National Competitiveness Center
The NCC is spearheading a new attitude to competition and achievement throughout Saudi Arabia.
Established by SAGIA in 2006, the National Competitiveness Center (NCC) is passionate about its role in Saudi’s future. Its presence heralds a new attitude to achieving excellence that will help drive sustainable prosperity throughout the nation.
The NCC acts as an independent body to monitor, assess and support the enhancement of competitiveness in the Kingdom. With the achievement of 10x10 firmly in its sights, the NCC has three main purposes: to act as a think tank, a facilitator and a communicator of change. Here’s how it works.
NCC as a think tank
Research plays a critical role in Saudi’s change process. To find out what works and what doesn’t the NCC is monitoring the implementation and results of change programs as well as assessing the competitiveness of the economy. This fundamental, grass-roots work will help to spur modernization throughout the business environment and inspire greater competitiveness.
Recent initiatives include:
• A thorough assessment of Saudi’s competitiveness, using the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Index.
• A plan to eliminate the minimum capital requirement for Limited Liability Companies and to monitor the progress of its implementation.
• Collaborating with SAGIA sector heads on initiatives designed to boost competitiveness. For example, the upgrading of ICT infrastructure and improving primary school enrollment rates.
• Measuring the success of the KSA’s competitiveness change efforts through the monitoring of three globally accepted measures of competitiveness and related indicators to evaluate progress towards 10x10.
NCC as a facilitator
The NCC is a vibrant force for change and it’s committed to sharing its knowledge and enthusiasm wherever it identifies new opportunities for improvement. It creates forums for discussion between the public and private sectors that help to enhance understanding and collaboration.
Recent activities include:
• Establishing Cluster Advisory Councils that bring together public and private stakeholders in key clusters (eg education, real estate, ICT) to identify and collaborate on competitiveness improvement initiatives.
• Supporting ministerial meetings with fact-based analysis to advocate reforms.
• Coordinating with SAGIA to help organize the Global Competitiveness Forum (GCF), which has featured global leaders and thinkers such as Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates, Harvard Business School Professor Michael Porter, Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn, former Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien and many others.
NCC as a communicator
The NCC acts as a communicator for change, sharing success stories and generating momentum for the Kingdom’s ongoing competitiveness efforts. The NCC seeks to educate the government, private sector and general public on the importance of national competitiveness, through such channels as its Competitiveness Review, competitiveness bulletins, speaking engagements, and its website. The NCC collaborates with SAGIA’s marketing team to build commitment and enthusiasm for the 10x10 program within the government, private sector, and general public.