A delegation from the Omani Ministry of Finance recently visited the headquarters of the Government Expenditure and Project Efficiency Authority (EXPRO) in Riyadh to explore EXPRO’s experience in enhancing service efficiency. The visit covered the methodology employed in implementing the initiative, asset inventory practices, the regulation of usufruct rights, and strategies for improving overall expenditure efficiency.The Omani delegation was led by Eng. Hilal bin Abdul Rasool Al Zadjali, Government Assets Advisor at the Office of the Minister of Finance.The delegation was also introduced to the National Manual for Asset and Facilities Management, as well as key best practices in managing government facilities.

The Government Expenditure and Project Efficiency Authority (EXPRO) has released a research paper titled “The Concept of Expenditure Efficiency in Saudi Arabia: Key Concepts and Lessons.” The paper explores expenditure efficiency in depth, drawing on international analyses to assess measurement methodologies, identify efficiency gaps, and highlight EXPRO’s collaborative efforts with government entities to address them.The research paper supports EXPRO’s efforts, alongside success partners in government entities, to enhance public expenditure efficiency in the Kingdom, advancing Saudi Vision 2030’s goals of fiscal sustainability and economic growth.The paper pointed out that the concept of expenditure efficiency means maximizing the impact in relation to expenditure. This is achieved through the optimal use of available resources and addressing various types of waste without affecting the quality of services provided.It addressed the two types of expenditure efficiency: “technical efficiency” and “allocative efficiency.” It also reviewed the methodological approaches currently used to measure expenditure efficiency in the public sector, as well as analyses by international organizations to study and evaluate such methodologies. It also explained the concept of the “efficiency frontier” to assess public expenditure outcomes and elaborated on identifying the causes of expenditure efficiency gaps.The paper highlighted the Expenditure Review tool developed by EXPRO in line with international best practices to support structured analysis of government expenditure outcomes and results. Expenditure reviews provide a methodology to identify areas and opportunities for achieving expenditure efficiency and enhancing the quality of government projects. They also improve the quality of expenditure and financial results. Moreover, when integrated into the budget planning process, expenditure reviews contribute to ensuring that budget decisions are based on expenditure performance and that expenditures align with the government's and population’s evolving priorities.  The research paper also explained how EXPRO supports government entities by adopting best practices in expenditure efficiency through Expenditure Efficiency Teams and the SKEP Program, which applies a common framework to assess expenditure practices across government entities based on seven main pillars: leadership and strategy, planning and preparation for expenditure, capacity building, procurement, projects, assets and facilities, and expenditure impact. This evaluation enables EXPRO to identify areas for improvement and develop tailored capacity-building programs for each entity to help improve their performance.To view the research paper

The awareness campaign " Evolution of Tradition," aimed at introducing the role of Expenditure Efficiency Teams in government entities in enhancing the efficiency of government expenditure planning, witnessed wide participation from public sector success partners. This reflects the growing interest in spreading the culture of expenditure efficiency across all sectors in the Kingdom. EXPRO values and thanks government entities for their efforts and active participation in the awareness campaign.The participation of government entities in the awareness campaign recently launched by EXPRO varied, including meetings and internal workshops with the entitiy personnel to introduce the role of Expenditure Efficiency Teams and highlight key achievements in this area, dissemination of campaign awareness materials through internal communication channels, organizing internal awareness activities to showcase the impact of the Expenditure Efficiency Teams’ initiatives, and measuring the level of awareness about the value of these teams. Additionally, the campaign included support for EXPRO's social media publications.Around 190 Expenditure Efficiency Teams within government entities contributed to documenting more than 4,000 initiatives from 2019 to 2024, with their financial allocations redirected to serve priority development projects for the nation and citizens.

