The minister of finance disclosed that the Kingdom's government aims in the budget 2018 to reduce a deficit to %7.3% of the nominal GDP versus an expected deficit of about %8.9 of GDP in 2017. He added that it is anticipated an increase in total revenues in the budget 2018 with about %12.6 in comparison with the expected in 2017 while the non-oil revenues increased by 14%. Al-Jadaan pointed out the aspects of the domestic economy, highlighting that the macroeconomic indexes are expected to improve in 2018, in comparison with the previous year, pushed by a budget focused on expansionary capital spending and economic reform programs. He also expressed his anticipation that the stimulation and government's capital spending will contribute to the real economic growth rates in 2018 in addition to neutralization of the impacts of the fiscal sustainability policies. The unemployment rate among Saudis is expected to fall compared to the previous year. He pointed out that the financial outlook for the medium term (financial balance program developments), its implementation mechanism and revenues and expenditures for fiscal year 2018, by saying: "the total revenue is estimated at SR783 billion, an increase with %12.6 of what have been expected in 2017. The spending is approved at SR978 billion, higher than the previous year by %5.6. This increase is pushed by expanding on the spending on the allocations of initiatives of the Vision 2030 programs." He also spoke about the budget for the fiscal year 2018 at the level of sectors, the economic and financial risks and the positive factors on the economy. --SPA 18:38 LOCAL TIME 15:38 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/w568263