RIYADH: A Saudi delegation led by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology is in the United States to meet with major technology companies and innovation and space centers to strengthen its regional role as a digital and technological power .

Communications and Information Technology Minister Abdullah Al-Swaha led the delegation as they kicked off a series of meetings with US companies on Thursday.

Saudi Arabia is a regional technology hub, with the delegation seeking to cement this position by inspiring the innovative and creative capacities of Saudi youth.

“To improve the Saudi technology market, a number of meetings were held with companies specializing in software, financial technology and investment management,” the ministry tweeted on Thursday.

“To accelerate the growth of the digital content market in Saudi Arabia, to develop the creative capacities of the sons and daughters of the country and to support the #Ignite program, His Excellency @aalswaha is meeting with the CEO of @omnicom at his headquarters in New York,” said added the ministry.

Omnicom is one of the world’s leading marketing communications companies providing the world’s best talent, creativity and digital innovation with integrated marketing services for more than 200 brands. Its client list includes some of the most iconic and successful brands in the world.

The series of meetings aims to attract investment to the Kingdom by establishing strategic partnerships that promote and develop the digital economy, innovation and space research-based economy in line with Saudi Vision 2030 reform plans.

Achieving Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to diversify the economy away from fossil fuels, will rely heavily on technological development and innovation.

The application of scientific knowledge and high technology will be an important step towards the success of the plans.

Saudi Arabia was ranked second in the world among G20 countries in the Digital Competitiveness Report for 2021. Published by the European Center for Digital Competitiveness, the report based its findings on data provided by the index Competitiveness Report published by the World Economic Forum and supporting data provided by the World Bank and the International Telecommunication Union.

The Kingdom rose 20 ranks in the general index compared to the previous year and 86 ranks in the axis of the digital ecosystem, leading the G20 countries, and reached the third place in the axis digital capabilities among G20 countries.

This progression consolidates the continued digital leadership of the Kingdom. It also reflects the qualitative leaps made by the Kingdom in telecommunications infrastructure, the development of digital capacities and digital megaprojects. All these improvements have been reinforced by the ICT Sector Strategy 2023, which is derived from the Saudi Vision 2030.

The Kingdom’s delegations in countries such as the United States reflect its determination to continue the transformation towards an economy based on innovation.