Expenditure Efficiency Teams in government entities contributed to enhancing the efficiency of government expenditure planning through more than 4,000 initiatives from 2019 to 2024. These initiatives covered various fields, including education, health, finance, industry, sports, human resources, and more. National success stories emerged, with their positive impact directly reflected on both the nation and its citizens. In cooperation with EXPRO, the Madinah Region, represented by the Municipality and the Development Authority, activated a package of initiatives that contributed to achieving expenditure quality and improving the quality of services provided to residents and visitors. As a result, the resident satisfaction rate with quality of life reached 66%, and the project failure rate dropped to less than 1% compared to previous levels. Additionally, innovative contractual models were implemented, resulting in a 94% compliance rate in establishments by 2024. As part of the continued success in enhancing expenditure efficiency, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs introduced 40 indicators related to expenditure efficiency. The Ministry also documented 27 initiatives via EXPRO’s platform dedicated to Expenditure Efficiency Teams, with an estimated financial impact of SAR 1.7 billion. Moreover, the Ministry improved service quality for visitors to the Kingdom through the e-transformation initiative for Hajj and Umrah visas. Due to the success of this initiative, the Ministry launched a new e-transformation initiative for issuing visit, residence, and work visas, which was activated in 2024. Amid the rapid digital transformation in the Kingdom, the Saudi Data and AI Authority (SDAIA) focused on improving the efficiency and security of government services. After government entities previously relied on traditional data centers with high operational costs and limited scalability, more than 180 entities were enabled to transition to the “DEEM Cloud” operated by the National Information Center. This contributed to improved operational efficiency and reduced costs for government entities, achieving a financial impact exceeding SAR 5 billion through optimal utilization of technical resources and enhanced infrastructure service effectiveness. In pursuit of operational efficiency, the “Sharek” initiative by the King Saud University Medical City was launched to highlight programs and projects that enhance operational efficiency and reduce waste. Since its inception in 2020, over 400 projects have participated, with an estimated financial impact of SAR 500 million. A key initiative in the event was the “Automated Approval of Laboratory Results” initiative, which aimed to automate the approval and submission of medical test results. This initiative reduced the time required to submit laboratory results by 10% to 35%. The Expenditure Efficiency Team at the Public Health Authority "Weqaya," operating in partnership with the Ministry of Health, has established the National Newborn Screening Program to eliminate disabilities. Studies and research in the Kingdom have shown a higher rate of genetic disorders among newborns, with one affected infant per 1,000 births compared to one per 4,000 globally. The early detection of any disabilities or health problems aims to initiate appropriate treatment at an early stage. Data extracted from the screenings were analyzed, and 21 types of the most common genetic and metabolic diseases in the Kingdom were studied, such as metabolic disorders and endocrine diseases. A database was created to catalog all types of genetic disorders covered by the program. Therefore, “Weqaya” and the Ministry of Health, in partnership with EXPRO, worked to increase the coverage rate of early screening for newborns to reduce disabilities, in addition to monthly follow-up of the implementing entities. This led to the enhancement of children's health and the improvement of healthcare quality, as well as the improvement of the health monitoring and evaluation system, the promotion of prevention and healthcare, and the reduction of the psychological and social burden on the parents of affected children. It also improved efficiency and effectiveness in the use of health resources and financial planning. This improvement in efficiency and financial planning helped avoid the costs of treating cases detected late by 56%, which is estimated at approximately SAR 2 billion. Furthermore, King Faisal Specialist Hospital has enhanced operational efficiency by implementing 70 initiatives focused on optimizing expenditure, yielding a financial impact of SAR 13 billion. The hospital has demonstrated exceptional performance in organ transplantation, with distinguished outcomes in various specialties, including heart, lung, liver, kidney, pancreas, bone marrow, and stem cell transplants. In pursuit of continuous efficiency improvements, the hospital established a Capacity Command Center, which has facilitated over 350,000 interventional procedures through real-time monitoring systems. This center has also improved demand forecasting, thereby mitigating risks and resulting in a 33% reduction in patient waiting times. Similarly, to improve the quality of government projects in the Eastern Province, the Regional Development Authority implemented an integrated budgeting model. This model prioritizes projects according to regional needs and development plans. Furthermore, specialized teams consolidated projects with similar scopes, resulting in a sustainable financial impact of SAR 7.6 billion. EXPRO recently launched the fourth edition of the awareness campaign “Evolution of Tradition” to introduce the pivotal role of Expenditure Efficiency Teams in government entities in improving the efficiency of government expenditure planning through a set of procedures and initiatives. In cooperation with government entities, EXPRO has advanced the adoption of expenditure efficiency practices and enhanced awareness. It developed six guiding manuals on the formation of Expenditure Efficiency Teams in government entities, the methodology for identifying opportunities to raise expenditure efficiency, supporting teams in spreading the culture of expenditure efficiency, and improving performance of the Sustainability Key Elements Program. Additionally, EXPRO organized specialized workshops for expenditure efficiency team leaders, with its Academy delivering tailored training on key methodologies, including opportunity identification, problem-solving, change management, expenditure review, execution management, capacity and demand analysis, and operational excellence.  EXPRO supports government entities in enhancing expenditure efficiency, optimizing public procurement, and improving the quality of projects, assets, and facilities. Additionally, it strengthens infrastructure, programs, initiatives, and operational planning, develops policies, regulations, and methodologies, and builds national talent capabilities. 

