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Saudi Ministry of Communications Signs a MOU with Siemens

Ministry of Communications and Information Technology Logo
Ministry of Communications and Information Technology Logo
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Saudi Ministry of Communications Signs a MOU with Siemens

Ministry of Communications and Information Technology Logo
Ministry of Communications and Information Technology Logo

The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology signed a MOU with Siemens to boost digital industrial transformation in the Kingdom in tandem with the Saudi Vision 2030.

Minister of Communications and Information Technology Eng. Abdullah al-Sawaha and Germany's ambassador to the Kingdom Dieter W. Haller were present.

Dr. Mohammed al-Mishaigeh, undersecretary of the ministry for planning and development, and Dr. Roland Bush, technological president of Siemens signed on behalf of their parties.

The MOU covers smart cities, health care, mining, petrochemicals, digital shipyard building, and mechatronics engineering to help the Kingdom accomplish Saudi Vision 2030, increase digitization of medical files to 70, enhance mining sector contribution in the GDP and nationalize renewable energy industries, industrial tools and knowledge transfer.

There are three Saudi cities among the 100 best cities in the world.

Minister of Communications and Information Technology Eng. Abdullah al-Sawaha clarified that the ministry seeks empowering the society and economy to grasp digital transformation chances, to push the kingdom to the lead of innovative countries and accelerate accomplishing Saudi Vision 2030.

Bush said Siemens is working with the Kingdom to achieve a more diversified and competitive digital economy, including promoting the local skills in the field of automation and digitization.

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Chip Powerhouse Taiwan Calls for Economic Partnership Deal with EU

Taiwan President Lai Ching-te speaks at the annual Taiwan-EU investment forum in Taipei, Taiwan November 18, 2024. (Reuters)
Taiwan President Lai Ching-te speaks at the annual Taiwan-EU investment forum in Taipei, Taiwan November 18, 2024. (Reuters)
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Chip Powerhouse Taiwan Calls for Economic Partnership Deal with EU

Taiwan President Lai Ching-te speaks at the annual Taiwan-EU investment forum in Taipei, Taiwan November 18, 2024. (Reuters)
Taiwan President Lai Ching-te speaks at the annual Taiwan-EU investment forum in Taipei, Taiwan November 18, 2024. (Reuters)

Taiwan President Lai Ching-te called on Monday for the signing of an economic partnership agreement with the European Union, saying it would boost cooperation in semiconductors and that as democracies the two sides should be working together.

Taiwan has pushed for the signing of investment and trade deals with the EU, in what would be politically significant for Taiwan given its diplomatic isolation and general exclusion from most global bodies and agreements.

For its part, the EU has been courting Taiwan as a "like-minded" partner under the European Chips Act to encourage more semiconductor production in Europe and lessen dependence on Asia, despite the lack of formal ties with the Chinese-claimed island.

Speaking at a Taiwan-EU investment forum in Taipei, Lai said that facing the threat of expanding authoritarianism, Taiwan and the EU must form a "strong democratic umbrella" and build secure supply chains for global democracies.

"Looking to the future, Taiwan hopes to take an innovative approach towards the signing of an economic partnership agreement with the EU," he said.

Such an agreement would set a sound institutional basis for further cooperation in fields such as semiconductors and AI, Lai added.

"This would not only make both our economies more resilient and secure, but also ensure the stable operation of global supply chains."

Taiwanese investment in EU has been anchored by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC), which in August launched a major new chip plant in Dresden, Germany, expected to be a key supplier to European industry and automakers.

Maria Martin-Prat, deputy head of the European Commission's directorate general for trade, made no mention of signing such a deal with Taiwan in a video message to the investment event, though she did praise bilateral relations.

"Taiwan, a vibrant democracy with an open economy, is a trusted partner for us to promote our economic security," she said.

Taiwan has few free trade agreements, though last year it signed an Enhanced Trade Partnership with Britain and has applied to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, or CPTPP.