Saudi King issues royal orders for cabinet reshuffle, ministries and authorities restructuring

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia issued a number of royal orders including cancelation of the Ministry of Water and Electricity. 

Amendment of the name of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry to become the Ministry of Commerce and Investment, reported Saudi Press Agency SPA. 

The amendment of the name of the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources to become the Ministry of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources; and shall be dedicated for energy, in addition to undertaking the related tasks and responsibilities as well as the activities relating to electricity and industry; and shall undertake the management of the National Industrial Cluster Development Program. 

The amendment of the name of the Ministry of Agriculture to become the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture; and shall undertake the tasks and responsibilities relating to environment and water. 

The amendment of the name of the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Call and Guidance to become the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance.

The amendment of the name of the Ministry of Hajj to become the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah. 

The integration of the Ministry of Labor with the Ministry of Social Affairs to become one ministry named the Ministry of Labor and Social Development. 

The amendment of the name of the General Presidency of Meteorology and Environment Protection to become the General Authority for Meteorology and Environment Protection; and shall have a board of directors. 

The amendment of the name of the General Presidency for Youth Welfare to become the General Authority for Sports; and shall have a board of directors whose chairman is appointed by a royal order. 

The amendment of the name of the Public Education Evaluation Commission to become Education Evaluation Commission; and shall undertake the tasks and responsibilities relating to the evaluation of public and higher education at the Ministry of Education and the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation; and shall combine the National Commission for Academic Accreditation and Assessment, the National Center for Assessment in Higher Education, and the Technical and Vocational Accreditation and Assessment Centre; the chairman of its board of directors shall be appointed by a royal order, SPA reported.

The royal orders also included relieving the Oil Minister Ali Al Nuaimi who was replaced with health minister Khalid al-Falih.

The ministers for transport, pilgrimages, and social affairs were also relieved in the partial government reshuffle. 
Al-Falih is to head a renamed Ministry of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources. 
The royal order said the moves were in line with the Vision 2030 plan announced two weeks ago. ) 

Source: QNA