Public Consultation Platform Istitlaa Invites Feedback On 18 Key Economic Projects

The National Competitiveness Center (NCC) has launched 18 projects on its Public Consultation Platform, Istitlaa. These projects are in collaboration with eight government agencies and focus on economic and development affairs. The NCC encourages feedback from the public, government bodies, and private sector before finalising these projects.

One significant project is 'Joining Riyadh Design Law Treaty,' developed by the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property. This initiative aims to simplify the global protection system for industrial designs. It seeks to make it easier, quicker, and more cost-effective for designers to safeguard their creations both locally and internationally. Feedback on this project can be submitted through the Istitlaa platform.

Another intellectual property-related project involves the "WIPO Treaty on Intellectual Property, Genetic Resources, and Associated Traditional Knowledge." This treaty aims to improve patent system transparency and quality concerning genetic resources. It also seeks to prevent patents being granted erroneously for non-novel inventions related to these resources. Public consultation will conclude soon.

The Ministry of Municipalities and Housing has proposed a project titled 'Municipal Requirements for Veterinary Care.' This initiative focuses on enhancing the business environment for veterinary services by streamlining regulations for investors in this sector. It aims to improve compliance standards, reduce visual pollution, and contribute to public health by controlling zoonotic disease spread.

The Saudi Water Authority has introduced a project called ‘Rules and Procedures for Licenses.’ This project is designed to regulate the procedures involved in issuing licenses for water service activities. The public can provide their input until a specified deadline.

Encouraging Public Participation

Istitlaa promotes transparency in legislation by introducing draft regulations and similar projects. It encourages public participation by allowing citizens, government agencies, and private sectors to share insights on proposed regulations affecting the business environment.

This approach ensures that diverse perspectives are considered before implementing new laws or regulations. By fostering a culture of engagement, Istitlaa helps create a more inclusive decision-making process that benefits all stakeholders involved.

With inputs from SPA