Riyadh – Mubasher: Saudi government is making progress better than expected in cutting costs, which is the main reason for a stronger budget so far, vice economy minister said.

Mohammed al-Tuwaijri added to Reuters that that government's plans to eliminate its deficit by 2020 are still the same," largely because of big gains from cost cutting."

KSA budget's deficit recorded SAR 26 billion ($6.9 billion) in the first quarter of this year, far below the initial expectations of 56 billion riyals, al-Tuwaijri noted.

The government estimated a budget deficit of SAR 198 billion ($52.8 billion) in 2017.