National IT program to make Saudi Arabia a regional tech hub: MCIT Minister

The Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Abdullah Al Sawah, said that the national program for information technology (IT) development will pave the way for market growth, technology development, as well as promoting the Kingdom as a regional tech hub for innovation and investment.

The program’s launch will contribute to strengthening the IT sector system, increasing its effectiveness, and ensuring sustainable growth, through supporting local tech content and increasing exports in collaboration with relevant entities, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.

The program also seeks to enhance the integration of value chain system in the IT sector and stimulate its effectiveness and growth, including tech and digital innovation research, localization, capabilities enhancement, in addition to attracting investment, increasing demand on IT, and activating its role in diverse sectors.

Moreover, the program intends to enhance the capabilities of the private sector and raise its contribution to the local tech content, in order to ensure competitiveness on the regional and international levels, and attract foreign investments.

The Saudi cabinet approved, on March 10, the establishment of the National Program for IT Development.