NEWS
Eighth edition of Arabnet
Riyadh to connect KSA
Minister says
KSA’s ICT
strategy will
shape future
innovation
T
he Council of Ministers has
endorsed a five-year strategy for
the communications and information
technology sector in KSA. KSA’s ICT Strategy
2023 is aimed at accelerating the sector’s
growth by 50% and raising its contribution
to the GDP by SR50 billion.
HE Eng Abdullah Al-Swaha, Minister
of Communications and Information
Technology, said the new strategy is a result
of the unlimited support to the sector from
the Kingdom’s leadership in order to serve
the country and achieve public welfare. He
noted that the strategy had been set to be
a roadmap for the future of the Kingdom
in innovation and the digital economy, by
developing Saudi digital capabilities and
attracting foreign technical investments. He
explained that the strategy of the ICT sector
would contribute to the improvement of
various development activities and increase
the performance of the public and private
sectors. He also indicated that the aim is
for KSA to become among leading global
countries in the field of ICT.
K
SA’s largest digital gathering is back
for its eighth edition in December at
a new venue. Arabnet will this year take
place on December 10 and 11 at Riyadh
International Convention and Exhibition
Center. For the second consecutive year,
Arabnet will feature two events under
one roof. They are: ‘Arabnet Riyadh’
for 2,000 plus corporate executives and
senior government leaders and ‘Inspire
Saudi’ for 4,000 plus entrepreneurs,
youth and students.
The conference will bring together more
than 250 experts and speakers from
around the world, with a full programme
covering a range of topics: ‘Inspire Saudi’
for start-ups and investors; ‘Ad/Edge’ for
digital media and advertising; ‘Finverse’
for digital banking and fintech; ‘Digital
Policy Forum’ for senior government
leaders; ‘CIO Forum’ for CIOs, CTOs and
www.intelligentcio.com
senior IT decision makers; and ‘Investor
Summit’ for investors.
The event will also bring together 300
plus exhibiting start-ups in the largest tech
entrepreneurship showcase to take place
in the Kingdom and the region, alongside
more than 150 investors representing
more than US$1 billion in capital.
The ICT Strategy 2019–2023 features
13 priorities aligned with the goals of
KSA’s Vision 2030 and is linked to eight
programmes to achieve the vision. It
supports technology localisation efforts in
KSA through a 50% increase of the local
workforce by the year 2023. It will also
attract foreign investment and contribute to
empowering women.
This year’s programme is also decked
out with various initiatives bringing
together inspirational and successful
leaders and entrepreneurs.
Another notable part of the event,
‘Ideathon’, is the go-to destination for
brilliant ideas. Regional entrepreneurs will
get to showcase these in front of a crowd
of investors, incubators and media and
digital professionals for a chance to win a
US$5,000 prize.
Abdullah Al-Swaha, Minister of
Communications and Information
Technology
INTELLIGENTCIO
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