Page 42 - SAMENA Trends - November 2020

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Digital Transformation in Saudi Arabia Played Key Role in Tackling COVID-19

Crisis

Digital transformation in Saudi set an unprecedented example of kind event on the sidelines of the Group of 20 meetings.
Arabia has played an effective dealing with crises and problems Highlighting the significance of the event, Al-Qasabi said:
role in providing the public with facing the economy in the wake of “We have succeeded to launch the summit to discuss
distinguished services during the the pandemic through concerted the role of national and international standardization in
coronavirus pandemic, said Saudi governmental and private sector enhancing the industrial, economic, and social abilities to
Commerce Minister Majid Al- efforts. Al-Qasabi made the draw a better future.” He said that Saudi Arabia during
Qasabi. He also said that thanks to remarks during the opening its presidency of G20 has sought to take serious steps
the advanced infrastructure of the session of the International in collaboration and partnership with its international
country, the Saudi authorities have Standards Summit, the first of its partners to put all issues and challenges on the table,
aiming to reach effective solutions to the challenges and
crises facing the international economy and find effective
ways to enhance international trade and industry. For his
part, Dr. Saad bin Othman Al-Gasabi, governor of the Saudi
Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO),
said that the summit was set to discuss the importance
of standards in facing the challenges and crises facing
the international economy in a way that helps cross-
country trade to grow and the economy to flourish. The
summit, which was organized by SASO in partnership
with local and international bodies, focused on the role
of standards in strengthening institutional capacities to
face crises and limit their negative impacts, as well as
ways to enhance standards for digital transformation.

Saudi Arabia to Support Egypt in Digital Transformation

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has create employment opportunities. The support were approved for funding. The
expressed confidence in the digital future Saudi Arabia Grant Committee has funded projects include; a project to develop rural
of Egypt by providing one of its largest 2,180 projects so far in 27 governorates, villages, a project for a value chain financing
banks a $6.4 million grant. According creating about 12,000 jobs. Earlier in July program, and a program for financing dairy
to the reports, this grant has been given this year, the government of Egypt has products and dairy laboratories. Rania al-
to finance the digital transformation secured a total of US $12.37 million from Mashat clarified that the three projects
and encourage local crafts programs in the Saudi Arabia Grant Committee to aim to provide financing for all small and
Egypt. Egypt’s Minister of International finance projects in the agriculture health micro-projects in rural villages, targeting
Cooperation, Rania Al-Mashat said that and SME sectors of the economy. Rania projects carried out by rural women and
this monetary assistance will strengthen al-Mashat said in a statement that three all handicrafts and activities aimed at
financing mechanisms to support small, in the agricultural sector and two projects achieving rural development.
medium, and micro-enterprises, and in the field of health care, and value chain

TRA UAE Warns of Security Vulnerability
in Whatsapp

The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, TRA, has warned of a
security loophole in WhatsApp for iOS that could allow the execution of
malicious code, memory corruption and crashes. In security update for
WhatsApp, TRA another vulnerability could permit Siri app to interact with
WhatsApp even after the phone was locked. TRA advises users to update
the affected app to version 2.22.111 or newer through the App Store.

42 NOVEMBER 2020