Page 56 - SAMENA Trends - March-April 2023

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Saudi Arabia Top 2 In G20 for Digital Systems Preparedness

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has ranked second among the
G20 members and fourth globally in the preparedness of digital
systems, according to the latest report released by the International
Telecommunication Union (ITU), a specialized agency of United
Nations responsible for all matters related to information and
communication technologies. This comes following the kingdom's
success in building a sustainable regulatory framework and
shifting towards digital collaborative regulation to empower
the digital economy. Speaking on the occasion, Governor of the
Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC)
Dr. Mohammed bin Saud Al Tamimi said the kingdom’s new global
achievement was the result of the endless support of King Salman
bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed
bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime
Minister." Al Tamimi pointed out that the Saudi Vision 2030 has laid
down the foundations of a strong and efficient telecommunications
and information technology sector that led to the development of
an ambitious strategy for digital transformation in line with global
trends. CITC, he stated, has launched several initiatives to upgrade
the telecommunications and IT sector to the highest levels,
including the establishment of the national academy for digital
systems, as a strategic step towards attracting investments and
accelerating the digital transformation endeavor. The commission added Al Tamimi, indicating that the ITU report has highlighted
has enhanced KSA’s competitiveness by focusing on cooperative several challenges facing regulating agencies, including primarily
regulating and including all stakeholders in its enterprises, monitoring competence and sustainable growth.

Four New Special Economic Zones Launched in Saudi Arabia

businesses. The key goals of the ECZA are to raise KSA’s global
competitiveness through the launch and enablement of an ECs
and SEZs ecosystem that provides:
• an investor friendly regulatory environment, competitive sector
specific incentives and enablers;
• highly efficient integrated government services; and
• an inspiring living experience with global quality of life standards.
A “Special Economic Zone” has been defined under the Statute of
the Economic Cities and Special Zones Authority (the ECZA Statute)
as a KSA special economic zone established under the ECZA
Statue. SEZs are geographically delineated areas that support
specific activities such as investment, trade and employment by
providing competitive advantages and legislative frameworks that
differ from the base economy.
Launch of four new SEZs
On 31 October 2022, the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA)
had launched the Integrated Logistics Bonded Zone (ILBZ), a SEZ
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) announced the launch of four located adjacent to the Riyadh International Airport, as part of KSA’s
new Special Economic Zone(s) (SEZ(s)). The Economic Cities plans to boost cargo capacity, bolster supply chains and become a
and Special Zones Authority (ECZA) is the enabler and umbrella global logistics hub. ECZA has now announced the launch of four
regulator of KSA’s Economic Cities (ECs) and SEZs. ECZA was new SEZs to capitalize on KSA’s potential as a global business hub.
originally formed in 2010 to oversee the development of ECs. In These new SEZs have been built upon previous free zone initiatives
2019, ECZA’s mandate was expanded to include the supervision of in KSA. The launch of the new SEZs is in line with Saudi Vision 2030
SEZs and the creation of the right regulatory environment to attract and represents the initial phase of a long-term program focused

56 MARCH-APRIL 2023