Saudi Data Forum to Spread Awareness about Open Data Influence on Business Sector in the Kingdom

Riyadh, November 27, 2023, SPA -- The Saudi Data Forum, organized by the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) and the National Transformation Program, which started today, aims to raise awareness about open data and its impact on the Kingdom's labor sector.
Other goals of the forum are to increase the reliability of individuals with open data, and motivate them to share their personal data with stakeholders when needed, highlight the opportunities in the Kingdom resulting from the use of open data to develop solutions and applications, promote data use, and highlight issues related to AI and the role of innovation by launching the National Data Index.
Attending the forum were Assistant Minister of Interior for Technology Affairs Prince Bandar bin Abdullah bin Mishari, SDAIA President Dr. Abdullah bin Sharaf Al-Ghamdi, ministers and senior officials concerned with data from public departments, and major local and international institutions and companies.
SDAIA’s National Information Center Director Dr. Esam Al-Wagait talked about SDAIA's strategic partnership with the National Transformation Program in support of digital initiatives, noting that SDAIA's commitment to maximizing the benefits of untapped opportunities in data and AI is not only a strategic option, but also a main factor in achieving the ambitious goals of the Saudi Vision 2030, which goes beyond economic diversification plans in order to shape a future in which digitization is an integral part of all aspects of life, and where data is gleaned and utilized to achieve aspirations and ambitions.
National Transformation Program CEO Thamir Al-Sadoun said that the program was entrusted with the goal of enhancing transparency across all government sectors, and that, by working with SDAIA, it seeks to explore all aspects of cooperation, launch fruitful strategic partnerships and smart business solutions that support the Saudi Vision 2030 and achieve its strategic objectives by developing quality digital initiatives in the field of data and AI.
Digital Government Authority Governor Eng. Ahmed Mohammed Al-Suwaiyan noted that open data plays an important role in enhancing the transparency of the work of governments and institutions, stimulating innovation, supporting strategic decisions and empowering scientific research.
He pointed out that the Digital Government Authority and SDAIA are working with over 190 entities to make high-value data packages available in various sectors. During this year, more than 1,200 packages were updated and added, a figure that is six times higher than that of last year.
Al-Suwaiyan said that 97% of these packages are available in several automated formats on the platform, and that more than 26 entities have published their data on the platform for the first time this year. He also said that the rate of data loading on the platform has risen this year by nearly three times compared to the previous three years.
The Saudi Data Forum began with four interactive sessions in which 13 local and international speakers from among elite data professionals discussed the latest trends in open data and ways to deal with them.
--SPA