EXPRO recently launched the fourth edition of the awareness campaign “Evolution of Tradition” to introduce the pivotal role of Expenditure Efficiency Teams in government entities in improving the efficiency of government expenditure planning through a set of procedures and initiatives. From 2019 to 2024, this effort captured over 4,000 initiatives from more than 190 government teams, enabling the redirection of financial allocations to priority national development projects that benefit both the country and its citizens.Expenditure Efficiency Teams across government entities began their work nearly six years ago, following a high order to establish internal teams reporting to the leadership of each entity. These teams are responsible for driving expenditure efficiency efforts, developing and implementing relevant initiatives, contributing to budget preparation workshops, and regularly reporting on progress and achievements to both the entity’s leadership and EXPRO via the designated platform for expenditure efficiency teams.Eng. Turki bin Ahmed Bukhari, Executive Vice President for Government Enablement at EXPRO, said: "The achievements of the Expenditure Efficiency Teams across government entities in recent years demonstrate the growing understanding of expenditure efficiency principles within these organizations and the dedication of our national workforce to implementing proven methodologies and best practices. These initiatives help ensure that government resources support national strategies and advance the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, contributing to effective governance focused on enhancing expenditure efficiency to secure financial sustainability, drive development, and improve service quality for citizens, residents, and visitors."He added that EXPRO remains committed to collaborating with government entities to enhance the efficiency of government expenditure planning and needs assessment by promoting a culture of expenditure efficiency, developing and qualifying national talent within these entities, and implementing best practices and methodologies in this field.In cooperation with the success partners from government entities, EXPRO has advanced the adoption of expenditure efficiency practices and enhanced awareness. It developed six guiding manuals on the formation of Expenditure Efficiency Teams in government entities, the methodology for identifying opportunities to raise expenditure efficiency, supporting teams in spreading the culture of expenditure efficiency, and improving performance of  the Sustainability Key Elements Program.Additionally, EXPRO organized specialized workshops for expenditure efficiency team leaders, with its Academy delivering tailored training on key methodologies, including opportunity identification, change management, expenditure review, execution management, capacity and demand analysis, and operational excellence.EXPRO supports government entities in enhancing expenditure efficiency, optimizing public procurement, and improving the quality of projects, assets, and facilities. Additionally, it strengthens infrastructure, programs, initiatives, and operational planning, develops policies, regulations, and methodologies, and builds national talent capabilities.

On Tuesday, January 28, 2025, EXPRO held a ceremony to celebrate the graduation of the first cohort of the “Wa’ed” Leadership Development Program, which included 19 employees from various specializations.The program enhances leadership capabilities of EXPRO's promising talents, supporting the strategy to develop national expertise and retain top performers. It equips participants to become exceptional leaders, fostering strategic vision, innovative thinking, problem-solving skills, and team leadership abilities to drive EXPRO's objectives forward.Reem bint Abdulrahman Al-Ruhaily, Executive Vice President of Human Capital and the Academy, stated: "The Wa’ed program comes as part of the EXPRO's strategy to build a high-performance organization that prioritizes qualifying national talents, maximizing the value of human capital, and creating an ideal and attractive work environment that fosters creativity and innovation".Al-Ruhaily emphasized the graduates' crucial role in sharing knowledge with colleagues, supporting EXPRO Academy's objectives aligned with the Human Capability Development Program under Vision 2030. These efforts support and promote a culture of learning and development and enhance employee engagement and integration. The program yielded an 80% leadership skills improvement rate, 30% professional development growth, and 98% enhancement in interdepartmental networking and employee integration.EXPRO, in cooperation with global leadership experts, developed an educational and training program for the Wa’ed participants, consisting of three intensive learning and training modules.The first phase of Wa’ed included conducting tests to evaluate candidates based on leadership and analytical abilities, followed by presentation to the Program Committee comprising executive leaders of EXPRO and the academic partner to select qualified participants.The second phase of the program involved enrolling promising leaders in an educational path that included three modules introducing authentic leadership based on values and principles, inspirational and influential leadership, and transformational leadership. The curriculum covered effective team management, leadership styles and influence, the leader’s role in fostering an environment conducive to team performance development, strategic planning, creativity, and innovation. This phase also included intensive mentoring sessions, individual coaching, and knowledge transfer workshops.The third phase of the Wa’ed program focused on measuring the impact of the acquired knowledge and the value of the training process, presenting what trainees learned, covering the key stages of leadership methods and change management, explaining high-performance team leadership techniques, and joining the Wa’ed Community to enhance learning and experience exchange.EXPRO supports government entities in enhancing expenditure efficiency, optimizing public procurement, and improving the quality of projects, assets, and facilities. Additionally, it strengthens infrastructure, programs, initiatives, and operational planning and develops policies.

