JEDDAH — Driving investment in the Kingdom's fast-growing ICT sector, the Ministry of Interior announced that the Kingdom will serve as the Official Country Partner for GITEX Technology Week 2015, the largest technology event in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia. The Kingdom's ICT sector has expanded significantly over the past 10 years and remains on a strong growth trajectory. In 2012, ICT sector spending reached SR94 billion, recording 13.9% annual growth, and reached approximately SR102 billion in 2013, recording approximately 14% annual growth. Over the next five years, the ICT market is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.1% to exceed SR138 billion in 2017. Public sector investment in ICT will play a key role in the Kingdom's nationwide digital transformation, with the Kingdom's public sector IT spending set to grow by 44% from 2014-2017, according to a report by IDC and Mobily. As a result, the Kingdom ranks fifth in the Middle East and Africa, and 35th in the world, in the World Economic Forum's Networked Readiness Index 2015, with the Kingdom's government ranking 8th in the world for promoting and adopting ICT usage, and 18th in the world for government usage of e-services. The Kingdom's Tenth Development Plan (2015-2019) and the e-Government Second Action Plan (2012-2016) call for government usage of ICT to build a sustainable e-government workforce, improve the citizen services experience, develop a culture of collaboration and innovation, and improve government efficiency. “As the Official Country Partner for GITEX Technology Week 2015, the Kingdom will use this global platform to demonstrate best practices in government-led innovation to boost economic diversification, while encouraging foreign direct investment in the Kingdom's ICT sector and supporting home-grown technology entrepreneurs to expand beyond our borders to deliver transformative services,” said Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Asiri, Official Spokesperson, National Information Center, Ministry of Interior, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The Kingdom's Yesser e-Government Program is a beacon for best practices in e-services, with more than 875 e- services across more than 100 government agencies. For example, the Ministry of Interior's Abshir provides electronic services across visas and sponsorship, vehicle registration, health insurance, and Haj eligibility. GITEX Technology Week 2015 will feature the event's highest-ever number of exhibitors and exhibition space from the Kingdom since its launch 35 years ago, with 48 Saudi exhibitors over more than 1,800 square meters, a 26% increase in exhibitors and 19% in total space. “For the 35th anniversary of GITEX Technology Week, the Kingdom is our ideal partner – a regional powerhouse for economic growth and technology innovation, and the region's largest market for ICT investment. Visitors to the event can discover innovations in government services, and insights into reaching a large, youthful, and tech-savvy audience for technology innovations, and a welcoming market for foreign direct investment,” said Ahmed Al Khaja, Senior Vice President, Dubai World Trade Centre, organizers of GITEX Technology Week 2015. The new GTX Horizons zone will showcase demonstrations of emerging solutions such as 3D Printing, Autonomous Vehicles (drones), robotics, and smart transport. Additionally, the new GTX Communities area will provide new research, networking, and solutions for firms in key vertical sectors – banking, construction, education, healthcare, retail and oil and gas – that will lead innovation, foster next generation technologies and develop strategic partnerships. GITEX Technology Week 2015 will continue the innovation narrative with hundreds of globally-renowned speakers leading the show's expansive conference formats. Running under the theme ‘The Internet Future of Everything,” GITEX Technology Week 2015 is set to attract more than 140,000 visitors, 20,000 C-level executives and over 3,500 exhibiting brands from 55 countries. The show will be held on Oct. 18-22, 2015 at DWTC. — SG
