Knowledge is power

Knowledge is power by Sherief Younis (sherief.younis@ itp.com) Al Madinah Knowledge Economic City (KEC) and international IT certification organisation CompTIA have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to develop IT skills among students and workers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) has been signed between Al Madinah Knowledge Economic City (KEC) and international IT certification organisation CompTIA (Computing Technology Industry Association) to develop IT skills among students and workers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The organisations will also work together to implement industry-accepted standards for IT professionals in an effort to fill IT vacancies and skills gap in the region and marks the second agreement in a busy period for KEC having arranged a similar arrangement with networking giant, Cisco. “Both organisations bring international experience to our development and we are delighted that they share our vision to make Al Madinah KEC a global reference center for ICT development,” said Tahir Bawazir KEC CEO. The MoU with CompTIA is aimed at gaining fast track endorsement of IT certifications to be offered at Al Madinah Knowledge Economic City. CompTIA has also entered into agreements with the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA) and Al Madinah Knowledge Economic City to work collaboratively. “The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is rapidly becoming the leading country in the Middle East where it comes to IT,” said John Venator, President and Chief Executive Officer, CompTIA. “Many international companies are establishing major operations in the Kingdom and this requires a skilled national workforce. With the significant growth in population in the Kingdom the opportunity to fill these jobs is there.” Source: http://www.itp. net/news/ details.php? id=24001&category=

e-boarding

Saudia to launch e-boarding

Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) is expanding its recently-launched electronic ticketing service within the Kingdom, company officials said this week. The service allows passengers traveling through airports in Saudi Arabia to check in online. Khaled Al-Mulhim, the airline's director general, said Saudia plans to start issuing e-boarding passes over the internet in mid-August. The airline currently only offers the service through select travel agents within Saudi Arabia. Saudia's Ahmed Al Ghambi said that the carrier was also looking to double the number of agents through which e-boarding passes can be purchased To conitinue the reading, visit: http://www.arabianb usiness.com/ index.php? option=com_ content&view=article&id=13121:saudia- to-launch- e-boarding&Itemid=76

telecoms sector

by Lynne Roberts on Wednesday, 30 May 2007

Saudi Arabia’s Council of Ministers has approved a plan to develop the country’s telecom and information technology sectors Arab News reports. The council of ministers said the move would transform the Kingdom into a knowledge-based society and digital economy, and create a major source of income.

Some plans are already underway for the development of the sector. Saudi Arabia’s first Knowledge Economic City is under construction in Madinah. KEC will have a technological and economic information centre, campus for medical research and biosciences and a centre for studies in Islamic civilization. The project is expected to attract investments worth more than $6.7 billion and create 25,000 new jobs. KEC will also include a retail zone, business district and residential areas and a 10,000 capacity mosque.

Source: http://www.arabianb usiness.com/ index.php? option=com_ content&view=article&id=13467:saudi- to-transform- telecoms- sector&Itemid=73