Upwardly mobile Saudi Arabia and tech-savvy Singapore strengthened their cooperation in the field of information and technology communication (ICT) through the “2013 Infocomm Seminar and Exhibition” held in the capital from Nov. 25 to 27.

The meet, first of its kind, is expected to translate into tangible cooperation between the two countries on use of future technology. It was organized by the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA Singapore) and the Saudi-Singapore Business Council (SSBC), and supported by Mawj Telecom.

Six Singaporean mobile technology companies and Mawj Telecom took part in the event to share their experiences, besides discussing vital mobile services and offerings as also showcase how ICT development can empower the country’s mobile market.

As many as 100 decision-makers and executives from the Saudi government and private organizations participated in the event.

“Innovation is vital to fuel the country’s progress and the usage of mobile technology is gaining momentum as mobile penetration increases,” Abdullah Zaid Al Meleihi, chairman of Mawj Telecom and co-chairman of the Saudi-Singapore Business Council, said.

“Saudi Arabia and Singapore today strengthened the collaboration and advancement of mobile innovation in the country at the first Singapore event on mobile innovation held in Saudi Arabia,” he said.

“Recognizing the relevance of innovative technology, Saudi Arabia has been working closely with Singapore to exchange experiences and services, and we acknowledge that this joint seminar has proved to be an excellent platform to strengthen both countries’ knowledge on ICT,” he added.

The seminar, organized under the theme “Technology Innovation: Empowering Mobility Lifestyle,” was aimed at offering an information platform on how mobile technology can enrich future businesses in Saudi Arabia’s fast-paced and growing mobile market.

Kevin Chan, IDA Singapore’s Middle East Center director, said: “Mobile innovation, specifically in Saudi Arabia, is rapidly evolving and plays a broad role across many industrial sectors. In Singapore, we play a leading role in developing, expanding and sustaining mobile technology market by supporting innovative Singaporean companies such as the ones at today’s exhibition.”

“We are pleased to have the opportunity to discuss and exchange knowledge with Saudi Arabia, Mawj Telecom and the Saudi-Singapore Business Council on the importance of mobile technology and look forward to future partnerships,” he said.

The focus of the seminar was on showcasing Singapore’s innovative mobile technologies and the areas for collaboration within the country. Key topics and areas of discussion included mobile banking strategy, next generation of secure mobile communication, work force mobility, importance of Big Data and social media intelligence and maximizing Wi-Fi strategy.

The companies which participated include Ant Lab, V3 Teletech, Tree Box Solutions, Tagit, Mayday Pte Ltd. and Taisys Solutions. Each company specializes in mobile products and services that have been successfully adopted in Singapore and other international markets.