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INSTANT VIEW-Saudi Arabia sees deficit spending of $27 bln in 2025

Saudi Arabia authorized its 2025 budget on Tuesday, which anticipates a financial deficit of $ 26.88 billion or 2.3% of GDP next year, as it reinforces spending on its economic transformation goals, amid drawback dangers to revenue projections. Following are remarks from Saudi Arabia's crown prince, finance minister, economists and experts:

MOHAMMED BIN SALMAN, CROWN PRINCE, PRIME MINISTER as priced estimate by state news agency medical spa:

The favorable signs of the Saudi economy are an outcome of the ongoing reforms under vision 2030.

The Kingdom is predicted to have the second-fastest GDP growth rate amongst major economies next year, estimated at 4.6%. This growth is sustained by the increasing contribution of non-oil activities, which reached a record 52% in 2024.

The financial reforms implemented by the Kingdom, through the government's adoption of monetary policies that maintain monetary sustainability and efficient financial preparation, have favorably impacted its credit scores.

MOHAMMED AL JADAAN, MINISTER OF FINANCE:

The results to date verify the success of financial and fiscal reforms, which will continue to enhance comprehensive economic development and establish public finance management, focusing on improving the quality of services provided to citizens, residents, and visitors.

We will continue preserving the Kingdom's financial position and attaining fiscal sustainability by preserving sustainable levels of public financial obligation and significant federal government reserves.

The Kingdom will continue expanding tactical spending, supporting financial diversity, and allowing the personal sector.

JAMES SWANSTON, EMERGING MARKETS ECONOMIST AT CAPITAL ECONOMICS:

The approved 2025 Spending plan didn't spring too many surprises provided the Pre-Budget Statement delivered a month back, but it confirmed that officials' turn to fiscal consolidation is here.

Federal government costs will be cut by 4.5% in 2025, compared to actual spending in 2024. The breakdown revealed that existing expenditures are being cut by 4%, with the largest cuts coming to items and services and other expenditures, but there is likewise an extra 7% cut to capital expenditure.

The latter we believed would happen provided the comments from officials before on scaling back expectations of gigaprojects and the past form in 2014-16 of the Kingdom paring back capital expense spending during durations of lower oil rates.

MONICA MALIK, PRIMARY ECONOMIC EXPERT AT ABU DHABI COMMERCIAL BANK:

The spending plan indicate government spending still providing significant assistance to the economy, with overall expense will still stay high. This is despite a prepared contraction in government costs in 2025, which we do not see as a sharp retrenchment.

The focus staying on progressing with the improvement plan and the investment programme, while recognizing an included deficit. This position needs to lead to a progressive build up in federal government financial obligation, thereby keeping Saudi Arabia's strong principles.

JUSTIN ALEXANDER, DIRECTOR AT KHALIJ ECONOMICS:

From the numbers themselves there isn't much change in the story - the state remains comfortable with deficit financing, as well it might offered strong demand for its debt and an upgrade back to double A status. Still, spending is being controlled in some crucial areas such as salaries.

If the spending plan presumes the existing OPEC+ taper, comparable to a 7% increase in crude on average, then this decrease in profits indicates either substantially lower prices or a reduction in Aramco dividends - possible a combination of the two.

ZAHABIA GUPTA, DIRECTOR, LEAD EXPERT FOR MIDDLE EAST && . CENTRAL ASIA AT S&P GLOBAL RANKINGS:

The Saudi 2025 spending plan approximates the fiscal deficit at 2.8%. of GDP for 2024, which is in line with our quotes. In 2025,. the government is targeting a reduction in expense by about. 4% relative to 2024 estimated outcomes. Our company believe that the. federal government is likely to increase spending somewhat rather as it. continues to ramp up financial investment in tactical projects for Vision. 2030. We forecast that federal government financial obligation levels will remain. reasonably low over the next three years, and that they will. maintain a comfy net property position going beyond 40% of GDP..

(source: Reuters)