EXPRO has been awarded the King Abdulaziz Quality Award in its seventh edition, achieving the Bronze level in the Government Sector category. EXPRO's recognition affirms its excellence in applying international best practices in quality and institutional excellence, further demonstrated by its recent attainment of four ISO certifications in Quality Management, Risk Management, Knowledge Management, and Collaborative Relationship Management, after meeting global standards. Eng. Riyadh bin Nasser Al-Muhawas, Executive Vice President of Strategy and Institutional Excellence at EXPRO, stated: "The King Abdulaziz Quality Award highlights EXPRO's advanced level in achieving quality and institutional excellence standards and supporting related practices, which enhance a culture of quality, efficiency, and sustainable development." Al-Muhawas added that EXPRO is dedicated to implementing its strategy focused on building a high-performance organization supported by an ideal quality system that enhances government performance and fulfills stakeholder aspirations. EXPRO bases its governance on performance indicators that ensure operations are conducted with quality and accuracy, contributing to the achievement of Saudi Vision 2030 objectives. The King Abdulaziz Quality Award aims to motivate all sectors to adopt excellence principles to elevate performance quality, recognize outstanding entities, drive continuous improvement of internal processes, and achieve higher levels of beneficiary satisfaction. The award offers a comprehensive framework for business excellence, aligning performance improvement and management activities. It enables organizations to assess their current performance levels, compare them with globally outstanding institutions, and work to bridge existing performance gaps. EXPRO supports government entities in enhancing expenditure efficiency, optimizing public procurement, and improving the quality of projects, assets, and facilities. Additionally, it strengthens infrastructure, programs, initiatives, and operational planning, develops policies, regulations, and methodologies, and builds national talent capabilities.

EXPRO has developed seven manuals aligned with the Government Tenders and Procurement Law, equipping both government entities and their contracted service providers in the Kingdom with best-practice knowledge to optimize procurement efficiency and effectiveness.These manuals, launched by EXPRO by the end of Q3 2024, aim to improve government tendering and procurement operations, contributing to resource sustainability, supporting the procurement journey by applying unified best practices across all government entities and private sector service providers, offering proper guidance, and providing knowledge materials to raise awareness among entities on how to prepare and publish the annual government procurement plan to achieve efficiency and enhance the quality of planned operations. They also aim to improve the performance and efficiency of procurement professionals by offering the necessary training to develop their skills and help them obtain professional certifications. Furthermore, they highlight the critical need for government entities to apply standardized cost estimation methodologies when determining project budgets and preparing tender announcements, ensuring optimal value from procurement processes. Additionally, the manuals promote the importance of archiving and storage, which help preserve EXPRO's data and documents for long periods, and enable government entities to prepare procurement plans and framework agreements.The manuals include the Manual for Developing the Annual Operational Procurement Plan, the Manual for Training and Professional Development, the Manual for Archiving and Storage, the Manual for Functional Workload Assessment, the Manual for Estimated Cost, the Manual for Tender Announcements, as well as the Manual for Ongoing Tenders.EXPRO has made the manuals available to procurement leaders and managers in government entities, specialists in Procurement & Contracts Departments, and contractors with government entities via the following website: https://knowledge.expro.gov.sa/books/government-procurement/volume-1/chapter-1EXPRO supports government entities in enhancing expenditure efficiency, optimizing public procurement, and improving the quality of projects. Additionally, it develops policies, regulations, and methodologies and builds national talent capabilities.

