Saudi Digital Authority Approves Regulatory Framework of Digital Govt

Saudi Arabia moves forward towards digital governance. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Arabia moves forward towards digital governance. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Digital Authority Approves Regulatory Framework of Digital Govt

Saudi Arabia moves forward towards digital governance. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Arabia moves forward towards digital governance. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Saudi Board of Directors of the Digital Government Authority (DGA) approved the regulatory framework of the digital government.

DGA aims to regulate and improve digital government work and services, in accordance with the highest international standards and practices, and to enable public agencies to work harmoniously to offer proactive and highly efficient digital government services.

DGA’s Governor Ahmed al-Soyyan, said that the regulatory framework developed for the digital government will help develop future regulations for the digital government. The framework includes a set of principles, policies, standards and user guides.

He added that the DGA is seeking to issue regulations, policies, and standards that contribute to creating a regulatory environment, which enables reaching advanced levels of maturity in the government digital transformation, unify and institutionalize the concept of government policies and standards.

They also provide recommendations to government agencies during implementation and ensure the adoption of unified tracks for the development of government digital services.

The framework is based on eight essential principles, including the “once-only principle”, the “digital by design”, and the “mobile first”.

In addition, it encompasses the Digital Government Policy, which enables and accelerates the sustainable digital transformation of the government sector and enables the successful implementation of the strategic directions of the digital government.

The Digital Government Policy is supported by five sub-policies, including digital governance, the whole of government as platforms, digital services lifecycle administration and upskilling, beneficiary-centric, and technology.

Each sub-policy includes several standards and user guides that support the implementation mechanism and contribute to enhancing the regulatory environment.

The DGA has developed the “Draft of Digital Government Policy”, which is based on the regulatory framework of the digital government.

The draft has been published through the “Istitlaa” platform to raise awareness and seek the feedback of all beneficiaries, including professionals and others who are interested in the government digital transformation.

The DGA regulated the digital government works, digital trust, and identity, and is the national reference in this regard.

The Authority aims to support the efforts of the government agencies through developing plans, programs, indexes and measurements related to the works of digital government and integrated digital government services, as well as the government digital market platform.

DGA is also responsible for regulating operational, administrational processes, related projects and monitor compliance.



Intel Shares Fall as Dour Forecasts Overshadow CEO’s Turnaround Promises

The Intel logo is seen near computer motherboard in this illustration taken January 8, 2024. (Reuters)
The Intel logo is seen near computer motherboard in this illustration taken January 8, 2024. (Reuters)
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Intel Shares Fall as Dour Forecasts Overshadow CEO’s Turnaround Promises

The Intel logo is seen near computer motherboard in this illustration taken January 8, 2024. (Reuters)
The Intel logo is seen near computer motherboard in this illustration taken January 8, 2024. (Reuters)

Intel's shares fell more than 8% on Friday as the company's weak revenue and profit forecasts overshadowed new CEO Lip-Bu Tan's strategy to revitalize the embattled chipmaker.

Years of bad decisions have left the struggling American chipmaking icon trailing in the lucrative artificial intelligence industry, while a raging Sino-US trade war casts doubt on near-term demand for its PC processors.

Tan on Thursday gave glimpses of his plans to reanimate Intel's culture of innovation by focusing on core engineering, stripping away unnecessary administrative work and cutting workforce.

"Intel is so huge that shifting its course is like turning a battleship – it cannot be done on a dime," Evercore ISI analysts said.

Tan did not provide much detail on how he will restore Intel's leadership position in manufacturing, nor on his plans to attract more external customers to the company's foundry, J.P.Morgan analysts said.

Tan remains focused on the contract manufacturing business and has recently met rival TSMC'S CEO to discuss how the two companies could collaborate.

Executives said first-quarter sales were boosted by customers stockpiling chips as growing tariff tensions between the US and China have made buyers wary of future purchases.

Intel could also stand to benefit if China introduces certain exemptions on US imports given the company's large presence in the Asian country, Ben Barringer, global technology analyst at Quilter Cheviot, said.

AI STRATEGY IN QUESTION

Tan's comments about sharpening Intel's existing products to best suit emerging AI trends have sparked questions on how the company plans to get ahead in the booming artificial intelligence sector and challenge market leader Nvidia.

"Intel needs to streamline fast – they have a lot of investments to make to catch up in AI," Stifel analyst Ruben Roy said.

Historically, Intel has relied on buying startups to further its AI ambitions. Other than Mobileye which Intel spun out a few years ago, the other deals didn't help the company gain much traction.

"Intel should have always had its own internal solution, but it missed the boat and tried to acquire its way into AI," Anshel Sag, principal analyst at Moor Insights & Strategy, said.

One of Intel's biggest missteps was failing to capitalize on the booming demand for AI chips, allowing Nvidia to dominate the market.

Intel now faces an uphill battle in challenging AI heavyweights as it lacks the same level of GPU intellectual property, which is essential for AI workloads, Barringer added.

The company's stock has gained 7.2% so far this year, outperforming Nvidia and Advanced Micro Devices, which have fallen nearly 20% each.

Intel, however, trades at a higher 12-month forward price-to-earnings ratio of 31.37 versus 22.70 for Nvidia and 19.24 for AMD.