Digital partnerships between Saudi Arabia and Iraq are poised to thrive following a key ministerial meeting between the two nations. Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Abdullah Al-Swaha, met with Iraq’s Minister of Communications, Hayam Al-Yasiri, during her visit to Riyadh. The discussions focused on exploring new investment opportunities in the digital sector, as reported by the Saudi Press Agency.
The meeting also emphasized the importance of fostering entrepreneurship to support innovation and the growth of the digital economy. This aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, which aims to position the Kingdom as a global leader in artificial intelligence (AI) and digital transformation. As part of these efforts, the country seeks to increase the digital economy’s GDP contribution from 14 percent in 2022 to 19.2 percent by 2025, digitize 92 percent of government services, and raise the information and communication technology sector’s GDP share to 4 percent.
The partnership also supports Iraq’s ongoing efforts to develop a digital transformation strategy aimed at enhancing the private and public sectors and driving economic growth. Both sides stressed the importance of integrating efforts to develop the digital landscape, build capabilities, and enhance collaboration in areas such as AI and infrastructure development.
Earlier in December, during the 19th Internet Governance Forum held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia also explored digital partnerships with Germany, Japan, and France, focusing on emerging technologies, AI, and digital infrastructure. The forum, which took place from December 15 to 19 at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center, brought together global leaders to promote digital cooperation and address challenges in Internet governance.
In line with these efforts, the Kingdom launched the Riyadh Declaration at the forum’s opening, reaffirming its commitment to developing inclusive and responsible AI technologies to tackle global challenges and drive economic growth.
In November, Saudi Arabia’s senior tech diplomat, Deemah Al-Yahya, Secretary-General of the Digital Cooperation Organization, held talks with Iraq’s Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al-Sudani to discuss support for Iraq’s digital business and AI sectors. The discussions focused on Iraq’s digital transformation strategy and the need for a skilled workforce to support the country’s economic growth.
