Page 70 - SAMENA Trends - May-June 2022

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NAVYA Signs MoU with Ministry of Transport and Telecommunication Bah-

rain

NAVYA, an autonomous mobility systems
leader, has signed on the 23/06/2022,
at the Bahraini Ministry of Transport
and Telecommunications in Manama,
an agreement with the Ministry of
Transport and Telecommunication of
the Kingdom of Bahrain, to support
the implementation of autonomous
vehicles in Bahrain. Bahrain’s Ministry of
Transportation and Telecommunications
(MTT) is the government body responsible
for the development and regulation
of the Kingdom’s transportation and
telecommunications infrastructure and
systems. The MTT covers development for
Land Transport, but also for Civil aviation
affairs, along with Ports and Maritime
Affairs. MTT responsibility is to enhance and
regulate affairs in these areas, propelling
the Kingdom through leading projects
such as the Bahrain Metro Project, or the
Bahrain Airport Modernization Program.
The agreement was signed by Ms. Sophie
Desormière, CEO of Navya, and Nada
Yousif Deen, Assistant Undersecretary for
Land Transportation, under the supervision
of H.E. Mohammed bin Thamer Al-Kaabi
– Bahrain Minister of Transportation and projects conducted worldwide, toward vehicles in the Kingdom. NAVYA’s share
Telecommunications. The agreement implementation of regulation and policies of the autonomous mobility market for
between NAVYA and the MTT has for for Autonomous vehicles. Moreover, people stands at 75% in the GCC countries,
goal to help the Ministry to diversify the Navya will support on the feasibility including 6 shuttles in operation in the
modes of public transport in the country, study of use cases identified through Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and 6 shuttles
by facilitating the implementation of the Kingdom, focusing mostly on smart in the UAE. The current discussions and
Autonomous vehicles for the transportation city use cases, airports, industrial sites agreement in the Kingdom of Bahrain will
of people, in order to enhance Bahrain’s and campuses. Navya will provide value- strongly contribute to the company’s region
economic position and regional standing. added analyses and support, suggesting leadership position, and global leadership
Navya will support the MTT by sharing its plans for implementation, to facilitate the with more than 200 shuttles in operation
experience, and best practices used on breakthrough of Autonomous and electric across the world.

Saudi Arabia, Greece Eye Fiber Optic Data Cable to Link Europe with Asia

Greece and Saudi Arabia agreed on the and Cyprus' telecoms operator CYTA, will million euros ($857.68 million). Greece's
main terms to set up a joint venture to lay also hold a stake in the project, pending conservative government has made digital
a fiber optic data cable that will link Europe final corporate approvals, a Greek diplomat transformation a priority since taking
with Asia, Greek sources said recently. The said, speaking on condition of anonymity. office in 2019, a year after Greece exited
"East to Med data Corridor", an undersea The final closing of the deal is expected the biggest financial bailout in history. A
and land data cable, will be developed by July, for the project to launch in autumn big part of about 30 billion euros in grants
by MENA HUB, owned by Saudi Arabia's and be completed by the end of 2025, the and cheap loans allocated to Greece from
STC and Greek telecoms and satellite diplomat said. Another person close to the European Union's post-pandemic Recovery
applications company TTSA. Greece's deal said the cable, which will connect users Fund will be spent on 5G and fiber optic
power utility Public Power Company (PPC) from Italy to Singapore, will cost about 800 infrastructure.

70 MAY-JUNE 2022