NEW YORK — Minister of Communications and Information Technology Eng. Abdullah Al-Swaha emphasized the transformative support for youth and women initiated by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, during his speech at the UN Summit of the Future. He hailed this initiative as a major success story of inclusion and empowerment in Saudi Arabia. Al-Swaha noted that the Crown Prince's vision inspires the Saudi people and fosters global momentum for economic diversification through the empowerment of women and youth, along with the advancement of technology and innovation. In the "Hope of Digital" session, he highlighted that Saudi Arabia has achieved the highest percentage of women participation in the tech sector, reaching 35% within just six years, surpassing both the EU and G20 averages. The minister shared compelling stories of empowerment, including the significant participation of women and youth in programming led by the Misk Foundation, which trained one million individuals through the "Saudi Codes" program. He also celebrated the achievement of sending Rayyanah Barnawi, the first Muslim Arab female astronaut, to the International Space Station. Al-Swaha concluded by stating that these initiatives have propelled Saudi Arabia to high rankings in various global indices, notably the UN E-Government Development Index 2024, where the country secured fourth place globally and second among G20 nations in the digital services index.
