilling the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030. Moreover, GASTAT indicated that the Comprehensive Economic Survey encompasses all economic activities in the Kingdom, regardless of their size, type, or geographic scope. It noted that this survey is part of a collaborative framework involving all relevant governmental entities associated with economic activities. This collaboration is reflected in the design of the survey questionnaire, which adheres to precise statistical standards to ensure the provision of accurate statistical data and indicators used in measuring various aspects of economic indicators' preparation process, where this would help in understanding the growth rates of these sectors. GASTAT emphasizes that all data are treated with utmost confidentiality in accordance with the General Statistics Law issued by the Council of Ministers. It is impossible to publish data of establishments collected through electronic questionnaires. GASTAT is committed to protecting the privacy of this data, ensuring that it is only used for statistical purposes. This includes producing aggregate results and general indicators, strictly following the laws and regulations of the Kingdom. Therefore, GASTAT invites all establishments to participate in this survey and provide accurate statistical data and indicators on the economic establishments of the Kingdom. GASTAT also urges everyone to cooperate with the statistical researcher who will collect the required data, given the importance of establishment data in supporting the decision-making process and shaping economic policies. Furthermore, GASTAT welcomes all inquiries and requests via the unified statistical phone number (920020081), the customer support email (cs@stats.gov.sa), or GASTAT’s website (www.stats.gov.sa). Comprehensive Economic Survey : https://www.stats.gov.sa/en/awareness-surveys/CCS

Dr. Fahad bin Abdullah Aldossari, the President of the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT), met with businessmen from the private sector at the headquarters of the Federation of Saudi Chambers (FSC), in the presence of the Acting Secretary General of the Federation of Saudi Chambers, Mr. Waleed H. Alorainan. As part of the meeting, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed to cooperate in the field of statistics and exchange of expertise between (GASTAT) and (FSC). The aim is to contribute to the development and enhancement of economic statistics that support decision-makers and policymakers in both government and private sectors. During the meeting, the President of (GASTAT) discussed with businessmen and the private sector the pivotal role played by (GASTAT) in providing statistics, economic indicators, and other related information. The steps taken by (GASTAT) within its strategic transformation to develop its statistical products were also reviewed. Additionally, the role of the private sector in enhancing the efforts of (GASTAT) and the integration between them in developing economic indicators and statistical data, including data collection and analysis, was discussed. The (MoU) emphasizes cooperation in the areas of exchanging expertise and information between the two parties to develop statistical work and programs aimed at raising awareness in private sector establishments about the role and importance of (GASTAT) in performing its national duties. This includes participation in statistical surveys, facilitating access to information, exchanging visits between experts and specialists in relevant statistical fields, and benefiting from databases and information in shared areas. It also includes organizing conferences, seminars, and workshops between the two parties. The (MoU) was signed by Dr. Fahad Aldossari, the President of (GASTAT), and the Acting Secretary General of the Federation of Saudi Chambers, Mr. Waleed H. Alorainan, in the presence of several staff members from (GASTAT), (FSC), businessmen, and the private sector. Dr. Fahad Aldossari emphasized that the meeting between (GASTAT) and the private sector comes within the framework of improving performance regarding the development of statistical products and indicators. It aims to identify the needs and opportunities of the private sector in the field of statistical information and data. He also emphasized the importance of integrated work between (GASTAT) and private sector partners, which positively reflects on the success of joint work and enhances cooperation in line with the development and change process that (GASTAT) is undergoing. Additionally, it aims to benefit from advanced statistical programs and products that increase business and investment opportunities in various fields. From his side, Mr. Waleed H. Alorainan emphasized the importance of cooperation between (GASTAT)and the private sector, given the complementary roles between the two parties. Companies and institutions are the main source of data for GASTAT, while the statistics provided by GASTAT are among the most important sources relied upon by the business sector in studies, analysis, and strategic decision-making. He expressed his hope that this partnership would contribute to meeting the requirements of both parties and understanding the economic statistical developments and future trends for the development of statistical products and private sector opportunities that support the national economy, sustainable development, and the goals of Vision 2030. It is worth mentioning that (FSC) acts as an umbrella for the business sector and chambers of commerce in the Kingdom. It represents them at the local and international levels and works to develop the role of the private sector in the national economy in coordination with government agencies. It also represents the sector in forums, events, and conferences, and participates in local and international economic decision-making. Additionally, it enhances the Kingdom's trade and investment relations with the world and supports the access of Saudi exports to foreign markets.

