Giuseppe Sandro Mela.
2017-10-31.
«Saudi Arabia plans to build a new $500 billion metropolis that spans three countries»
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«The development, called NEOM, was announced at a conference on Tuesday by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. It’s the latest in a series of mega projects designed to reshape the kingdom’s economy»
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«a $500 billion plan to create a business and industrial zone extending across its borders into Jordan and Egypt, the biggest project yet in a series of efforts to free the kingdom of its dependence on oil exports»
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«NEOM is situated on one of the world’s most prominent economic arteries … Its strategic location will also facilitate the zone’s rapid emergence as a global hub that connects Asia, Europe and Africa»
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«All services and processes in NEOM will be 100% fully automated, with the goal of becoming the most efficient destination in the world»
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«The city, which will be independent of the kingdom’s “existing governmental framework,” will be built across 26,500 square kilometers (10,231 square miles) near the Red Sea»
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«Saudi Arabia has made a string of big announcements recently that are aimed at diversifying its economy away from oil»
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«In August, it launched a tourism project that consists of 100 miles of sandy coastline and a lagoon with 50 islands»
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Al momento non sono noti particolari di questi piano grandioso, che è riferito essere lanciato completamente nel futuro dell’Arabia Saudita.
Alcuni elementi emergono però molto vistosi.
– L’esigenza di generare un qualche tessuto produttivo alternativo allo sfruttamento delle risorse petrolifere.
– La localizzazione in una zona decentrata rispetto al baricentro dell’Arabia Saudita, ma posta in zona economicamente strategica.
– Del tutto inaspettato il fatto che questo polo produttivo sarà indipendente dall’attuale struttura governativa. Non è nota la veste giuridica, ma questo è un modo molto elegante di evitare lunghi e dolorosi cambiamenti legislativi in un paese singolarmente conservatore.
– Questo annuncio integra quello già fatto sul progetto turistico: religione e provenienza delle persone che vi accederanno dovrebbero essere fattori irrilevanti.
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Questo progetto ha luci ed ombre.
Opinion: Saudi Arabia – progress, or megalomania?
«The crown prince of Saudi Arabia says he wants to fundamentally change his country. But the inexperienced and impulsive young Mohammed bin Salman could quickly find himself in over his head. ….
It is to be one of the biggest projects the Middle East has ever seen: A technology park and a new city with the futuristic name, “Neom.” What Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman announced in Riyadh sounded nothing short of spectacular ….
The crown prince is not looking for traditional investors though, instead his sales pitch is directed at “visionaries who want to create something utterly new.” ….
And the crown prince has plans to build a luxury tourist resort on the Red Sea for an international clientele – that means that women will be allowed to wear bikinis and bars and restaurants will serve alcohol – things that were heretofore unthinkable. ….
One thing that greatly angered archconservatives in the kingdom was the recent severing of influence exerted by the religious police, which over the years had grown into a practically independent state security apparatus with wide-ranging powers.»