JEDDAH, 15 November 2005 — The chairman of the Intel Corp., Dr. Craig R. Barrett, is visiting the Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC) in Riyadh today in response to an invitation from CITC Governor Dr. Mohammed Al-Suwaiyel.
The visit is expected to facilitate discussions on CITC-Intel collaboration in information and communication technology (ICT) issues. A Memorandum of Understanding on innovation and technology adoption and collaboration for the Saudi ICT sector will be signed during the visit, according to a CITC statement. “We consider this to be an important visit and the Kingdom will benefit from Intel’s expertise in the ICT area,” Al-Suwaiyel said welcoming Dr. Barret’s visit.
He said the Intel will be the technical adviser for a number of CITC initiatives, such as “Saudi home computing”. “The CITC will endeavor to utilize its rich experience in developing the ICT sector in Saudi Arabia,” Al-Suwaiyel said.
The cooperation covers other important areas, such as the small and medium companies initiative in which computers, networks and enterprise solutions will be provided to the small and medium companies; developing localized relevant content and encouraging software developers especially for the development of digital educational technologies for Arabic speakers.
In the area of technology adoption infrastructure, CITC is launching a Digital City initiative where it will benefit from Intel’s experience with digital cities worldwide as well as in WiMax & WiFi technologies. This collaboration will make the Saudi capital Riyadh, the first of Saudi Arabia’s digital cities and one of the leading digital cities around the world.
Intel also intends to participate in a program where senior R&D experts will conduct joint technology debrief sessions with CITC to address the direction of new research to be carried out in major Saudi universities.