day strategic conference on Saudi Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and a four-day ICT exhibition under the patronage of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology will be held from Dec. 12 to 15 at the Jeddah Center for Forums and Events. The Saudi ICT exhibition and conference will bring together local and international ICT professionals to discuss the contribution of voice, multimedia and data communication services to the Saudi economy and the services, support, strategies and investments needed to meet the Kingdom's vast economic ambitions. “The four-day exhibition and two-day Saudi ICT strategic conference will ensure that providers, innovators and users have unparalleled access to the latest technologies and discussions that are shaping a modern and economically booming society,” said Mark Thomas, marketing manager of BME Global, the event organizers. He added that the ICT conference is a productive and prestigious meeting place for business professionals and industry experts, representing IT and telecoms sectors, government agencies and corporate users. The Saudi ICT conference is dedicated to a debate of the strategies and a review of the technologies propelling business innovation and growth in Saudi Arabia, he said. The exhibition and strategic conference will ensure that providers, innovators and users have unparalleled access to the latest technologies and discussions that are shaping the Kingdom's knowledge economy and the Gulf's booming economy, and it provides the ideal setting to cement fruitful and lasting business relationships, Thomas said. ?The Kingdom's aim of becoming a regional leader in the field of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is being achieved rapidly. Ambitious and forward thinking policies, combined with a youthful population and dynamic business environment, are fueling IT adoption and driving access to next generation network services. “At a time of critical importance to the Gulf's economic future, Saudi ICT is the main meeting place for discussing the investments propelling the Kingdom into an era of 21st century efficiency. The 2010 program has been designed to deliver a balanced blend of insightful seminar sessions, interactive panel debates and engaging networking sessions,” Thomas explained. According to sources, spending on ICT in the GCC region is expected to reach nearly $180 billion over the next three years with Saudi Arabia accounting for 50 percent of this amount. The Kingdom's economic diversification, a youthful population and ambitious government projects have contributed to a rich environment for developing next generation ICT capabilities. Efforts to embrace ICT opportunities are transforming the way business and government agencies operate and their future technology and human resource requirements.
