Saudi Arabia to Lead World to Safe, Healthy Future

Ministers and participants at the Riyadh Global Medical Biotechnology Summit 2023 (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Ministers and participants at the Riyadh Global Medical Biotechnology Summit 2023 (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia to Lead World to Safe, Healthy Future

Ministers and participants at the Riyadh Global Medical Biotechnology Summit 2023 (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Ministers and participants at the Riyadh Global Medical Biotechnology Summit 2023 (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Riyadh Global Medical Biotechnology Summit 2023 has introduced five key themes for its panel discussions which will feature government officials, experts, and medical biotechnology scientists. The summit looks to maximize health technical investment.

Prince Abdullah bin Bandar, the Saudi minister of National Guard, on Wednesday officially opened the two-day Summit.

On the opening day, the Summit’s panel discussions, sessions and activities dealt with cell and gene therapy.

Participants discussed investment trends in biotechnology and the strategic implementation of cellular therapy in Saudi Arabia. They also reviewed ways to pave the way for cell therapy based on iPS (a technology for liquid crystal displays), and the extent to which cell and gene therapy can be enabled through new modalities for engineered therapies.

In an opening speech, Bandar Al-Kinawy, executive director general of Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, quoted Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman who had said that “we are building a more prosperous homeland where citizen’s find all that they desire.”

“For the future of our homeland, which we are building together, we will only accept that we make it at the forefront of the countries of the world.”

Al-Kinawy stressed that, as an inspirational leader, the Crown Prince has harnessed capabilities, supported renaissance, created competitiveness, and raised the ceiling of aspirations towards more creativity and excellence.

Moreover, Al-Kinawy described the global summit as a milestone for medical biotechnology that represents the future of the health sector.

He said that through the summit he looks forward to the development of a Saudi biotech health industry, built through an exchange of knowledge between industry leaders around the world, that consolidates the Kingdom’s position as a pioneer in the field and provides opportunities for innovators to present their ideas, explore investment opportunities, and discuss regulatory legislation, to help face global health challenges.

Ahmed Alaskar, Executive Director of the King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, reaffirmed that hopes hang high on the Summit’s results in its second edition.

“What we are witnessing today in terms of the acceleration of technological development at the global level will positively affect the life and livelihood of the individual, and will be accompanied by transformations in the economies of societies and the orientations of countries in general,” said Alaskar.

“This transformation coincides with an insightful vision of the Kingdom’s leadership, which set among its goals the transformation from an economy based on oil to one based on alternative products and advanced technologies, and even leadership in the field,” he added.



Int’l Forum in Riyadh Discusses Digital Diplomacy

Some of the participants, including ministers, ambassadors, and relevant experts (GCC)
Some of the participants, including ministers, ambassadors, and relevant experts (GCC)
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Int’l Forum in Riyadh Discusses Digital Diplomacy

Some of the participants, including ministers, ambassadors, and relevant experts (GCC)
Some of the participants, including ministers, ambassadors, and relevant experts (GCC)

The Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO), in collaboration with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), hosted the 4th Diplomatic Connect event on December 17th at the GCC headquarters in Riyadh.
Bringing together ministers, ambassadors, private sector and representatives from DCO Member States, the platform for dialogue and cooperation explored tech diplomacy as a vital tool for engaging stakeholders.
Participants included Jasem Albudaiwi, GCC Secretary-General; Deemah AlYahya, DCO Secretary-General; and ministerial representatives from the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) attendees.
The event featured a keynote presentation titled “Global Tech Diplomacy Forecast – Key Influences on 2025” delivered by Martin Rauchbauer, Co-founder of Tech Diplomacy Network, which examined geopolitics shaping tech regulation, innovation priorities, and international relations.
The event continued with an engaging panel discussion that explored the role of tech diplomacy and multilateralism in promoting a safe, resilient, and prosperous digital economy.
In his welcome remarks, Albudaiwi stated: “The DCO Diplomatic Connect is a strategic platform for the GCC to demonstrate its leadership in digital innovation and international collaboration.”
“By showcasing our commitment to advancing the digital economy, the GCC acts as a key player in shaping the future of global economic transformation. This aligns with the region’s broader goals of economic growth and diversification,” he added.
On her part, AlYahya said: “Digital technologies are at the heart of future economic opportunities. The DCO Diplomatic Connect underscores the role of tech diplomacy and the importance of collective action in harnessing the full potential of the digital economy and driving digital transformation.”
“By bringing stakeholders together, we not only strengthen understanding among our Member States and international organizations on the need for tech diplomacy, but also advocate for social inclusion within the digital economy, that includes women empowerment and marginalized communities,” she affirmed.
Rauchbauer said: “Amidst a polycrisis demanding collaborative solutions, new technologies hold the key to addressing our greatest global challenges. The DCO Diplomatic Connect underscores the pivotal role of tech diplomacy in shaping a future where diplomacy and technology are inseparable.”.
The Diplomatic Connect brings together ministers, ambassadors, diplomats, thought leaders, and other stakeholders to engage in thought-provoking conversations about digital diplomacy, aiming to underscore its importance in international relations. It also explores inventive approaches to diplomacy, leveraging the latest technological advances, digital tools, and data-driven insights to bolster diplomatic efforts.