Iran Press/Middle East: Saudi Arabia created a new ministry for industry and mineral resources, separating it from the energy ministry, in a series of royal orders published by state news media on Friday.
Bandar bin Ibrahim al-Khorayef was appointed the head of the new ministry, which will become fully independent starting on January 1, The Guardian reported.
According to the royal order, 'The powers, tasks, and responsibilities related to the two sectors of industry and mineral resources shall be transferred to it.'
The Ministry of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources will be renamed the Ministry of Energy. As part of the changes, Fahd bin Mohammed Al-Essa was appointed the head of the royal court with the rank of minister.
The Royal Commission for the City of Riyadh
The Riyadh Development Authority has been transformed into a Royal Commission under the name The Royal Commission for the City of Riyadh.
All tasks related to major national projects in Riyadh shall be transferred from the Committee of Major National Projects to the Royal Commission for the City of Riyadh.
Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority
In line with the changes, a body is being established on behalf of the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority directly linked to the Prime Minister and having a Board of Directors chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister.
Also, a body called the Saudi Authority for Data and Artificial Intelligence will be established and directly affiliated with the Prime Minister.
According to the new order, a center called 'National Center for Artificial Intelligence' and an office named 'National Data Management Office' shall be established and linked in terms of organization to the Saudi Authority for Data and Artificial Intelligence.
The National Information Center is organizationally linked to the aforementioned Authority and shall continue to exercise its full powers, tasks, and responsibilities, which it is currently undertaking, until the completion of the statutory procedures necessary to enable the Authority and its entities to carry out their powers, tasks, and responsibilities.
Further, the General Auditing Bureau will be renamed General Bureau for Auditing. 101/211/208
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