Page 69 - SAMENA Trends - June-July 2020

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

REGIONAL NEWS

Saudi Arabia Climbs 40 Places in Digital Infrastructure Index 2020

Saudi Arabia has climbed 40 places in the a Shoura Council member, said: “Citizens sector has digitized many of the services
Digital Infrastructure Index 2020 to rank and residents have experienced firsthand and made them available online and
27, putting it at the eighth spot in the G20. the improvement of public services, which also enhanced e-governance.” Artificial
It has moved up 15 places in the Human have been digitized for ease of access.” Intelligence was an evolving technology
Capital Index to rank 35 globally, putting it Dr. Rafiq Jamal Aldeen, a professor at that had seen rapid developments and
in 10th place in the G20, and also risen nine King Saud University, said that information could offer many benefits in terms of
places in the E-Government Development technology and communications were the digital transformation efforts, he
Index to achieve the highest classification instrumental to digital transformation. added. Jamal Aldeen said that digital
for the index, which includes 139 countries. “Saudi Arabia is expected to have its transformation had been implemented
Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Communications own active information technology across different sectors. For example,
and Information Technology Abdullah Al- industry that will enhance the efficiency the Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority
Swaha thanked King Salman and Crown of e-government services, speed up the had introduced touch-free and remote
Prince Mohammed bin Salman for their digital transformation of the private sector. payments services to increase the number
support to the ministry in expediting the Saudi Arabia has designed a number of noncash transactions. This technology
digital transformation of the country. Al- of strategies to develop the country’s would also allow consumers to make
Swaha attributed these accomplishments digital economy and digital society, and easier and faster electronic purchases,
to the National Transformation Program, employed information technology and he said, noting that Saudi Arabia would
which has helped the Kingdom speed up its communications with a view to enhancing be a global pioneer in the technology and
digitization. Prof. Dr. Mohammed Alhizan, public services,” he said. “The public innovation sector in the future.

Abu Dhabi Investment Authority Takes $750M Stake in India’s Jio Platforms

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority has from a host of international investors, India to digital leadership and generate
agreed to acquire a 1.16 per cent stake including Facebook, Mubadala Silver Lake inclusive growth opportunities,” Reliance
in Reliance Industries’ digital services and General Atlantic. “I am delighted that Industries chairman, Mukesh Ambani,
offering, Jio Platforms. “Jio Platforms ADIA, with its track record of more than four said in the statement. “This investment is
is at the forefront of India’s digital decades of successful long-term value a strong endorsement of our strategy and
revolution, poised to benefit from major investing across the world, is partnering India’s potential.”
socio-economic developments and the with Jio Platforms in its mission to take
transformative effects of technology on the
way people live and work. The rapid growth
of the business, which has established
itself as a market leader in just four years,
has been built on a strong track record
of strategic execution. Our investment in
Jio is a further demonstration of ADIA’s
ability to draw on deep regional and sector
expertise to invest globally in market
leading companies and alongside proven
partners,” said Hamad Shahwan Aldhaheri,
Executive Director of the Private Equities
Department at ADIA. Reliance Industries,
which owns India’s biggest telco Reliance
Jio, has attracted more than $12.75 billion
of investment into its Jio Platforms unit,

69 JUNE-JULY 2020