The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) obtained the Institutional Excellence Certificate (Qualified by EFQM) from the European Foundation for Quality Management. GASTAT managed to obtain this certificate after achieving compliance with the EFQM model according to the RADAR matrix. This was through the application of institutional excellence standards set by the Foundation, which align with the directions of Saudi Vision 2030. The certificate was obtained due to commitment to the standards of the European Foundation for Quality Management and the application of its adopted model, which was established in 1989 and is considered the most widely spread around the world. Meeting the model's requirements is one of the directions pursued by several local and international entities in the field of institutional excellence. It enables organizations to achieve high-quality business results within a governance framework that contributes to business sustainability, improves work environments and increases productivity. This achievement highlights GASTAT's efforts exerted to develop its statistical system by ensuring sustainable quality operations, creating sustainable value for the statistical product, assessing the comprehensive experience, focusing on digital transformation, and utilizing modern technologies and international practices to ensure high efficiency in performance and access to high-quality statistics. The EFQM excellence model, launched by the European Foundation, is a comprehensive framework for corporate management systems, created to assist organizations in their approach towards establishing institutional work, raising the level of performance, meeting the needs of beneficiaries in terms of services, and ensuring sustainability. In this context, Dr. Fahad bin Abdullah Al-Dossari, President of the General Authority for Statistics, expressed his appreciation for the efforts made to align with the European model of institutional excellence by EFQM. He noted that obtaining this certificate is an important contributor to sustainability and development. It also supports GASTAT and its staff in raising the level of performance and developing their operations, especially since it was achieved through an external evaluation by the European Foundation for Quality Management based on a comprehensive and precise set of practical procedures covering all GASTAT's technical and administrative activities. He added, "Through continuous institutional planning and development, we have achieved excellence in this critical stage that GASTAT is experiencing, as it is going through a comprehensive transformation at various levels, striving to achieve the highest standards of quality. This comes from the efforts and collaboration of GASTAT staff and the hard work they put in to be part of this success." It is worth mentioning that the European Foundation for Quality Management is an independent, non-profit organization established in October 1989 when the heads of 67 European companies joined the institution's policy document and declared their commitment to achieving the mission and vision of the European Foundation for Quality Management. The Foundation includes a team of experts and academics to develop the EFQM Excellence Model, a comprehensive framework applicable to any organization, regardless of its size or sector. The Foundation aims to increase the competitiveness and efficiency of all organizations sustainably . It provides its methods and models in more than 30 languages and offers services in over 40 countries worldwide.

The General Authority for Statistics issued the publication of health and safety at work statistics for the year 2023 in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The publication showed that 45.8% of employees in the Kingdom work for more than 40 hours per week, and 39.6% of employees work for 40 hours per week on average. The actual working hours per day for employees is 8 hours. The percentage of employees who have been trained on health and safety procedures at work reached 46.6%, while the percentage of employees who have a dedicated health and safety department at their workplace reached 48.7%. The most common risks faced by employees are standing for long periods of at least four hours daily with a percentage of 28.21%, sitting on a chair for long periods exceeding three continuous hours with a percentage of 28.15%, and moving the upper limbs repeatedly for long periods with a percentage of 17.1%. 7.8% of employees directly or indirectly deal with chemical substances, medical waste, radioactive materials, or toxic gases, while 6.3% of employees face risks such as electrical risks, machinery risks, or drowning. The percentage of employees who have coverage for basic healthcare reached 89.7%. The most common work-related health issue in the past 12 months is "work-related stress" with a percentage of 3.2%, while 83.5% of employees do not suffer from any work-related health issues.

