G20 Summit to Use Saudi Videoconference Platform ‘Boroog’

G20 Summit to Use Saudi Videoconference Platform ‘Boroog’
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G20 Summit to Use Saudi Videoconference Platform ‘Boroog’

G20 Summit to Use Saudi Videoconference Platform ‘Boroog’

In continuation of Saudi Arabia’s successful leadership of the G20 this year, and under the supervision of the G20 Saudi Secretariat, the Saudi Data & AI Authority (SDAIA) has completed its preparations to manage and operate the secure government video conferencing system, Boroog, for the G20 Summit.

The Kingdom will host the summit on Nov. 21-22, under the theme "Realizing the opportunities of the 21st century for all".

Boroog is a secure video conferencing platform managed and operated by SDAIA through one of its executive arms, the National Information Center. It provides effective and efficient virtual meeting services for the Kingdom’s leadership and government entities. The platform also provides the highest levels of safety and reliability and helps reduce operational costs and expenses.

It is worth noting that Boroog has already hosted more than 700 local and international meetings successfully, including the Extraordinary G20 Leaders’ Summit in the Kingdom last March.

The platform is also used to host meetings of the Cabinet, the Council of Economic and Development Affairs, Political and Security Affairs Council, Shura Council, OPEC meetings, and several others held by government and semi-government entities.

Boroog platform comes as a result of the efforts of the young highly qualified national cadres who work continuously to empower government entities through developing their remote communication with different local and international entities. This fulfills one of the most prominent objectives for which the platform was established, ensuring business continuity support.



Saudi Arabia Announces $6.4 Billion in Syria Investments 

Officials are seen at the Syrian-Saudi Investment Forum. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Officials are seen at the Syrian-Saudi Investment Forum. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia Announces $6.4 Billion in Syria Investments 

Officials are seen at the Syrian-Saudi Investment Forum. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Officials are seen at the Syrian-Saudi Investment Forum. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia announced $6.4 billion of investments in Syria on Thursday, reflecting the Kingdom's deepening ties with interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa's government as it seeks to rebuild Syria after a 14-year civil war. 

The deals were unveiled by Saudi Investment Minister Khalid Al-Falih at the Syrian-Saudi Investment Forum in Damascus. 

Al-Falih said his visit to Syria came at the directives of Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, calling the trip "confirmation of the Kingdom's firm and supportive stance towards sisterly Syria". 

The investment deals included $2.93 billion for real estate and infrastructure projects and about $1.07 billion for the telecommunications and information technology sector, Al-Falih said. 

Businesses involved in the plans include telecommunications firms the Saudi Telecom Company (STC) and GO Telecom, digital security company Elm, cybersecurity firm Cipher, and Classera, an education technology company. 

Al-Falih said 47 agreements would be signed over the course of the conference, with more than 100 companies participating. 

Al-Falih also announced the establishment of a Saudi-Syrian Business Council at the event, which had been scheduled for June but was delayed due to the conflict between Iran and Israel. 

Riyadh has been a key ally of Sharaa's government, which came to power after longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad was toppled in December, using its diplomatic influence to persuade US President Donald Trump to lift sanctions. 

Companies, many from Gulf states and Türkiye, have expressed interest in rebuilding Syria's power generation capacity, roads, ports and other damaged infrastructure. 

Syria has signed a $7-billion power deal with Qatar and an $800-million agreement with UAE-based port company DP World in recent months. US energy firms are also set to draw up a master plan for the country's energy sector. 

In April, Saudi Arabia and Qatar announced they would pay off Syria's World Bank arrears, opening up the possibility of new lending.