Editorial: Progress march continues 
The Kingdom marks the 83rd National Day today with enthusiasm and a spectacular display of fireworks.
The show of pyrotechnics, among other activities, will provide an interesting metaphor for the country’s progress over the last eight decades.
What the Kingdom has enjoyed has been steady and solid progress, based on wise rule and a population that, with every passing year feels, with ever greater cause, ever greater pride in being Saudi.
The Kingdom is now the largest and most influential economy in the Arab world.
It has inspired its fellow members of the GCC to move toward increasing economic integration.
Saudi statesmanship has had a profound impact throughout the region.
In 2002, the Saudi Peace Plan for a settlement in Palestine became and remains the starting point for negotiations between the Palestinians and the Israelis, trading the recognition of Israel’s pre-1967 borders, in return for the evacuation of the occupied territories, including East Jerusalem and the resolution of Palestinian refugee claims.
The Kingdom’s role in supporting Islamic institutions throughout the Muslim word, both politically and financially has been second to none.
Saudi charitable works have sustained and fostered the health and education of tens of millions of Muslim families over the last 83 years.
And indeed the Kingdom has also given generously to support those stricken by natural disaster throughout the world, whatever their religion.
The Saudi economy has grown steadily over the decades.
Top Saudi companies are not only on a par with their competitors, but at times lead in their field and are expanding their businesses beyond the Kingdom and indeed beyond the Arab world.
What has underpinned this extraordinary success has been the substantial investment that has been made in the development of Saudi Arabia’s nonoil economy.
Under the leadership of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah there has been a massive growth in all areas, but particularly in education and infrastructure.
New industrial cities are bringing jobs and wealth creation outside the oil and gas sector.
And a revolutionary expansion of educational opportunities, such as the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology and the King Abdullah Scholarship program, which is sending thousands of young Saudi men and women to some of the world’s best academic institutions, is producing the highly-educated graduates who will work in the new economy.
While the Kingdom already boasts some of the world’s most advanced telecommunication systems, under construction is a network of physical infrastructure, not least of all a nationwide rail network, that will link our towns and cities together with fast and efficient passenger and freight transport.
These extraordinary infrastructural programs could be described as evidence of “explosive” growth.
Yet unlike the celebratory fireworks that we will see in the capital and other cities this evening, the impact of these explosions will not fade away.
Indeed with every passing year, the Kingdom’s prospects become brighter and more splendid.
Happy National Day!
(Arab News, 23 Monday September 2013 The Roman)
