Saudi startups and entrepreneurs will drive Saudi Vision 2030 and Digital Economy competitiveness, the Ministry of Interior announced today, in becoming GITEX Technology Week's Official Country Partner for the second consecutive year. GITEX Technology Week will run on Oct. 16-20, 2016 at the Dubai World Trade Centre. Saudi Vision 2030 and the National Transformation Program 2020 call on supporting new business ventures, enhancing digital infrastructure, and increasing non-oil exports to raise the Kingdom from being in the world's top 20 economies to the top 15 economies. Digital transformation of key industry verticals such as education, healthcare, oil and gas, and Smart Cities is expected to accelerate, driving Saudi ICT spending to reach a record-high $35 billion in 2016, according to technology research firm IDC. The Kingdom also hosts the world's third-highest smartphone penetration rate at 72 percent, and the world's highest YouTube usage, according to communications company STC. Now, the challenge is transforming Saudi technology users into technology innovators. "Today's Saudi entrepreneurs are the best-educated and most digitally-savvy, and will lead public and private sector digital transformation, from connected classrooms and hospitals to Smart City innovations," said Mohammed Al Asiri, Official Spokesperson of the National Information Centre from the Saudi Ministry of Interior. "As Official Country Partner for GITEX Technology Week, the Saudi government is ensuring that its organisations and entrepreneurs will further drive our knowledge-based economy and Saudi Vision 2030 goals," Al Asiri added. Accelerators and incubators are fostering a Saudi startup culture. The King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology's Badir Program for Technology Incubators and STC's InspireU are supporting digital startups and signing international partnerships for global impact. Both will be major participants at the GITEX Startup Movement, a dedicated exhibition, conference, and networking program. It aims to be the most global startup event in 2016, with 350 entrepreneurs and 250 investors from 55 countries set to participate. Increasingly, Saudi university graduates are choosing the tech sector, with half wanting to be entrepreneurs and innovators, according to a recent report by employment consultancy Universum. The majority of engineering and IT graduates (61 per cent) prefer ICT careers. Global tech companies - including Apple, Google, and Microsoft – are among the top 10 most attractive employers for Saudi business and IT grads, according to Universum. Supporting ICT talent development, the Kingdom will boast its largest-ever GITEX Technology Week presence. Half of Saudi exhibitors will be new. Top exhibitors will include Al Elm Information Security, the Ministry of Justice, mobily, the Saudi Export Development Authority, STC, and TAQNIA, the technology arm of the Saudi Public Investment Fund. "Official Country Partner to GITEX Technology Week demonstrates the Saudi government's commitment to nationwide digital transformation and entrepreneurs," said Ahmed Al Khaja, Senior Vice President, Dubai World Trade Centre, which hosts GITEX Technology Week. "GITEX Technology Week will play an important role in connecting the Kingdom's emerging technology sector to international markets, and driving foreign direct investment into the Kingdom's rapidly-growing technology sector," added Ahmed Al Khaja. In addition to startups, GITEX Technology Week will focus on emerging technology such as artificial and virtual reality, drones, robotics, and 3D printing. The Vertical Days program will feature global experts speaking on technology's impact on different industry verticals. — SG
