عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Business

Riyadh Hosts Major Int’l Tech Gathering to Predict Future of Global Technology

Riyadh hosts the largest global gathering to review technology developments (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Riyadh hosts the largest global gathering to review technology developments (Asharq Al-Awsat)
TT
20
TT

Riyadh Hosts Major Int’l Tech Gathering to Predict Future of Global Technology

Riyadh hosts the largest global gathering to review technology developments (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Riyadh hosts the largest global gathering to review technology developments (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia’s capital Riyadh is hosting the second edition of a major technology conference known as LEAP. From Feb. 6 to 9, tech innovators and leading experts will predict the future of technology and its effective role, and to find innovative solutions to the most important challenges facing the sector.

LEAP 2023 will seek raising tech awareness and highlighting Saudi Arabia’s position as a major center for technology and innovation.

Launched under the title “Towards New Horizons,” the tech conference is expected to host more than 700 international leading experts in technology investment.

They will speak through seven different platforms designed to include all technical, innovative and investment interests. More than 500 sessions will be held.

LEAP 2023’s “investors” platform will present investments in the technology and innovation sector, conclude commercial agreements, and review successful partnerships and models worldwide.

Four stages will be devoted to panelists and experts discussing financial technologies, smart cities, health and educational technologies, retail trade, the future of energy and the industrial revolution.

The conference is organized by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, the Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming and Drones, and UAE-based IT services and consulting firm Tahaluf.

It aims to spark discussions on artificial intelligence, the digital transformation, and advancements in the field of technical and innovative entrepreneurship through immersive learning, storytelling sessions and lectures.

Michelle Crawford, the head of TrustedOne.Global, a major US-based consulting firm, listed three key opportunities that virtual reality can provide to investors.

“It (virtual reality) provides real-time use cases that generate revenues in the present day, brings next-generation technologies and skills to the youth of Saudi Arabia, and highlights the rich Saudi history to the world,” Crawford told Asharq Al-Awsat.

Furthermore, Crawford expected that LEAP 2023 will revolutionize tech conferences and change the face of technology in Riyadh.

Most Viewed

 
Business

Eurasian Development Bank Reveals Partnerships with the Gulf to Develop Energy Projects

Chairman of the Management Board at the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) Nikolai Podguzov. Asharq Al-Awsat
Chairman of the Management Board at the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) Nikolai Podguzov. Asharq Al-Awsat
TT
20
TT

Eurasian Development Bank Reveals Partnerships with the Gulf to Develop Energy Projects

Chairman of the Management Board at the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) Nikolai Podguzov. Asharq Al-Awsat
Chairman of the Management Board at the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) Nikolai Podguzov. Asharq Al-Awsat

Chairman of the Management Board at the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) Nikolai Podguzov revealed plans to cooperate with GCC countries, including Saudi Arabia, to develop energy infrastructure.

Podguzov told Asharq Al-Awsat that the bank, which is the international financial organization that operates in Central Asia and in Eurasia, works on implementing a working plan based on three strategies.

“Every year we execute around 30-40 new projects and set up agreements,” he said.

“The investments of the bank are growing at least 20% each year,” Podguzov revealed. “We are quite a fast developing bank. Uzbekistan has just joined the bank this year.”

Regarding the size of loans and investments handled by EDB, Podguzov explained that the bank's average investment ranges between $100 million and $400 million. He added however, that the bank is capable of syndicating larger loans that can reach up to $1 billion or more, while the average annual investment volume is around $2.53 billion.

Regarding the bank's work plans for the coming year, Podguzov explained that the Eurasian Development Bank is simultaneously working to strengthen its relations with the GCC countries and the Islamic Development Bank.

“We improve connectivity, transport infrastructure and logistics. We improve access to water for regions in Central Asia. We develop energy infrastructure in our member states,” he told Asharq Al-Awsat.

“We take care of food safety and food safety infrastructure, which provides access to food and provides food security for our member states. And I think in this field we can set up very good economic ties and cooperation between GCC countries and Central Asia.”

“I know that such countries like Saudi Arabia, Emirates, Oman are quite interested in the topics of our strategy,” he said.

“We mainly do non-sovereign finance ... which is very convenient for our potential partners,” he added.

Podguzov said there is a partnership with Masdar which “is a world leader in bringing renewable energy technologies into the world. They are quite active in Central Asia, in Kazakhstan in particular.”

“That is why, for example, we are very much interested in cooperation with Masdar company. This is one of examples. I think logistics and logistics project also could be of interest for Saudi Arabia. A lot of infrastructure could be developed together with the help of Eurasian Development Bank.”

“I believe that it's also very important to build economic bridge between GCC countries and Central Asia. And I think the bank can do a lot in this field and finally we can bring together economic interests of Central Asian and GCC countries.”