Riyadh, April 26, 2021, SPA -- Saudi newspapers highlighted in their editorials today a number of issues at local, regional and international arenas. Al-Riyadh and Al-Eqtisadiah newspapers reported in their editorials that the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, being sponsored and supported by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, whose foundations, goals and programs were placed by HRH Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman came to meet the aspirations of current and future generations. During the past five years, the work was accelerating and the changes were widespread. Moreover, the economic events, which resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic and the decline in oil prices, proved the success of non-oil revenue development plans and their ability to give the Saudi economy high flexibility to avoid and overcome economic shocks. Additionally, the contribution of the non-oil sector to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) increased to 59.23% in 2020, compared to 57.7% in 2019, as this is the sector's highest contribution ever, despite the pandemic. According to Vision 2030, many reforms have been made on the labor market in order to provide more jobs for Saudi citizens, since one of Vision 2030 goals is to reduce the unemployment rate to 7%. With the inception of the vision, unemployment in 2018 was approximately 13%, falling to 11% at the beginning of 2020, as it will be less than 7% by 2030. After the launch of the Vision 2030, the Public Investment Fund (PIF) has become one of the major engines in achieving our economy’s growth. The PIF volume doubled from SAR 560 billion to more than approximately SAR 1.3 trillion, the newspapers added. With the fifth anniversary of the the launch of “Vision 2030”, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has witnessed an unprecedented historical transformation and exerted tremendous efforts to restructure government sectors, merge ministries and create many bodies and work centers, while preserving best practices in governance and spending efficiency. Due to these tremendous efforts, Saudi Arabia has raised the effectiveness of government performance, achieved diversification in the national economy and the production of many job opportunities, the newspapers concluded. Al-Bilad newspaper said in its editorial that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s decision to ban consignments of Lebanese vegetables and fruits from entering into the Kingdom or transit through its territory, after thwarting the smuggling of about 2.5 million amphetamine pills hidden in a shipment of pomegranate fruit coming from Lebanon, embodies the wise leadership’s keenness on the safety of citizens and residents. The newspaper added that the firm decision was welcomed and supported by the Gulf countries and by Lebanon whose authorities failed to take practical measures to stop these practices, despite the Kingdom’s numerous attempts to urge the concerned Lebanese authorities to do so. With the generous support of the wise leadership, the Ministry of Interior has been able to develop and make tremendous and tangible achievements in the field of digital transformation, which qualified it to achieve more international positions in the field of combating crime, including obtaining a seat on the United Nations Commission on Drugs and Crime (CND) for the period 2022-2025, since Saudi Arabia is one of the most capable countries in combating this scourge, the newspaper concluded. --SPA 12:02 LOCAL TIME 09:02 GMT 0011 www.spa.gov.sa/w1548965