The Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Eng. Abdullah bin Amer Al-Swaha, led a delegation to China. The visit aimed to establish new Saudi tech partnerships in artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure.
The delegation included the Governor of the Communications, Space and Technology Commission, Eng. Haitham Al-Ohali, and the Governor of the Digital Government Authority, Eng. Ahmed Al-Suwaiyan. Faisal Al-Khamisi, Chairman of the Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming and Drones, also participated in the bilateral discussions.
Expanding Saudi Tech Partnerships with Huawei
Al-Swaha met with the Chairman of the Board of Huawei, David Wang, in Shenzhen to discuss digital infrastructure and cloud solutions. The two sides discussed training programs to build local capabilities in advanced technologies. This meeting aims to expand existing cooperation in artificial intelligence and cloud computing.
During the visit, the Minister met with 20 Saudi students who completed a specialized training program in Shenzhen. The program was organized by the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity, known as Mawhiba, in partnership with Huawei. The discussions focused on the role of national talents in achieving the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.
Collaborations in Robotics and Smart Cities
The Saudi delegation also met with the leadership of UBTECH Robotics to review the latest developments in smart robotics. The talks focused on using these advanced technologies to improve the competitiveness of the national economy. Both parties explored opportunities to accelerate technical innovation through joint initiatives.
Additionally, Al-Swaha held talks with Dr. Chen Ning, the Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Intellifusion. The meeting covered cooperation in computer vision, inference chips, and smart city solutions. These technologies are expected to help develop more efficient digital services for urban areas.
Supporting Startups at KAUST Innovation Center
The Minister visited the KAUST Innovation Center in Shenzhen to meet entrepreneurs from the ninth cohort of the Tech Founders program. The discussions centered on helping Saudi startups access the manufacturing and investment networks in Shenzhen. This access will assist local companies in expanding their operations globally.
These international visits are part of ongoing efforts to build Saudi tech partnerships with global technology firms. By accelerating the adoption of advanced systems, the Ministry aims to position the Kingdom as a global hub for the digital economy.
Future Outlook for Digital Infrastructure
The meetings in Shenzhen highlight the strategic focus on developing local talent through Saudi tech partnerships. Through these initiatives, the Kingdom continues to build its capabilities in smart devices and digital services. The Ministry plans to monitor the progress of these agreements to ensure the successful implementation of joint projects.
