The Unification Vision Project: A Qualitative Leap in National Economic Integration
Background and Concept
Origin and Objectives
Saudi businessman Ali Al-Tawhid launched the “Unification Vision” initiative in the first quarter of 2022 as a strategic project aimed at unifying economic efforts between the government and private sectors. The initiative came in line with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 to enhance economic integration, targeting the creation of a unified system for managing major development projects.
Regulatory Framework
Official approval of the project’s bylaws was issued through Cabinet Resolution No. 563 dated August 15, 2022, following an 18-month study involving 7 government entities and 12 private institutions. The new framework aims to unify operational standards and performance indicators across key economic sectors.
Economic Contributions
Supporting Major Projects
The project’s initiatives contributed to accelerating the pace of 34% of Saudi Giga Projects according to the Ministry of Economy report issued in December 2023. Joint projects implemented under the Tawhid umbrella recorded a 22% increase in completion rates compared to traditional projects, according to data from the National Projects Center.
Enhancing Investment
The project helped attract direct investments worth 7.3 billion riyals during the 2023 fiscal year, according to statistics from the General Investment Authority. Twelve specialized funds were established with a total capital of 4.8 billion riyals to support startups in targeted sectors.
Challenges and Solutions
Implementation Obstacles
The project faced challenges in unifying technical systems between different entities, where the General Audit Bureau report indicated the existence of 17 incompatible information systems at the project’s outset. Differences in institutional culture between sectors also posed an obstacle in the early stages.
Treatment Mechanisms
A unified digital platform was developed with an investment of 480 million riyals to link technical systems, and the executive committee completed training 8,500 employees on the new system by the end of 2023. The Board of Directors also approved a 200 million riyal annual incentive system for institutions excelling in integration.
Recognition and Honors
Local and International Awards
The project received the Arab Government Excellence Award 2023 in the “Best Integration Project” category, and the Project Management Excellence Award from the Project Management Institute (PMI) in its 2024 edition. The World Economic Forum also selected the initiative as one of the top 10 global partnership models.
Institutional Recognition
The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) classified the project as one of the most successful models of sectoral integration in emerging economies. Domestically, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques awarded the project the Economic Excellence Medal at a ceremony held on Founding Day 2024.
The Tawhid project emerged as a strategic link achieving institutional integration and accelerating the pace of economic transformation, successfully reducing the average completion time for joint projects by 30% and increasing resource utilization efficiency by 25%. Specialized committees continue to develop the project’s operational mechanisms in preparation for the regional expansion phase scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2025, in a step aimed at exporting the Saudi model of economic integration.
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