Eng. Abdulrazzaq bin Subhi Al-Aujan, CEO of EXPRO, extended his heartfelt congratulations to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, and His Royal Highness Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, on the occasion of the announcement of the Kingdom’s General Budget for the fiscal year 2025.Al-Aujan affirmed that the 2025 budget reflects the efficiency of government performance and the effectiveness of the strategies adopted to achieve financial sustainability, economic strength, and diversity. He expressed his gratitude to the Kingdom’s leadership for its continued support in empowering government entities and citizens, which has contributed to significant developmental progress in a short time, positively impacting national prosperity, well-being, and empowerment. He also extended his appreciation to His Excellency the Minister of Finance and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Government Expenditure and Project Efficiency Authority (EXPRO), Mr. Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Jadaan, for his ongoing support and commitment to enabling EXPRO in fulfilling its mandate.Al-Aujan said: "The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is confidently progressing towards achieving the goals of Vision 2030, led by His Highness the Crown Prince, supported by precise planning of the Kingdom’s General Budget that enhances financial sustainability and ensures the quality and efficiency of government expenditure. This contributes to establishing a strong, prosperous, integrated, and diversified economy."He indicated that EXPRO continues to work on joint programs with the success partners in government entities to enhance expenditure efficiency by applying financial impact methodologies. Government entities achieved a financial impact of more than SAR 106 billion during the first half of 2024.EXPRO continues to strengthen the impact of cooperation with the success partners in government entities to improve the quality of projects, assets, and public facilities, and to enhance the capabilities of government employees in expenditure efficiency methodologies, quality project planning and management, and improving the efficiency and effectiveness of government procurement. It also works on expanding strategic government procurement through the signing of new unified framework agreements and renewing others, developing partnerships to build capacities and talents in the EXPRO's field of work, and transferring expertise and knowledge, in a way that maximizes the economic and social return from government expenditure and ensures the sustainability and optimal investment of the kingdom’s resources.

EXPRO explored opportunities to enhance cooperation with Singaporean government entities during a visit by a delegation headed by Eng. Abdulrazzaq bin Subhi Al-Aujan, CEO of EXPRO, to Singapore from November 18 to 21. The delegation's visit included the National Environment Agency of Singapore, which has achieved an advanced level in government expenditure efficiency using AI in various areas, such as water loss, carbon emission reduction, and waste recycling. The delegation’s schedule also included a visit to the Port of Singapore and a tour of the Innovation Center affiliated with the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, as well as a visit to the Marina Barrage and a briefing on the tasks and functions of the Public Utilities Board (PUB), Singapore’s National Water Agency. During the visit, the delegation explored the experience of Singapore’s Ministry of Education and its key initiatives aimed at enhancing educational outcomes and their impact on expenditure efficiency. Moreover, a meeting was held with the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKY) to exchange knowledge and experiences, and to explore best practices in training and public policy development. EXPRO held discussions with Singapore’s Ministry of Health to explore opportunities for cooperation in enhancing expenditure quality and adopting best practices in the healthcare sector. The delegation also visited the Ministry of Digital Development and Information of Singapore to explore methodologies and strategies for leveraging modern technologies in public services. The visit included knowledge exchange on approaches for identifying and meeting technological needs within the government sector. The delegation also explored the procedures followed by the Land Transport Authority in road maintenance and operations, their linkage to performance-based contracts, and identified mutual areas for enhancing cooperation to improve the efficiency of planning and executing infrastructure projects. EXPRO supports government entities in enhancing expenditure efficiency, optimizing public procurement, and improving the quality of projects, assets, and facilities. Additionally, it strengthens infrastructure, programs, initiatives, and operational planning, develops policies, regulations, and methodologies, and builds national talent capabilities.

