Riyadh - SPA

A conference started today in Riyadh to discuss the role of the private sector in
boosting of development in Middle East countries. In a speech before the conference,
Saudi Minister of Finance signaled the economic challenges and poor development rates
of the region. He emphasized that the private sector need to create more job
opportunities to reduce non-employment rates, specially among young people. He said
according to the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund forecasts, the region
need to increase growth rates and create millions of new jobs. The private sector should
play a much bigger role to meet these challenges.