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries celebrate Gulf Statistics Day under the theme "Statistics for Sustainable Opportunities." This celebration is part of the efforts to enhance statistical work aimed at providing statistical data that supports development plans and achieves the targets of visionary development in the Council's countries. On this occasion, Dr. Fahad bin Abdullah Aldossari, the President of the General Authority for Statistics, congratulated the employees in the statistical sector. He commended the role of the statistical center of the GCC countries in developing statistical work and coordinating between national statistical centers and planning agencies in the Council's countries. He emphasized that statistics and statistical centers play a prominent role in providing statistical data that contributes to supporting policymakers and decision-makers in the Council's countries. He added, "The collaborative efforts between statistical centers in the GCC countries have contributed to measuring progress towards achieving the goals of national visions and sustainable development for the Council's countries. This is achieved through joint efforts to enhance performance in terms of exchanging statistical data and implementing the statistical strategic plan. He emphasized the importance of the collaborative relationships among the GCC countries and the extensive cooperation in the field of statistics, providing more opportunities for effective collaboration in the field of information and statistical data." Statistical work in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia began early in the year 1349 H (1930) and evolved into an organized effort based on the regulatory, administrative, and technical framework of the General Statistics System issued by Royal Decree No. 23 on 7/12/1379 H (1/6/1960). The General Statistics System regulated the statistical sector by defining the relationship between the General Statistics and Information Department and other entities. This culminated in the issuance of a royal decree in 1436 AH, transforming the General Statistics and Information Department into a public entity named the General Authority for Statistics, endowed with legal personality and financial and administrative independence. In 1437 H, approval was granted to regulate the General Authority for Statistics. The regulation stipulated that the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) is a government entity with an independent legal personality. GASTAT’s board of directors is chaired by His Excellency the Minister of Economy and Planning and consists of the following members: Ministers of Energy, Finance, Human Resources and Social Development, Education, and Industry and Mineral Resources. In addition to the Director of National Information Center, President of the General Authority for Statistics, and two other members specialized in the statistical field. GASTAT is the only official statistical reference for implementing, supervising, and regulating the statistical work in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.  It provides statistical products in social, economic, and environmental fields to support policymakers and decision-makers in advancing the implementation of development plans. It's worth noting that the Ministerial Council of the GCC, convened in Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain, in November 2016 during its 141st session, approved the designation of a Gulf Statistics Day to be observed annually. The significance of this day lies in emphasizing the partnership of the entire society with statisticians and highlighting the vital role statistics play in achieving sustainable development for the Council's countries. It also underscores the strategic role of the Gulf statistical system in decision-making and the development of policies in the region.

General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) has been awarded the excellence award for website performance and digital content efficiency, ranking among the top 10 government entities out of a total of 383 government websites for the year 2023. This recognition was received at the Digital Government Forum, held recently under the theme "Our Future is Now" organized by the Digital Government Authority. GASTAT was recognized for its outstanding performance in website efficiency and digital content, and the award was received by Mr. Mohammed Al-Rasheed, Vice President Operations. In the same context, the General Authority for Statistics is currently implementing an ambitious digital transformation project aimed at achieving a high-quality technological infrastructure that competes regionally and globally. GASTAT also adheres to the highest international standards practiced by specialized institutions in statistical data and information. It seeks to enhance the utilization of its statistical publications and products through the most user-friendly and flexible technological methods. This includes providing users with access to statistical data, the ability to review and download it, as well as presenting the data in ways that contribute to understanding the results and indicators issued by GASTAT. It is worth mentioning that the Digital Government Forum aims to highlight the achievements of the digital government, showcase its success stories locally and internationally, and enable digital community leaders to meet, communicate, exchange experiences, build partnerships, share successful practices, and discuss challenges. The Forum is also designed to explore modern technological best practices, review future trends of digital governments, and explore investment opportunities in the digital sector in the Kingdom.

