Saudi Arabia to Host Digital Technology Forum in October: A Glimpse into the Upcoming Event

Last Updated on November 9, 2023 by Ameer Hamza

Both regional and international professionals are expected to gather in Riyadh to discuss recent developments and emerging trends in the software industry as KSA embarks on its digital transformation journey.

The Kingdom’s Communications, Space, and Technology Commission will co-host the Digital Technology Forum with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology on October 18.

Digital Technology Forum Aligns with Saudi Vision 2030 for Economic Diversification

The third iteration of the event, with the topic “Pioneering Software for a Prosperous Digital Economy,” takes place at the same time as KSA is working to diversify its economy in line with the Vision 2030 plan.

Abdullah Al-Swaha, KSA’s Minister of Communications and Information Technology and Chairman of the CSTC Board of Directors will serve as the event’s patron.

The Digital Technology Forum will examine the impact of the software market on the growth of the digital economy and the prospects for software in KSA.

The Digital Technology forum’s focus will be on methods for enhancing the effectiveness of the Kingdom’s digital infrastructure. Also, it will highlight significant software market prospects and how they affect the advancement of digital transformation.

Experts will evaluate business strategies that promote software integration into the digital economy, support initiatives for the software market, and significant upcoming technologies throughout the panel talks.

At this year’s event, several new programs, projects, and competitions will be introduced; specifics will be released later.

The development of KSA’s information and communications technology sector is consistent with the objectives of its Vision 2030. The Kingdom’s ICT market reportedly hit a significant SR154 billion ($40.9 billion) in 2022, based on data from the CSTC.

In addition, the ICT sector in Saudi Arabia experienced numerous advancements in the same year. This included signing up 600 companies for the first foreign spectrum auction, which aimed to provide internet services all over the airspace and could bring in up to SR1 billion in investments.

Also, due to the Commission’s regulatory revisions, there are already 11 ICT companies seeking to list on the financial market, representing a 350 percent increase from 2021.

The Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC) convened the “Digital Technology Forum” last year with the support of Minister of Communications and Information Technology Abdullah Al-Swaha. The theme of the event was “Enabling Local Technology Products,” and there were many new products and services as well as thought-provoking discussions. A separate exhibition showed off more than 35 local technical items and Blockchain solutions from more than 30 local companies. The occasion also featured the introduction of the four winning products that received the Co-Innovation Award from the Commission.

Takeaways

As Saudi Arabia’s ICT sector continues to flourish, this forum serves as a vital platform for innovation and collaboration. With a focus on innovative software for a thriving digital economy, the event fits in with Saudi Vision 2030’s goals for a more diverse economy.