Technology, Investments Boost Saudi Arabia's Shift to Digital Economy

LEAP 2022, the global technology platform, uncovered Saudi Arabia's readiness to address technical solutions and requirements that can address future challenges amid the development of the sector in the Kingdom.

Several international companies asserted to Asharq Al-Awsat the importance of the conference, which revealed the future technologies, stressing that Saudi Arabia is steadily racing to become among the first countries that invest in future technology.

Several businessmen and economists said the conference explored the importance of partnerships between the public and private sectors to accelerate the Saudi drive towards achieving digital transformation.

They also believed that it would enhance the knowledge-based and green economies and develop technology for advanced industries that are possible for clean energy, seeking to achieve zero emissions.

Saudi Arabia is defining technology features in the Middle East through LEAP 2022.

Entrepreneurs

Unifonic CEO Ahmed Hamdan told Asharq Al-Awsat that companies seek such exhibitions to present the public with new solutions, given that the establishments are aware of market developments in the field of technology.

Hamdan indicated that the conference witnessed fantastic technical innovations and presentations, bringing together all local and international companies under one roof.

He revealed that several agreements were concluded between significant companies, highlighting their desire to develop and provide their best.

Through the conference, Unifonic tried to produce and showcase products to the market very quickly, said Hamdan, adding that the company will launch several initiatives.

He noted that the Saudi Ministry of Communications and Information Technology encourages small companies to become large and compete with high technologies.

The CEO added that Saudi Arabia is developing in the sector by adopting technologies and financial support to entrepreneurs.

The Ministry is also directing startups and providing them with appropriate solutions to achieve their desired goals, said the CEO, adding that this will empower startups and grant them a chance to develop in the future.

Supporting inventions

Vice President for Software AG in the Middle East Ahmad Salama explained that LEAP 2022 is a platform for a global vision for the technical community and is compatible with Vision 2030.

Salama indicated that projects, such as NEOM and the Red Sea, aim to achieve a future fueled by inventions, livability and sustainability for a prosperous economy.

He believes that this vision is also founded on a "connected enterprise" philosophy, which is adopted and supported by Software AG to support its progress and achieve transformation goals in Saudi Arabia and the world.

Software AG will continue to share global best practices and innovate new ones as a member of the thriving Saudi digital community, invest in the Kingdom's economy and its youth, and align with the Vision of mobilizing this technological advancement across the public and private sectors.

Saudi investor Abdullah al-Malehi, and head of Tamayouz, confirmed to Asharq Al-Awsat that the conference provided an opportunity for the business sector in technical industries to cooperate through opportunities that enhance the Saudi goals in cooperation with the public sector.

Malehi indicated that these partnerships are possible for digital transformation and shaping the future of banks in advanced technologies, noting that the local market is significant in advanced technology.

He explained that Saudi Arabia seeks to diversify its oil-dependent economy, noting that the announced investment includes contributions from major Saudi companies.

Gulf countries are working on initiatives to promote non-oil growth, said Malehi, stressing at the same time that the Kingdom will pump hundreds of billions of dollars in economic transformation represented by Vision 2030.

A large number of investments will be injected into the local market.

Artificial superintelligence

SingularityNET CEO Ben Goertzel pointed out that artificial intelligence is still limited, indicating that the development accompanying the digital infrastructure will transform it to Superintelligence.

Speaking at the "Scaling Up Decentralized AI to Power Global Transformation" session, during the third day of LEAP, Goertzel explained that everyone would be able to maximize the use of this technology.

Meanwhile, CEO of RMA Advisory Renato de Castro explained during "Metaverse VR Immersive" that the demand for virtual reality immersive experiences is accelerating, especially as it allows moving with ease.

De Castro explained that the number of Metaverse VR users has grown during the coronavirus pandemic, with over 90 players registering in a short period.

He explained that users spent over $40 million in purchases from this big and exciting market, predicting its volume to reach $100 billion soon.

