Saudi Minister Highlights Vision 2030 as Catalyst for Sustainable Development at UN Forum
New York, The Gulf Observer: Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Economy and Planning, Faisal Al-Ibrahim, declared that the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 has made it the fastest-advancing G20 nation in sustainable development indicators over the past decade. His remarks were delivered at the 2025 United Nations High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, held in New York.
Addressing global leaders, Al-Ibrahim underscored the urgent need for deep, action-driven reforms, particularly as the international community approaches the 80th anniversary of the United Nations. “Progress alone is not enough,” he stated. “Development confined to intentions cannot bring about real change.”
He called for a more focused and impact-oriented global agenda—prioritizing strategies that deliver tangible, sustainable results. Reiterating Saudi Arabia’s proposal first introduced at last year’s forum, the Minister advocated for a new international development framework grounded in three core principles: prioritizing resources to address the most urgent challenges, crafting scalable and adaptable solutions across diverse national contexts, and basing decisions on robust, evidence-based data.
As part of the Kingdom’s commitment to this vision, Al-Ibrahim announced the launch of a new national sustainable development blueprint rooted in local innovation. He cited the Medina Sustainable Development Atlas as a pioneering global model. Covering all 17 neighborhoods of the city, the atlas equips policymakers with scenario-based data to support strategic planning and targeted interventions.
The Minister reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s dedication to working closely with international partners to translate commitments into outcomes and ambitions into reality. “What the world lacks today is not ambition, but focus, cooperation, and bold implementation,” he stressed.
He concluded by emphasizing that while global challenges remain significant, achieving meaningful results is within reach—urging all stakeholders to harness past progress and move forward with renewed momentum.
