Al-Sawaha: Technology and innovation to shape the future, ‎Kingdom is a model for empowering entrepreneurship and ‎women

Eng. Abdullah bin Amer Al-Sawaha, Minister of Communications and Information Technology, stressed that the methods of sustainable and comprehensive recovery and the formation of new horizons for the world depend on technology and innovation, pointing to the bold and leaping steps taken by the Kingdom to support future economies and innovation, exemplified by the announcement of Prince Mohammed bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Higher Committee for Research, Development and Innovation for National Aspirations and Priorities for Research, Development and Innovation, which is based on four main priorities; They are represented in: human health, environmental sustainability and basic needs, leadership in energy and industry, and the economies of the future, in a way that enhances the Kingdom’s global competitiveness and leadership; It is in line with the directions of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 and strengthening its position as the largest economy in the region.

This came during his participation today in the meeting of ministers of digital economy under the Indonesian presidency of the G20, in Bali, with the participation of ministers and experts of communications and information technology from the countries of the group.

He said: The support that the technology, innovation and entrepreneurship sectors enjoy from the wise leadership has contributed to the Kingdom’s leadership as the regional center for technology and innovation in the region, pointing to the qualitative growth in venture capital investments last year by 270%, exceeding what has been achieved in 2020 and 2019 combined.

In terms of women’s participation, Al-Sawaha explained that the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 was keen to support Saudi women as they are one of the important elements for building the nation, noting that the Kingdom jumped in the file of empowering women in the ICT sector from 7% in 2017, to More than 30% in the year 2022 AD, revealing that, given that the Kingdom is a center for technology and innovation in the region, it is working, in cooperation with the Apple Developers Academy, to qualify more than 600 women in the Middle East and North Africa region.

Regarding the Kingdom’s efforts in bridging the digital divide, Al-Sawaha referred to the innovative efforts in bridging the digital divide and the green energy projects in NEOM, praising, at the conclusion of his speech, the outcomes of the Kingdom’s presidency of the G20, which led to the transformation of the Digital Economy Team “DETF” to a permanent working group «DEWG», which had its appreciated contribution to seizing the opportunities offered by the era of the digital economy, and increasing the rates of development and economic growth of the countries of the group.