A Saudi delegation, led by Minister of Communications and Information Technology Eng. Abdullah bin Amer Alswaha, met with the founder and CEO of Coursera communications company Jeff Magioncalda in the US city of Mount View, California, it was reported here on Tuesday. During the meeting, which took place on Monday, the two sides discussed a host of issues regarding the concepts of capacity development and digital skills for the new generations of Saudis to further support the growth of the digital economy in accordance with the 21st century skills and the new realities of capacity building development. The delegation was briefed on Coursera's future vision including the aggressive investment capital idea to explore startup enterprise systems and discussed the digital skills, capacity building and upgrading the digital caders in Saudi Arabia. On the other hand, Deputy Minister of Communications and Information Technology Eng. Haitham Al-Ohaly met with Gabriel Dalporto, CEO of Udacity company. The meeting was attended by senior officials from both sides. During the meeting, partnership in the field of empowering digital caders of the two sides was discussed as well as ways of enhancing innovation and digital economy growth and entrepreneurship in the Kingdom. The meeting is in compliance with a cooperation agreement signed between the company and the Saudi Digital Academy on the sidelines of LEAP international conference last February. The meetings are part of a tour of the US communication, information technology, research and innovation companies, currently being made by Minister Alswaha and the accompanying delegation, aiming to reach strategic partnerships with US conglomerates to enhance the digital economy growth and innovation-and-knowledge-based economy in the Kingdom. — SPA
