RIYADH — ASBAR Center for Research and Studies announced the launch of the "ASBAR Observatory on Development", which is the first of its kind in monitoring and anticipating the future development in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. ASBAR Center President Dr. Fahad Al-Orabi Al-Harithi explained that the observatory is one of the center"s initiatives, which includes the ASBAR World Forum, adding that the idea of launching the observatory comes within the framework of the center"s efforts to keep pace with developments witnessed in various fields in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in order to achieve its ambitious Vision 2030. He affirmed that through the observatory, ASBAR Center seeks to build a national system that contributes, in cooperation with the responsible authorities, to monitoring development needs, as it provides information periodically to those authorities, in order to achieve ideal and sustainable development, in accordance with global standards and methodologies, that are in line with the Saudi social reality. Dr. Al-Harthi highlighted the importance of establishing the observatory to assist decision-makers in shaping life in Saudi Arabia and anticipating its future through foresight tools, in preparation for a pioneering developmental journey that supports preparations for changes, anticipating future opportunities and challenges, analyzing their effects and developing innovative solutions to them. He added that the mechanism of the ASBAR Observatory project relies on local and international development indicators work on monitoring development and issuing reports to the competent authorities on progress, social innovation, sustainable development and social responsibility, as well as issuing future forward-looking studies, pointing out that the observatory"s products are presented in six main products, including the community development observatory, social progress index, social innovation index, the sustainable development observatory and the level of sustainable development goals achievement. This is in addition to foresight studies and development solutions, and finally the national index for corporate social responsibility in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Dr. Al-Harthi expressed his hope that the ASBAR Observatory would contribute to forecasting and anticipating the future, in order to enhance the Kingdom"s presence in global competitiveness in various fields and to maintain its distinguished international position. — SPA