Riyadh: Saudi Arabia announced Monday a record budget of USD 228 billion for 2014, slightly up from USD 218.7 billion set aside for this year. The world's largest oil exporter said it also expected to conclude this year with a budget surplus of USD 54.9 billion, after budgeting for a surplus of around USD 613 million. Revenues in 2013 were expected to reach 1.131 trillion riyals compared with expenditure of 925 billion riyals, according to a government statement.
The kingdom had budgeted for revenues of USD 221 billion in 2013, and an expenditure of USD 218.7 billion. For 2014, Saudi Arabia is expecting a balanced budget of USD 228 billion, said the statement carried by SPA state news agency. A quarter of the budget is earmarked for education and training, including building 465 schools and revamping 1,500 others.
The government will also spend 22 billion riyals in 2014 on 185,000 Saudis already on scholarships to study abroad. The health sector will get 108 billion riyals. Oil continues to contribute the bulk of revenues for Saudi Arabia, which pumps 9.7 million barrels per day of oil, and has a capacity to produce more than 12 million bpd.
The OPEC kingpin's economy is expected to grow 3.8 per cent this year, according to the statement. The International Monetary Fund is expecting the Arab world's largest economy to grow by 3.6 per cent and 4.4 per cent in 2013 and 2014 respectively, after expanding by 5.1 per cent last year.
Saudi Arabia has been using part of its large windfalls of oil revenues to repay its public debt, which has dropped to USD 20 billion, or 2.7 per cent of its gross domestic product, according to the statement. Public debt stood at USD 26.3 billion at the end of last year.
The kingdom had budgeted for revenues of USD 221 billion in 2013, and an expenditure of USD 218.7 billion. For 2014, Saudi Arabia is expecting a balanced budget of USD 228 billion, said the statement carried by SPA state news agency. A quarter of the budget is earmarked for education and training, including building 465 schools and revamping 1,500 others.
The government will also spend 22 billion riyals in 2014 on 185,000 Saudis already on scholarships to study abroad. The health sector will get 108 billion riyals. Oil continues to contribute the bulk of revenues for Saudi Arabia, which pumps 9.7 million barrels per day of oil, and has a capacity to produce more than 12 million bpd.
The OPEC kingpin's economy is expected to grow 3.8 per cent this year, according to the statement. The International Monetary Fund is expecting the Arab world's largest economy to grow by 3.6 per cent and 4.4 per cent in 2013 and 2014 respectively, after expanding by 5.1 per cent last year.
Saudi Arabia has been using part of its large windfalls of oil revenues to repay its public debt, which has dropped to USD 20 billion, or 2.7 per cent of its gross domestic product, according to the statement. Public debt stood at USD 26.3 billion at the end of last year.
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