Riyadh, December 24, 2024 — Minister of Communications and Information Technology Abdullah Alswaha of Saudi Arabia hosted a significant meeting on Monday with Dr. Hiyam Al-Yasiri, the Iraqi Minister of Communications, at the Ministry’s headquarters in Riyadh. The two ministers engaged in productive discussions aimed at strengthening digital cooperation and advancing the digital economy between their countries.
The meeting focused on exploring new avenues for joint investments that would bolster entrepreneurship, support innovation, and facilitate the growth of the digital economy in both nations. Recognizing the transformative role of technology in shaping modern economies, both ministers agreed that collaboration in the digital sector was critical to their shared goal of achieving sustainable economic growth and technological advancement.
A major topic of the conversation was the importance of enhancing the digital infrastructure of both countries, as well as empowering digital capabilities to stimulate the future growth of the digital sector. Both parties expressed strong interest in artificial intelligence (AI), digital infrastructure, and the strategic development of emerging technologies as areas of priority for future collaboration. They highlighted the need for both countries to work together to build and strengthen a robust digital ecosystem, which would not only benefit their local markets but also foster broader regional growth.
Minister Alswaha emphasized that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in line with its ambitious Vision 2030, was committed to furthering its role as a regional leader in digital innovation and infrastructure development. He noted that Saudi Arabia was actively working on developing digital capabilities and creating a conducive environment for digital enterprises to thrive. Through such partnerships with neighboring countries like Iraq, the Kingdom aims to drive further advancements in fields like AI, cloud computing, and smart city technologies.
On her part, Dr. Al-Yasiri acknowledged Saudi Arabia’s leadership in the digital space and expressed Iraq’s strong interest in collaborating more closely on digital innovation and technological development. She outlined Iraq’s vision for expanding its digital infrastructure and the potential benefits of a digital partnership with Saudi Arabia in supporting economic diversification and technological modernization within Iraq.
Both sides recognized that expanding digital cooperation would have far-reaching benefits, not only by creating new business opportunities but also by strengthening regional ties between Saudi Arabia and Iraq. The meeting concluded with a mutual agreement to develop a framework for enhancing bilateral digital collaboration, exploring joint ventures, and supporting start-ups and entrepreneurs in both countries, especially in the realm of technology and innovation.
This growing partnership underscores the shared recognition of the power of technology to transform economies, create jobs, and drive innovation. Both ministers agreed that their joint efforts would pave the way for future cooperation on a range of digital initiatives that would benefit their respective countries, the wider region, and the global tech landscape.
