عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Business

Saudi Arabia Seeks to Support Future Economies, Bridge Digital Divides

Eng. Abdullah Al-Swaha, Saudi Minister of Communications and Information Technology, at the event in Bali. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Eng. Abdullah Al-Swaha, Saudi Minister of Communications and Information Technology, at the event in Bali. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
TT
20
TT

Saudi Arabia Seeks to Support Future Economies, Bridge Digital Divides

Eng. Abdullah Al-Swaha, Saudi Minister of Communications and Information Technology, at the event in Bali. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Eng. Abdullah Al-Swaha, Saudi Minister of Communications and Information Technology, at the event in Bali. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Eng. Abdullah Al-Swaha, Saudi Minister of Communications and Information Technology, said on Thursday the Kingdom has taken bold steps to support future economies and innovation.

The minister revealed efforts to bridge the digital divide and to foster green energy projects in the northwestern NEOM region.

He stressed that the Kingdom’s presidency of the G20 in 2020 led to the transformation of the digital economy team into a permanent working group, to seize the opportunities provided by the sector and increase development and economic growth rates of the G20 members.

Al-Swaha made his comments during his participation in the meeting of digital economy ministers under Indonesia’s presidency of the G20 in Bali. The event saw the participation of ICT ministers and experts in group member states.

The minister noted that Saudi Vision 2030 was keen on supporting Saudi women as an important contributor to the development of the homeland.

In this regard, he said Saudi Arabia has improved women empowerment, from 7% in 2017 to over 30% in 2022, adding that his country was seeking to train more than 600 women in the Middle East and North Africa, as part of its cooperation with Apple Developer Academy.

Al-Swaha also pointed to innovative efforts in bridging the digital gap and enhancing green energy projects in NEOM.

He praised the outcomes of Saudi Arabia’s presidency for the G20, which resulted in changing the G20 Digital Economy Task Force (DETF) into the Digital Economy Work Group (DEWG), and “played an appreciated role in seizing opportunities provided by the digital economy and increasing development rates and economic growth for G20 countries.”

Most Viewed

 
Business

Egypt Quarterly Current Account Deficit Eases to $2.1 Billion on Higher Remittances

A man walks in front of the new headquarters of Central Bank of Egypt, in Cairo, Egypt, November 3, 2024. (Reuters)
A man walks in front of the new headquarters of Central Bank of Egypt, in Cairo, Egypt, November 3, 2024. (Reuters)
TT
20
TT

Egypt Quarterly Current Account Deficit Eases to $2.1 Billion on Higher Remittances

A man walks in front of the new headquarters of Central Bank of Egypt, in Cairo, Egypt, November 3, 2024. (Reuters)
A man walks in front of the new headquarters of Central Bank of Egypt, in Cairo, Egypt, November 3, 2024. (Reuters)

Egypt's current account deficit narrowed to $2.1 billion in January to March 2025 from $7.5 billion in the same period a year earlier, the central bank said on Tuesday.

The central bank attributed the slimmer deficit to the increase in remittances from Egyptians working abroad, as well as a rise in the services surplus due to higher tourism revenue.

Oil exports declined to $1.2 billion, from $1.4 in the year earlier, while imports of oil products rose to $4.8 from $3.4 billion.

Egypt has sought to import more fuel oil and liquefied natural gas this year to meet its power demands after disruptions to gas supply led to blackouts over the last two years.

Concerns over supplies increased after the pipeline supply of natural gas from Israel to Egypt decreased during Israel’s air war with Iran last month.

Revenues from the Suez Canal, declined to $0.8 billion in the third quarter of the country’s financial year, from $1 billion the same time a year ago, as Yemeni Houthis' attacks on ships in the Red Sea continued to cause disruption.

The Iran-aligned group says it attacks ships linked to Israel in support of Palestinians in Gaza.

Meanwhile, Egypt’s tourism revenues reached $3.8 billion, compared to $3.1 billion in the same period in 2023/24.

Remittances from Egyptians working abroad increased to $9.3 billion, from $5.1 billion. The increase in remittances has helped to reduce the wider trade deficit.

Foreign direct investment hit $3.8 billion, compared to $18.2 billion in the same quarter a year before.

Egypt has suffered an economic crisis exacerbated by a foreign currency shortage, which forced it to undergo economic reforms under an $8 billion IMF program that included allowing its pound to depreciate sharply last year.