The National Competitiveness Center, in collaboration with the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, organized a high-level workshop on the Services Trade Restrictiveness Index (STRI). The two-day workshop held at the NCC headquarters brought together 70 representatives from 30 government entities as part of ongoing efforts to enhance the regulatory environment of the services sector and strengthen Saudi Arabia's global competitiveness.
The workshop featured a comprehensive overview of the STRI, including its background, data collection and analysis methodologies, and a detailed explanation of the Scoring & Weighting Methodology. Participants also explored how the index can serve as a policymaking tool, supporting evidence-based decisions. Discussions covered key service sectors such as logistics, postal and courier services, distribution, transport, finance, professional services, and telecommunications, and their impact on trade flows, global value chains, and the growth of e-commerce.
The Services Trade Restrictiveness Index (STRI) serves as an analytical tool for assessing trade policies in the services sector, measuring the degree of openness in trade and investment across five main categories.
The NCC's workshops, organized in collaboration with international organizations and global competitiveness institutions, reflect the Kingdom's commitment to achieving the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 to enhance the competitiveness environment and positioning Saudi Arabia among the world's most competitive countries.