NEOM collaborates with ministries in achieving Vision 2030 goals

NEOM has signed a strategic partnership agreement with the Saudi Ministry of Investment to propel cooperation to develop attractive investment opportunities further. (File)
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Updated 15 June 2023
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NEOM collaborates with ministries in achieving Vision 2030 goals

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s $500 billion giga-project NEOM has signed partnership agreements with the various ministries to improve investment opportunities and boost cooperation.

NEOM has signed a strategic partnership agreement with the Saudi Ministry of Investment to propel cooperation to develop attractive investment opportunities further.

The agreement will raise the volume and quality of investments to contribute to achieving the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.

The new partnership falls in line with the goals of the National Investment Strategy that raises the competitiveness of the targeted sectors, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

It also aligns well with the objective of strengthening partnerships in several areas, including bilateral planning and strategic projects.

The tie-up includes addressing challenges, supporting investors and participating in international conferences and forums.

Minister of Investment Khalid Al-Falih and NEOM CEO Nadhmi Al-Nasr witnessed the signing of the agreement.

Additionally, the giga-project also signed a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Economy and Planning to supervise the economic and statistical activities within NEOM while providing its necessary support.

The MoU was signed at the ministry’s headquarters in the presence of Minister of Economy and Planning Faisal bin Fadel Al-Ibrahim and NEOM’s Al-Nasr.

The newly signed MoU comes within the framework of the ministry’s experience across several activities related to the economy and statistics sectors in all regions of the Kingdom.

According to the terms of the agreement, the two parties will form a steering committee featuring representatives from each party, whose mission will be strategic supervision, cooperation and continuous coordination.

This pact will contribute to achieving the goals of NEOM and achieving economic diversification, which is one of the main goals of Saudi Vision 2030.


Two Saudi cybersecurity firms plan Tadawul listings within two years 

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Two Saudi cybersecurity firms plan Tadawul listings within two years 

RIYADH: Two Saudi cybersecurity companies, Cyber and Infratech, plan to list a portion of their shares on the Saudi Stock Exchange, or Tadawul, between 2026 and 2027, according to the companies’ chairmen, who spoke to Al-Eqtisadiah. 

Abdulrahman Al-Kenani, founder and CEO of Cyber, said: “The company is currently planning to acquire certain entities, which will be disclosed in the coming period, in addition to preparing for a public offering through the Tumooh program on the stock market within the next two years at the latest.” 

Al-Kenani explained that the financial, healthcare and services sectors are witnessing continuous cyberattacks as Saudi Arabia expands its digital transformation, accompanied by a rise in the frequency of such incidents. He added that this phenomenon is not limited to the Kingdom but is a global issue. 

The CEO added: “The company is working with several Saudi airports and vital sectors, in addition to collaborating with major international companies to provide cutting-edge cybersecurity solutions.” 

Infratech plans 4 R&D centers abroad 

Ayman Al-Suhaim, CEO of Infratech, stated: “The size of the information technology and cybersecurity market in Saudi Arabia has reached approximately SR87 billion ($23.2 billion), of which SR15.7 billion are allocated to the cybersecurity sector. This includes consulting, managed services, governance, risk management, and cybersecurity within the industrial sector.” 

He said the company has a strategic plan covering the period from 2026 to 2028, which includes establishing a firm in the first quarter of next year to finance cybersecurity and artificial intelligence products, as well as launching four research and development centers in the US, Russia, China and Eastern Europe. 

The plan also includes investment in cloud storage, overseas ventures, and the expansion of operations and investments in data centers. 

Al-Suhaim said the company intends to go public in 2027, noting that it operates across multiple cybersecurity domains serving sectors including energy, defense, aviation and government services. 

The Tumooh program for small and medium-sized enterprises in Saudi Arabia is one of the support initiatives offered by the General Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises, or Monsha’at. It aims to drive SME growth by strengthening capabilities, improving performance and accelerating expansion. 

The initiative seeks to help fast-growing SMEs prepare for initial public offerings in the financial markets. To date, the program has facilitated the listing of 24 companies on the Nomu Parallel Market out of more than 2,500 firms registered under the scheme.