Digital Technology Forum Discusses Role of Local Content in Saudi Tech Sector

The Digital Technology Forum will feature nine dialogue sessions and presentations by 25 specialized speakers, who will discuss enabling local technology products and Blockchain technology. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The Digital Technology Forum will feature nine dialogue sessions and presentations by 25 specialized speakers, who will discuss enabling local technology products and Blockchain technology. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Digital Technology Forum Discusses Role of Local Content in Saudi Tech Sector

The Digital Technology Forum will feature nine dialogue sessions and presentations by 25 specialized speakers, who will discuss enabling local technology products and Blockchain technology. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The Digital Technology Forum will feature nine dialogue sessions and presentations by 25 specialized speakers, who will discuss enabling local technology products and Blockchain technology. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Saudi Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC) is holding this Sunday the Digital Technology Forum 2022, under the title, “Enabling Local Technology Products”, with a focus on Blockchain technology.

Held under the patronage of Eng. Abdullah Al-Sawaha, Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the CITC, the forum extends over two days and is being held in partnership with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, the Saudi Exports Development Authority, the Content and Government Procurement Authority, and with the participation of a number of officials and local and international experts.

The forum will feature nine dialogue sessions and presentations by 25 specialized speakers, who will discuss enabling local technology products and Blockchain technology.

The speakers include Haitham Al-Ohali, Saudi Deputy Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Engineer Osama Al-Zamil, Deputy Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, Dr. Muhammad Al-Tamimi, Governor of the Communications and Information Technology Commission, and Eng. Ahmed Alsuwaiyan, Governor of the Digital Government Authority.

The event will also be attended by Sherif El-Malt, Public Sector Leader in Europe, Middle East and Africa at Oracle, Anthony Butler, Chief Technology Officer at IBM, Tobias Bauer, Principal at the Blockchain Founders Fund, and Anthony Day, founder of Blockchain Podcast.

The forum will also witness the launch of a number of businesses and initiatives, and an exhibition displaying more than 35 local technology and Blockchain products by more than 30 Saudi companies.

The forum will start with an inaugural presentation, followed by a session dedicated to government’s role in developing and supporting the local technical product, with the participation of a number of Saudi ministers.

The first day will also feature multiple presentations on the “Local Tech Product: A Promising Future,” while another session will review programs on enabling local content, with a presentation on the future directions of technologies and entrepreneurial opportunities.

The second day will witness a main presentation entitled, “Blockchain - Between Promises and Reality”, followed by a dialogue session on “Harnessing the Power of the Blockchain for Digital Government.”



OPEC+ Postpones Output Policy Meeting to Dec 5

People walk past an installation depicting barrel of oil with the logo of Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) during the COP29 United Nations climate change conference in Baku, Azerbaijan November 19, 2024. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov
People walk past an installation depicting barrel of oil with the logo of Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) during the COP29 United Nations climate change conference in Baku, Azerbaijan November 19, 2024. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov
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OPEC+ Postpones Output Policy Meeting to Dec 5

People walk past an installation depicting barrel of oil with the logo of Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) during the COP29 United Nations climate change conference in Baku, Azerbaijan November 19, 2024. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov
People walk past an installation depicting barrel of oil with the logo of Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) during the COP29 United Nations climate change conference in Baku, Azerbaijan November 19, 2024. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov

The OPEC+ alliance of oil-producing countries has postponed its next meeting on output policy to Dec. 5 from Dec. 1 to avoid a conflict with another event, OPEC said on Thursday.
A summit of Gulf Arab countries is due to be held in Kuwait City on Dec. 1 which several OPEC+ ministers plan to attend, OPEC said in a statement.
"Sunday does not suit everyone," a source had told Reuters before the official announcement.
Top OPEC+ ministers have held talks ahead of the meeting. OPEC+ sources have said there will be discussion over a further delay to oil output increases due to start in January.
Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman on Wednesday had a phone call with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak and Kazakh Energy Minister Almasadam Satkaliyev while in Kazakhstan on an official visit.
Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Russia held talks in Baghdad on Tuesday.
OPEC+, which comprises OPEC and allies led by Russia pumps about half the world's oil. The group aims to gradually unwind oil production cuts through 2025 which it introduced to help support prices.
However, a slowdown in Chinese and global demand and rising output outside the group pose hurdles to that plan.
OPEC+ on Nov. 3 again postponed its first output hike which had been set for December by one month.