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RIYADH: ����ֱ��’s health, military, and infrastructure sectors led an 18.75 percent rise in government information and communications technology contracts in 2024, reaching SR38 billion ($10.13 billion), official data showed. 

According to the Government Spending Report 2024, published by the Digital Government Authority, the value of contracts climbed from SR32 billion in 2023, with the health and social development sector receiving SR6.54 billion through 1,085 contracts. 

The report said that 2024 spending priorities focused on artificial intelligence, emerging technologies, and cloud computing, positioning these areas as central to enhancing operational performance across public sector entities. 

The government’s sustained push to bolster digital services underscores Riyadh’s growing investment in digital infrastructure, part of its Vision 2030 strategy to diversify the economy and modernize public services. 

The report added that activating national framework agreements significantly contributed to these outcomes, enabling improved negotiation capabilities and more effective financial planning. 

“These tools have enabled government entities to obtain goods and services more quickly, efficiently, and at lower cost,” the report said. 

“They also highlight the added value achieved by enhancing supply chains and improving the quality of procurement, which in turn raises the efficiency of government entities in managing expenditures in contracts and agreements,” it also said. 

Among other sectors, the military received SR5.16 billion across 1,125 contracts, while infrastructure and transport saw investments totaling SR5.26 billion. The education sector was allocated SR4.37 billion, followed by economic resources at SR3.42 billion, and public administration at SR2.39 billion. 

There was a 157 percent increase in purchase orders through national framework agreements, amounting to SR4.47 billion through 9,457 orders. The report said these tools helped accelerate service delivery and improve procurement quality. 

Government agencies achieved an estimated SR1 billion in savings during 2024 by improving spending efficiency and optimizing procurement and budgeting practices. 

����ֱ�� also continued to demonstrate global leadership in digital government performance. It ranked sixth globally and first regionally in the 2024 UN E-Government Development Index, climbing 25 places from 2022. 

It also topped the Government Electronic and Mobile Services Maturity Index for the third consecutive year, achieving a score of 96 percent. 

According to the report, and based on data from global research firm Gartner, ����ֱ�� led all countries in government ICT spending as a share of total ICT expenditure in 2024, reaching 34.1 percent. 

RIYADH: ����ֱ��’s main stock index closed slightly higher on Wednesday, as gains in select industrial and infrastructure stocks offset broader market weakness.

The Tadawul All Share Index added 9.7 points, or 0.09 percent, finishing the session at 10,973.98. Total trading turnover was SR6.10 billion ($1.62 billion), with 180 stocks advancing while 66 declined.

The MSCI Tadawul 30 Index also recorded a modest gain, rising 0.06 percent to 1,407.47.

In contrast, the parallel market Nomu dipped slightly, losing 13.49 points, or 0.05 percent, to close at 26,837.30. A total of 35 stocks posted gains on Nomu, while 45 ended in the red.

Sustained Infrastructure Holding Co. led the market with a sharp 9.89 percent increase to SR30.55, followed by Saudi Printing and Packaging Co., which rose 9.83 percent to SR11.84. ����ֱ�� Refineries Co. also saw strong momentum, climbing 5.48 percent to a new yearly high of SR63.50.

Among the session’s notable losers, Specialized Medical Co. dropped 3.36 percent to SR24.16, Zamil Industrial Investment Co. slipped 2.29 percent to SR40.60, and Arabian Contracting Services Co. fell 2.12 percent to SR96.90.

Meanwhile, ����ֱ��n Mining Co., known as Ma’aden, received shareholder approval to raise its capital from SR38.03 billion to SR38.89 billion during its extraordinary general assembly meeting held on June 24. The 2.26 percent increase will lift the number of issued ordinary shares from 3.80 billion to 3.89 billion.

According to a company disclosure on the Saudi Exchange, the capital hike will be carried out through the issuance of 85.98 million new ordinary shares at a par value of SR10. These shares will be allocated as part of an acquisition agreement to purchase full ownership of two subsidiaries: Ma’aden Bauxite and Alumina Co. and Ma’aden Aluminium Co.

Under the transaction, Ma’aden will acquire all 128.01 million shares held by AWA Saudi in the bauxite firm, representing 25.1 percent of its capital, along with 165 million shares held by Alcoa Saudi in the aluminum unit—also a 25.1 percent stake.

Shares of Ma’aden rose 0.2 percent to end the day at SR50.70.

Red Sea International Co. also announced plans to publicly list its subsidiary, Fundamental Installation for Electric Work Co. Ltd., subject to regulatory and shareholder approval. The decision was approved by the board in a resolution passed on June 23 and implemented the following day.

While Red Sea International will not offer any of its own shares in the IPO, the move is considered a significant transaction due to the subsidiary’s strategic role in the group’s operations. The company’s stock rose 0.12 percent to close at SR42.50.