Digital infrastructure

VMware regional director Saif Mashat said that the company is continuing to achieve its strategies and record-high levels of success in digital infrastructure projects, pointing out that it will expand to new projects in the Saudi market.

He explained that VMware is establishing future projects in line with the significant goals of Vision 2030, which necessitates that everyone unite their efforts and engage in professional cooperation.

The company focuses on training Saudi youth in cooperation with Saudi universities, said Mashat, announcing an agreement with the Prince Sultan University to train young men and girls on many digital skills and qualify faculty members to provide educational programs and content.

He indicated that the company would grant accredited certificates to the trainees.

Mashat also announced the company has several future agreements with some universities and sectors to train and qualify youths on technical programs and skills that the labor market requires.

He revealed plans with various sectors in 2022, namely projects to establish a distinguished digital infrastructure that matches the tremendous digital transformation witnessed by the Kingdom.

The United States imposed new sanctions on Russia's Gazprombank on Thursday, the Treasury Department said, as President Joe Biden steps up actions to punish Moscow for its invasion of Ukraine before he leaves office in January.
The move, which wields the department's most powerful sanctions tool, effectively kicks Gazprombank out of the US banking system, bans its trade with Americans and freezes its US assets, Reuters reported.
Gazprombank is one of Russia's largest banks and is partially owned by Kremlin-owned gas company Gazprom. Since Russia's invasion in February 2022, Ukraine has been urging the US to impose more sanctions on the bank, which receives payments for natural gas from Gazprom's customers in Europe.
The fresh sanctions come days after the Biden administration allowed Kyiv to use US ATACMS missiles to strike Russian territory. On Tuesday, Ukraine fired the weapons, the longest range missiles Washington has supplied for such attacks on Russia, on the war's 1,000th day.
The Treasury also imposed sanctions on 50 small-to-medium Russian banks to curtail the country's connections to the international financial system and prevent it from abusing it to pay for technology and equipment needed for the war. It warned that foreign financial institutions that maintain correspondent relationships with the targeted banks "entails significant sanctions risk."
"This sweeping action will make it harder for the Kremlin to evade US sanctions and fund and equip its military," Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said. "We will continue to take decisive steps against any financial channels Russia uses to support its illegal and unprovoked war in Ukraine."
Gazprombank said Washington's latest move would not affect its operations. The Russian embassy in Washington did not respond to requests for comment.
Along with the sanctions, Treasury also issued two new general licenses authorizing US entities to wind down transactions involving Gazprombank, among other financial institutions, and to take steps to divest from debt or equity issued by Gazprombank.
Gazprombank is a conduit for Russia to purchase military materiel in its war against Ukraine, the Treasury said. The Russian government also uses the bank to pay its soldiers, including for combat bonuses, and to compensate the families of its soldiers killed in the war.
The administration believes the new sanctions improve Ukraine's position on the battlefield and ability to achieve a just peace, a source familiar with the matter said.
COLLATERAL IMPACT
While Gazprombank has been on the administration's radar for years, it has been seen as a last resort because of its focus on energy and the desire to avoid collateral impact on Europe, a Washington-based trade lawyer said.
"I think that the current administration is trying to put as much pressure and add as many sanctions as possible prior to January 20th to make it harder for the next administration to unwind," said the lawyer, Douglas Jacobson.
Officials in Slovakia and Hungary said they were studying the impacts of the new US sanctions.
Trump would have the power to remove the sanctions, which were imposed under an executive order by Biden, if he wants to take a different stance, Jacobson said.
After Russia's invasion in 2022, the Treasury placed debt and equity restrictions on 13 Russian firms, including Gazprombank, Sberbank and the Russian Agricultural Bank.
The US Treasury has also worked to provide Ukraine with funds from windfall proceeds of frozen Russian assets.

Technology, Investments Boost Saudi Arabia's Shift to Digital Economy