Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to collaborate in the field of information technology (IT), according to caretaker IT minister Umar Saif. According to the minister, the agreement will make it easier for Pakistani enterprises to work in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), give qualified IT personnel to Saudi companies, promote joint ventures with Saudi firms, and establish a startup exchange program with leading Saudi tech incubators.
“Strategically, we will work on establishing close cooperation to set up chip manufacturing industry in Pakistan and work on electric vehicles, lithium-ion batteries, agriculture technology, and mining technologies,” Saif wrote in a post on X, formerly Twitter.
The Memorandum of Understanding was signed in Riyadh by Caretaker Federal Minister of IT and Telecom Umar Saif and Saudi Arabia's Minister of Communications and Information Technology Abdullah A Al-Sawahah. A bilateral commitment to the digital economy is included in the agreement.
“Both sides also agreed to promote the private sector apart from the government level,” the state broadcaster said.
Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Communications and Information Technology also provided an update on the signing of the MoU on X. According to the deal, it was inked to boost digital economy growth and deepen bilateral cooperation.
“Both countries will work together to accelerate digital innovation, empower entrepreneurs, and develop digital infrastructure,” the Saudi ministry added.
The interim IT minister informed that he had a meeting with the Saudi Minister of Investment (MISA) H.E. Khalid al-Falih who instructed MISA to establish a special desk for Pakistani IT companies to get registered in KSA and to grant licenses (CR) to operate in the kingdom, as per brecorder.