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KACARE has made great efforts to pave the way for these projects. A concrete milestone was the Resolution of the Electricity Regulator (ECRA) Board of about 20 amendments to enable the integration of renewable energy into the power grid with different technologies and sizes. The technologies that will be used are the following:

1. Photovoltaic (PV);
2. Concentrated Solar Power (CSP);
3. Wind;
4. Geothermal; and
5. Waste to Energy.

For several years now, agricultural policy has been following a consistent path towards more efficient use of resources, particularly water. (...)

The Tenth Development Plan (2015-19), builds on the Ninth Plan. Under the Tenth Plan, the Government is seeking to enhance economic diversification with its different dimensions through:
(…)
Horizontal diversification: (…) developing low-water-consuming agricultural products as well as fishing activities;
(...)

Objectives, strategies and plans for development are set out in multi-annual development plans, including the Ninth Development Plan (2011-2014) and the Tenth Development Plan (2015 2019). As at end-2015, the details of the Tenth Development Plan had not been published but the objectives in the field of economic development include:
(...)
• Increasing value added of natural resources, diversifying sources, while ensuring sustainability and environmental and wildlife protection; (...)

As reported in the last TPR, the authorities reiterated that Saudi Arabia has an interest in a wide range of issues in the DDA negotiations, including trade and environment, rules, trade facilitation, non-agricultural market access (NAMA), and services. (...)

In order to improve transparency and to aid investors, in August 2015, SAGIA (Saudi Arabia General Investment Agency) published the second edition of its Services Manual. The Manual sets out the objectives for investments, the requirements to qualify for a licence to invest and conduct business in Saudi Arabia, the licence fees, and the cost of subscribing to services provided by SAGIA. In many cases, such as minimum capital requirements, the requirements apply equally to domestic as well as foreign investors (Table 2.3). The objectives for investment include: (...) environmentally friendly firms manufacturing products in accordance with the state of the art specifications and international quality standards.

Table 3.4 Import prohibitions, 2015
HS code Description
05021000 Pigs', hogs' or boars' bristles and hair and waste thereof
(...)
25249000 Other asbestos
(...)
40121100 Retreaded tyres: of a kind used on motor cars (including station wagons and racing cars)
40121200 Retreaded tyres: of a kind used on buses or lorries
40121300 Retreaded tyres: of a kind used on buses aircraft
40121900 Other retreated tyres
40122000 Used pneumatic tyres
(...)
68114000 Articles of asbestos-cement, of cellulose fibre-cement or the like, containing asbestos
68128000 Fabricated asbestos fibres; mixtures with a basis of asbestos or magnesium carbonate, of crocidolite
68129300 Compressed asbestos fibre jointing, in sheets or rolls
68132000 Containing asbestos
(...)

Under the Basel, Rotterdam, and Vienna Conventions, imports of recycled plastic waste are restricted. Imports of ozone depleting substances (ODSs) under the Montreal Protocol are also restricted.

Table 3.5 Import licensing regime, 2015
HS code Description Licensing authority
(...)
Different headings Wild animals, plants and their products thereof, according to CITES Saudi Wildlife Authority
(...)

In addition, imports of live animals and birds and of plants for planting also require an application for a licence from the Ministry of Agriculture on the grounds of SPS considerations (section 3.1.9). Imports of endangered species of wild fauna and flora under CITES or under national legislation [16] must apply to the Saudi Wildlife Authority (SWA) for import permits; the applications must be accompanied by CITES certificates issued by the exporting/re-exporting country.

[16] The Act on Trade of Endangered Wildlife Species and Their Products, Royal Decree No. M/9 of 8 June 2000.