Saudis must develop human resources

Saudi Arabia should develop its human resources to strengthen its economy, two prominent political figures said yesterday.

Speaking on the second day of the sixth Jeddah Economic Forum yesterday, Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi and Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, both stressed the importance of human capital development.

Human resources are the most significant and invaluable factor in the development of any nation or people, the Duke of York said.

In his keynote address to the forum, Badawi said his country was able to transform its economy from its agricultural orientation to a high-tech industrial orientation by adopting a specific development strategy.