Tuesday 19 March 2024
 
»
 
»
Story

Saudi minister to address municipality excellence summit

RIYADH, July 27, 2015

Regional and international experts on urban planning, infrastructure, the Internet of Things (IoT) and smart city development will meet at a summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in November.

The Municipality Excellence and Expansion Summit will take place on November 25 and 26 in Riyadh.

Abdul Latif Al Sheikh, Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs for Saudi Arabia, will deliver an opening keynote address at the inaugural summit, which will mark a significant development in the kingdom’s Vision 2025 objectives, by scheduling a series of direct meetings between global solution providers and project holders from Saudi Arabian municipalities, said a statement.

The ministry is responsible for the administration of municipalities across the kingdom and is currently investing in widespread smart city developments, some of which are in progress, it said.
 
It has endorsed the summit and supported key decision makers within the kingdom’s municipalities in building business relationships with solution providers that bring in global expertise.
 
As part of the ongoing programme of implementing economic, social and political reforms, the kingdom has allocated $500 billion in infrastructure development spend by 2020. 

The developmental initiatives include the building of three new smart cities, metro and rail expansion, airport terminals, industrial and municipal projects.
 
Jordi Puigneró i Ferrer, director general of telecommunications and IT, of the Government of Catalonia, Spain, will explain the importance of incorporating IT into urban development. He will highlight the transformation of Barcelona as a city, and Catalonia as a region, into an intelligent, sustainable society through the implementation of technology and digital information.

“IoT and accurate data analysis are key tools for Municipalities to evaluate compliance with their electoral promises and measure the quality of public services, thereby helping to use public resources more efficiently,” said Ferrer.

“The public-private sector partnership and collaboration is a new and open method for boosting Municipal projects and accelerating the development of industrial and economic growth, as well as guaranteeing the welfare state,” he said.
 
Meanwhile, key players in smart city development, such as Dar Al Riyadh, have partnered with the summit to present innovative solutions to the heads of municipalities in Saudi Arabia.
 
Speaking about the significance of the ministry’s endorsement of the summit, Jean-Philippe Bonsaudo, project director of the organiser Naseba, said: “The kingdom is setting a great example of how to foster effective public and private sector partnerships for the greater good of overall infrastructure, business and social development.

“With the support of the ministry, this summit will help heads of various municipalities in Saudi Arabia to knowledge-share with local and international service and solution providers to drive this development across the kingdom.” - TradeArabia News Service




Tags: Saudi | Municipality | Riyadh | Summit |

More IT & Telecommunications Stories

calendarCalendar of Events

Ads