The Expenditure Efficiency Forum, hosted by EXPRO, concluded its activities today in Riyadh after two days full of panel discussions and interactive workshops. The forum featured the launch of the SKEP Platform, EXPRO’s Academy Platform, and the Manual for Implementing the Expenditure Review Methodology in Government Entities. Moreover, nine memoranda of understanding were executed with various government and private sector entities, alongside two framework agreements related to cloud services and the provision of telecommunications services, mobile devices, and group messaging solutions for government entities. These initiatives were undertaken in collaboration with strategic partners, including the Ministry of Finance, the Digital Government Authority, the Communications, Space, and Technology Commission, and the National Center for Government Resource Systems.The Cloud Services Agreement provides flexible and reliable cloud solutions through a variety of options offered by a range of local and global suppliers. It assists government entities in designing and building the most suitable cloud storage systems tailored to their actual needs and optimal use of technological resources, exclusively through the Etimad E-Marketplace.This agreement, which offers infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS), platform-as-a-service (PaaS), and software-as-a-service (SaaS), aims to enable government entities to adopt cloud solutions, enhance the current agreement by adding more services, offer various infrastructure specifications to suit the needs of government entities, accelerate support for digital government transformation, standardize product and service pricing, enable multi-year contracting, and support the shift from capital expenditures to operational expenditures.As for the framework agreement for the supply of telecommunications services, mobile devices, and bulk messaging services for government entities, it enables contractors to highlight their products and services through Etimad. This allows government entities to issue purchase orders directly and exclusively to contractors based on predefined specifications and prices for the agreement term.This agreement provides services for desktop and mobile phones, personal routers, IoT SIM cards, satellite communication devices and services, bulk messaging, SIM cards, and subscriptions.The agreement aims to enhance the efficiency of digital procurement, support the digital transformation journey, and strengthen the government’s digital economy. It also seeks to increase transparency, encourage greater private sector participation in the delivery of government services, foster a competitive environment among service providers, maximize value for public funds, and improve expenditure efficiency. Moreover, the agreement is designed to reduce procurement time by automating and streamlining procedures through Etimad.EXPRO signed a memorandum of understanding with the National Center for Performance Measurement (ADAA) to collaborate on national indicators and beneficiary satisfaction measurement, as well as to provide support in strategic management, performance evaluation, and initiative management.EXPRO also signed a memorandum of understanding with the King Fahad National Library to collaborate on conducting research and studies, providing advisory services, building capacities, and offering strategic support for assets and facilities.The agreements signed by EXPRO included a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development for integration in developing the general government expenditure management framework, cooperation in developing policies and legislation mechanisms, support in preparing the supply and demand methodology, and contributing to improving service quality.EXPRO also signed a memorandum of understanding with the General Organization for Social Insurance to collaborate on assessing compliance with occupational health and safety requirements. The agreement includes establishing a mechanism to collect and analyze data related to contractors’ compliance with occupational health and safety procedures.The memorandum of understanding between EXPRO and the Institute of Public Administration aims to enhance the efficiency and quality of expenditure in training, research, and consulting activities. The agreement focuses on leveraging emerging and innovative technologies, developing an integrated leadership development ecosystem, encouraging participation from leading private sector training providers, and supporting efforts to attract global investment in training.The memorandum of understanding signed between EXPRO, and the General Authority for Defense Development (GADD) includes working on activating the achievement reports of the Expenditure Efficiency Teams, enhancing the readiness of financing proposals for military research and development programs, establishing mechanisms to assess financial and economic impact, and updating the guideline for identifying opportunities to improve expenditure efficiency within the military and security sectors.The memorandum of understanding between EXPRO and the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) aims to identify opportunities for improving government service delivery models through the development and adoption of AI-driven and advanced technology solutions. It also seeks to assess existing national programs and initiatives by leveraging data solutions to measure and monitor the demand for public services to enhance their efficiency, in addition to cooperating on the potential impact of actions and initiatives in improving the quality and efficiency of government expenditure.The memorandum of understanding signed between EXPRO and the Ministry of Education focuses on knowledge and expertise exchange to maximize impact and empower national talent. It also aims to foster collaboration in the application of best practices to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of procurement processes, improve asset and facility management, and implement localization requirements for