VOL. XLIII

No. 05

31-January-2000

SAUDI ARABIA

EIA And NCB On Poor Saudi Economic Performance

According to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA), the Saudi Arabian economy may only grow by 5.1% this year, despite official projections of 8.4% (MEES, 3 January). In its January report the EIA points to real GDP growth of only 0.4% in 1999 and a continued need to "reform its economy and to open up to increased private investment." The EIA acknowledges that the kingdom has made public...