The General Authority for Statistics and the Information &eGovernment Authority in the Kingdom of Bahrain have signed a memorandum of understanding( MoU) to cooperate in the field of statistics and exchange of expertise. The aim is also to benefit from the best global practices to develop and enhance statistical work in both countries, in line with international standards, and to support decision-makers and scientific research. The (MoU) was signed by Dr. Fahad bin Abdullah Aldossari, President of the General Authority for Statistics, and Mr. Mohammed Ali Al-Qaed, CEO of the Information &eGovernment Authority in the Kingdom of Bahrain, in the presence of Duaa Sultan Alharban, Deputy Chief Executive, Statistics and Population Registry, and Ms. Lulwa Sami, Director of Communication and Marketing Department at the eGovernment Authority. The (MoU) includes cooperation in areas such as exchanging expertise and information between the two parties to develop statistical work, including data availability, big data, IT infrastructure, exchange of statistical awareness programs, facilitating access to information, exchanging visits between experts and specialists in relevant statistical fields, and organizing conferences, seminars, and workshops. During the agreed period of the (MoU), which extends for five years, both sides will work on developing joint plans and programs to achieve the desired goals of cooperation between the statistical authorities of Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. From his side, Dr. Fahad bin Abdullah Aldossari, President of the General Authority for Statistics in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, affirmed that the (MoU) aims to enhance the level of mutual cooperation between the two sides and strengthen coordination and integration of efforts in the field of statistics. This includes enhancing quality and efficiency, applying best global practices, and transferring expertise between statistical agencies. It also contributes to supporting the strategic work between the two countries in the statistical sector, aligning with the ongoing development of statistical agencies, and providing new opportunities for effective cooperation with the Kingdom of Bahrain in the field of information and statistical data exchange between the two countries. He added that the (MoU) contributes to the development of methods and techniques for calculating indicators and providing accurate and up-to-date statistical data to enhance the sustainable development goals, supporting decision-makers and policymakers in both countries. He praised the fruitful cooperation between the General Authority for Statistics and its counterpart, Information &eGovernment Authority in the Kingdom of Bahrain, in addition to the exchange of knowledge and technical expertise between the two countries in the statistical field, leading to further enhancement of mutual cooperation in the future. On his part, Mr. Mohammed Ali Al-Qaed, CEO of the Information &eGovernment Authority in the Kingdom of Bahrain, praised the signing of the (MoU), affirming that the cooperation between the two countries in the field of statistics is an enduring cooperation, reflecting the strength, durability, and depth of the historical and fraternal relations between the two sides. He also explained that cooperation with the General Authority for Statistics in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will contribute to achieving several goals, including enhancing joint work between the two countries, improving the efficiency of statistical systems, and establishing a committee to supervise the plans and programs related to the areas of mutual cooperation included in the (MoU). The committee will oversee the implementation of development areas and overcome any challenges that may arise, in order to make optimal use of advanced statistical experiences, expertise, and programs that enhance the quality of the statistical work system. Furthermore, the CEO emphasized that the signing of the (MoU) with the General Authority for Statistics stems from the distinguished regional leadership of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the field of statistics. KSA possesses an effective statistical system with innovative practices and a model that regional statistical systems can emulate. He affirmed that leveraging these experiences and rich statistical practices is a real gain for the Bahraini statistical system. It is worth mentioning that the signing of the (MoU) reflects the belief of the eGovernment Authority and the General Authority for Statistics that enhancing regional and international cooperation contributes to meeting the growing demands for statistical data. This requires a statistical system capable of producing high-quality data in a timely manner, in line with the guidelines, definitions, and classifications adopted by the United Nations and compatible with the best international standards and practices. One of the best ways to keep up with emerging developments in the statistical system is through clear coordination and international cooperation that enables the exchange of best practices and transfer of expertise between statistical systems. Therefore, the signing of the (MoU) between Bahrain and Saudi Arabia is a real gain in facing the challenges and developments in the statistical system.

The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) released the results of the publication of Road Transport Statistics in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the year 2022. It revealed that the number of passengers transported by public buses within and between cities during 2022 reached 43.5 million, an increase of 233.9% compared to 2021. The results of the publication also indicated that the quantity of domestic road freight in 2022 reached 209 million tons, an increase of 6.1% compared to 2021. According to the results of the publication, the length of paved road network within and between cities during 2022 reached 266,000 kilometers, an increase of 1.6% compared to 2021. Additionally, the number of serious traffic accidents during 2022 amounted to 16,962, a decrease of 6.8% compared to 2021. The number of fatalities due to traffic accidents during 2022 was 4,555, a decrease of 2.1% compared to 2021. The number of injuries from traffic accidents during 2022 amounted to 24,400, a decrease of 4.2% compared to 2021. On the other hand, the number of vehicles during 2022 reached 14.9 million, an increase of 4.9% compared to 2021. The number of vehicle insurance documents during 2022 was 7.6 million, an increase of 26.9% compared to 2021. It is worth noting that GASTAT is the only official statistical reference for statistical data and information in Saudi Arabia. It carries out all statistical work, in addition to the technical oversight of the statistical sector. It also designs and implements field surveys, conducts statistical studies and research, analyzes data and information, in addition to the documentation and archiving of all statistical information and data that cover all aspects of life in Saudi Arabia from its multiple sources. Furthermore, GASTAT registers, classifies, and analyzes data. It extracts the data indicators as well.