JEDDAH: Hundreds of scientists, intellectuals and investors are expected to take part in the International Knowledge Forum opening in Madinah on June 22. The forum aims at promoting the Knowledge Economic City (KEC) in Madinah.
"We have selected about 100 working papers, some of which will be presented at the forum while others will be distributed among the participants," said Dr. Salim Al-Malik, chairman of the scientific committee. The forum will focus on health care and information technology.
The conference will bring together people from academia, industry, government agencies and practitioners in various fields of knowledge in order to exchange ideas, research results, development plans and applications related to various fields.
KEC, which was launched by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah in June 2006, is located some five kilometers from the Prophet's Mosque and seven kilometers from the Madinah Airport. Work on the city began in April 2008.
The city will be composed of various zones designed to complement each other; a technology and KBI zone; an advanced IT studies institute; an interactive museum on the life of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH); a center for Islamic civilization studies; a campus for medical research and life sciences; an integrated medical services zone; a retail zone; a business district; residential zones including high rises, houses, and fully-serviced apartments; shopping malls; and a mosque.
Madinah Gov. Prince Abdul Aziz ibn Majed highlighted KEC's economic and investment prospects.
Amr Al-Dabbagh, governor of Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority, emphasized the significance of the forum: "We want to organize this forum annually as part of a strategy to attract investment in knowledge-based industries." SAGIA has already licensed 15 knowledge-based industries at KEC, involving a total investment of SR50.9 billion.
