Remarks by H.E. Ambassador Sultan Bin Khuzaim at the 2024 Saudi Arabia 94th National Day Reception

Hyatt Hotel ,Canberra, Monday 23 September 2024

Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to Australia, H.E Sultan Bin Khuzaim.

Excellencies

Esteemed colleagues, members of the Diplomatic Corps

Fellow Saudi Citizens, Distinguished guests,

Assalamu Alaikum wa rahmatu Allah wa barakatu

I would like to begin by welcoming you all and expressing my gratitude for accepting our invitation to join us this evening in celebrating the ninety fourth National Day of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Ladies and gentlemen,

The twenty third of September is a historic day for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. On this day, the leadership and people of Saudi Arabia celebrate the Kingdom’s National Day, recalling the momentous announcement by our founder, King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al Saud in the year 1932 to unify the nation and name it the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Since the day of unification and over the past decades, the Kingdom has, under its keen, dedicated, and wise leadership, devoted its efforts to elevate the nation among the ranks of advanced countries. As a result, it has achieved qualitative leaps, reflected in the progress and prosperity that citizens and residents alike experience today.

Distinguished guests,

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in the era of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and His Crown Prince, Prime Minister, His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud has launched its ambitious Vision 2030, building on the commitment of its successive wise leadership, to elevate the nation and ensure a bright and sustainable future for generations to come, and has, as a result, achieved numerous accomplishments across various fields.

While these efforts are multifaceted and interconnected, making them difficult to capture fully in my remarks today, I would like to highlight a few key achievements:

– The Kingdom has experienced a significant economic transformation, with the gross domestic product doubling from 2.5 trillion riyals (before the announcement of Vision 2030 in 2016) to over 4.1 trillion riyals by the end of 202 … an impressive growth of 65%.

Furthermore, non-oil economic and commercial activities accounted for 50% of the GDP in 2023, marking the highest level in the Kingdom’s history … and it is anticipated that non-oil growth will continue in the coming years.

-The Kingdom is actively working to achieve the sustainable development goals of the United Nations that address critical issues for the humanity, towards supporting global social and economic development. As a result, women’s participation in the labour force has risen to 37% in 2023, surpassing expectations set by the Vision 2030.

In addition, the Kingdom has implemented national and regional initiatives to protect the environment and combat desertification, aiming for zero carbon emissions by the year 2060. Moreover, it has enhanced the operation and efficiency of governmental services through digital transformation, positioning the Kingdom fourth globally, first regionally, and second among the G20 countries in the United Nations digital services index for 2024.

-The Kingdom has launched several major infrastructure projects, including smart and future cities, with environmental sustainability as a core focus. Notable examples include NEOM City and The Line, reflecting the Kingdom’s commitment to achieving sustainable development goals. Furthermore, the Kingdom has prioritized the development of sustainable tourism and hospitality for various visitor streams, including tourists and umrah and hajj pilgrims. This focus has led to numerous programs and initiatives, as well as environmentally friendly tourism projects such the Red Sea Project and Al-Ula Projects.

The Kingdom has also entered new sectors such as entertainment and e-sports. These efforts, aligned with Vision 2030, have attracted over 100 million tourists in 2023 within a record time, since the launch of the Vision.

Ladies and gentlemen,

The celebration of the ninety fourth National Day of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia this year coincides with the fiftieth anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Kingdom and Australia. Over these decades, bilateral cooperation between the two friendly countries has flourished across various sectors, including economic, cultural, and educational fields. The Kingdom stands as one of Australia’s largest trading partners in the Middle East, with significant collaboration in areas such as agriculture, mining, renewable energy, construction, education, and technology.

On the multilateral front, both countries engage actively on international issues of shared interest through their membership in various international organizations, including the G20. The Kingdom is working with the Australian side to further progress the existing friendly relations, seeking to explore new avenues for cooperation that will enhance their mutual interests.

Distinguished guests,

Once again, I would like to extend my heartfelt appreciation to you for accepting our invitation. I hope you enjoy our Saudi hospitality this evening.

Welcome to the celebration of the Saudi National Day.

Thank you.

Comments are closed.