Page 127 - SAMENA Trends - March-April 2022

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

H.E. the Governor of the Communications and Information senior executives, among the Saudi delegates participating at
Technology Commission, Dr. Mohammed Bin Saud Al-Tamimi, this significant telecommunication and digital venue. stc Group
affirmed that the telecommunication sector in KSA is witnessing kicked off its participation at the pavilion at MWC22 in Barcelona,
great stages of development and growth across various sectors in the presence of the Group CEO, Eng. Olayan bin Mohammed Al-
with unlimited support from the government, as the sector has Wetaid, while showcasing its investments in strengthening the 5G
been receiving attention by H.R.H the Crown Prince, -May God network to develop the level of experience for individuals and the
Protect Him-. During his visit, H.E. praised stc Group’s pavilion business sector. stc constantly raises its efficiency and improves
participating at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, for the the quality of life, as well as develops technologies, most notably
efforts made by the group in provisioning the ICT sector, as well cooperation with Robots, connecting ports to the 5G network,
as the recent initiatives announced by stc of establishing a major applying virtual stadiums, in addition to its efforts in sustainability
digital center for the Middle East and North Africa, which enhances and stc TV, and finally through signing many agreements with
the Kingdom’s leadership in the ICT sector. H.E. was briefed on major international companies, majorly Huawei, Nokia, Ericsson
the services provided by stc at the international exhibition. He and Intel.
also met with a number of the group's board of directors and (March 2, 2022) samenacouncil.org

United Arab Emirates

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has endorsed a State for Advanced Technology, Hatem Dowidar, Group CEO, e&,
digital signature system for contracts and transactions in a safe and Khalifa Al Shamsi, CEO of e& life. In addition to delivering
and secure environment based on a digital signature certificate a series of events and workshops as part of the Champions
linked to the digital identity system. The digital signature system Network, e& has pledged to build a platform providing best-in-
has been designed at the highest information security standards class telecoms and digital solutions for manufacturers across the
approved by Dubai’s Telecommunications and Digital Government UAE. The platform shall cater to a wide range of sectors such as
Regulatory Authority (TDRA). Mohammed Al Mudharreb, CEO of food & beverages, chemicals, metals, machinery, rubber, electrical
Corporate Technology Support Services Sector, RTA, said, “The equipment, pharma and advanced manufacturing. Following
digital signature system was launched last year to process and a separate MoU signing between the Ministry and IBM earlier
follow-up transactions in a speedy and highly efficient manner. this week, e& is the second major conglomerate at the World
It aims to facilitate the procedures of signing contracts with Government Summit to join the Champions Network, which sees
companies and individuals who have business with RTA. “RTA will leading local and international companies unite to share best-
steadily add improvements to the system to enable it to meet the practice in the deployment of 4IR technologies. The Champions
needs of the public and match the digitisation drive. The digital 4.0 Network will also support the creation of 100 "lighthouses" by
signature system fits well with Dubai’s Paperless Strategy aimed 2031, while also cultivating the optimum business environment
to have paper-free transactions in future and a full transformation to establish or attract 500 tech companies by the same year. Dr.
into a paperless government. It will abolish more than a billion Al Jaber commented, "We welcome e& to MoIAT’s Champions
pieces of paper used in government transactions each year,” 4.0 Network, and are confident their advanced technological
added Al Mudharreb. RTA is keen to achieve its mission of capabilities and extensive experience in will provide an invaluable
delivering pioneering services to various categories to make them contribution to the Industry 4.0 program. e& is one of the most
happier through capitalizing on high technology and adopting top important national companies and has added considerably to the
international practices. Moreover, RTA’s strategic objectives also development of the country’s technological infrastructure over
support pioneering efforts to achieve digitization. the past decades, and has also made a permanent contribution
(April 13, 2022) mediaoffice.ae to the empowerment of the people of the Emirates in the scientific
and technical fields. "In line with our leadership’s direction,
The UAE’s Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology our goal is to advance the industrial sector as a whole, and we
(MoIAT) has added e& (formerly known as Etisalat Group) to have utilized a partnership approach with leading technology
its Champions 4.0 Network, the ecosystem of leading local and companies to expedite it. Through the Champions 4.0 Network,
international companies supporting digital transformation across our industry-leading knowledge partners will help our industrial
the UAE’s industrial sector. A Memorandum of Understanding companies adopt the technologies and solutions of the Fourth
(MoU) between the two parties was signed today by Omar Industrial Revolution. In doing so, they will enhance production
Suwaina Al Suwaidi, Under-Secretary of MoIAT, and Masood M capabilities, global competitiveness and stimulate investment
Sharif, CEO of Etisalat UAE, on the sidelines of the eighth edition into priority industries and the industries of the future." Al Amiri
of Dubai’s World Government Summit. The MoU signing was said, "The Champions 4.0 Network supports small and medium-
witnessed by Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry sized companies in their efforts to adopt advanced technologies
and Advanced Technology, Sarah bint Yousif Al Amiri, Minister of into their operations. Through a series of workshops and other

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