operation and maintenance contracts.EXPRO also signed a memorandum of understanding with Mawj and Prosci to collaborate on consulting, capacity building, and training in change management, and to meet the training needs of government entities.Launched by EXPRO during the forum, the SKEP Platform is designed to offer a user-friendly interface that enables communication and interaction with participating entities, facilitates procedures for measuring and evaluating government entities’ compliance, and studying expenditure details, and design a dashboard that helps analyze the current situation and develop reports to increase expenditure efficiency opportunities.EXPRO’s Academy Platform focuses on building the capabilities of government entity employees by adopting the best practices, methodologies, and manuals to maximize impact and achieve sustainability. The training tracks include facility and asset management, planning and project management, government expenditure efficiency, and public procurement efficiency.The Expenditure Efficiency Forum featured 24 interactive workshops that combined theory with practical application and highlighted the best global practices in effective government expenditure management.During the forum sessions, participants, comprising decision-makers and experts from both government and private sectors, exchanged insights and fostered strategic collaboration among government entities to enhance efficiency.On the sidelines of the Expenditure Efficiency Forum, the GCC Expenditure Efficiency Meeting was held to discuss avenues for collaboration across various aspects of expenditure efficiency.Also held was the Strategic Partnership Council with the Local Content and Government Procurement Authority, aimed at following up on joint cooperation tracks, overcoming challenges, and highlighting success stories with working teams.In addition, the Innovation Challenge “Kafa’athon” was held on the forum’s sidelines, offering an integrated platform to present and categorize challenges and reach effective solutions through innovative ideas and distinctive initiatives.Alongside the forum, an accompanying exhibition was held, highlighting key achievements and success stories of government entities in expenditure management.

Today, the Academy of EXPRO launched its digital platform during the Expenditure Efficiency Forum in Riyadh, under the patronage of His Excellency the Minister of Finance and Chairman of the Authority's Board, Mr. Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Jadaan. The platform was launched through the National Platform for E-Learning (FutureX), in collaboration with the National E-Learning Center.The platform aims to build the capabilities of personnel within government entities by providing them with the necessary skills to support in enhancing expenditure efficiency, optimizing public procurement, and improving the quality of projects, assets, and facilities. Additionally, it strengthens infrastructure, programs, initiatives, and operational planning, develops policies, regulations, and methodologies, and builds national talent capabilities.The platform, launched via FutureX, includes several main tracks such as project planning and management, asset and facilities management, government procurement efficiency, regional capacity development, and government expenditure efficiency. These tracks will contribute to enhancing human capabilities in areas of expenditure efficiency and government projects, improving quality and efficiency, and achieving sustainability in the financial and administrative sectors, in alignment with the goals and aspirations of Saudi Vision 2030.

EXPRO celebrated the graduation of 27 male and female trainees from the "Future Makers" cooperative training program for the first half of 2024, in the presence of the CEO of EXPRO, Eng. Abdulrazzaq bin Subhi Al-Aujan.The “Future Makers” program aims to qualify young national talents to keep pace with the ever-changing and rapidly evolving labor market, to develop a promising national generation equipped with essential and future skills that enable them to compete locally and globally, in alignment with national objectives to enhance the competitiveness of human capabilities.Reem Al-Ruhaily, Vice President of Human Capital and the Academy, affirmed that the Authority is committed to qualifying young national talents according to the latest labor market trends, using both theoretical and practical approaches that help trainees build strong knowledge foundations. This effort complements university initiatives in fostering a generation distinguished by ambition and determination, along with high-level skills in their respective fields, to ensure their readiness for the labor market.She explained that the program is designed to ensure alignment between educational outcomes and future professional needs, while developing and qualifying the skills required to achieve a thriving economy driven by highly competent national capabilities.The ceremony included a variety of segments, featuring a speech by the CEO of EXPRO, a presentation on the “Future Makers” journey and its impact within EXPRO, a speech by the graduates, and an awards presentation.In its ninth cohort, the program graduated 27 trainees from 12 Saudi universities in several areas related to EXPRO, including Strategy and Institutional Excellence, Planning and Project Management, Government Procurement, Human Capital and the Academy, Legal Affairs, Media and Corporate Communications, and Data Management and Cybersecurity. Over the past four years, EXPRO has trained over 200 individuals, held over 25 knowledge-sharing sessions, and successfully employed over 45% of the graduates from the Future Makers program.EXPRO supports government entities in enhancing expenditure efficiency, optimizing public procurement, and improving the quality of projects, assets, and facilities. Additionally, it strengthens infrastructure, programs, initiatives, and operational planning, develops policies, regulations, and methodologies, and builds national talent capabilities.