Saudi-German symposium spotlights growing bilateral trade

Dr. Dalia Samra-Rohte, delegate of the German Industry and Commerce for Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Yemen.
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Updated 10 June 2024
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Saudi-German symposium spotlights growing bilateral trade

The “German-Saudi Symposium on Innovation in the Glass Industry” was held on June 3 at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Riyadh, Qurtuba. The event sought to strengthen economic and trade relations between the Kingdom and Germany and play a vital role in promoting growth and development in both countries.

Bilateral trade between Saudi Arabia and Germany increased by more than 20 percent between 2022 to 2024, according to Dr. Dalia Samra-Rohte, delegate of the German Industry and Commerce for Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Yemen.

“The megaprojects that are underway in the Kingdom have tremendous potential for the German glass industry. We see increasing interest in the market. While German companies focused solely on exporting in the past, we are also seeing more German companies creating their value chain locally,” she said.

“Economic and commercial relations between Saudi Arabia and Germany form a cornerstone of productive cooperation between our nations. As Saudi Arabia strives to achieve the objectives of Vision 2030, collaboration with Germany emerges as a key driver for economic diversification and industrial sustainability. The glass industry stands as a prime example of the tremendous potential that can be realized through this partnership.

“Germany is renowned for its advanced engineering capabilities and technological innovations, while Saudi Arabia boasts abundant natural resources and a clear vision for the future. By combining these strengths, we can make significant strides in the glass industry, contributing to industrial efficiency, improved manufacturing technologies, and sustainable practices,” Samra-Rohte said.

“The ‘German-Saudi Symposium on Innovation in the Glass Industry’ provided a unique platform for industry leaders from both countries to explore available opportunities, discuss common challenges, and develop strategic partnerships,” she added.

The symposium featured keynote presentations, interactive discussions, and networking sessions aimed at fostering collaborations in areas such as advanced glass technologies, energy efficiency, and sustainable innovation.

“We are confident that this symposium will propel the glass industry to new heights and strengthen the economic ties between Saudi Arabia and Germany. Our collaboration in this sector not only reflects a commitment to innovation and technological advancement but also sets a new standard for international cooperation,” Samra-Rohte said.


ITC Infotech accelerates Vision 2030 through digital hub in Riyadh

Updated 17 January 2026
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ITC Infotech accelerates Vision 2030 through digital hub in Riyadh

ITC Infotech’s commitment to delivering real digital change in the Middle East is reinforced by strengthening collaboration and working more closely with customers on the ground. The establishment of its Digital and AI Engineering Hub in Riyadh brings superior digital engineering and AI skills closer to businesses, allowing for speedier collaboration, localized innovation, and solutions targeted to regional needs. This strategic expansion aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and underscores ITC Infotech’s long-standing emphasis on partnership-led growth and customer-centric innovation.

The hub was officially inaugurated on Jan. 15 by Sanjiv Puri, chairman and managing director of ITC Ltd. This facility is designed to help enterprises leverage advanced technologies and convert digital ambitions into measurable business outcomes. This move aligns closely with Saudi Arabia’s efforts to build a knowledge-driven economy powered by innovation and technology.

Saudi Arabia’s digital leap

Vision 2030 is more than just economic diversification; it is a clear blueprint for creating a technologically advanced society. This vision is centered on the integration of artificial intelligence and digital engineering, which are transforming industries and enabling long-term, sustainable growth. The strategic importance of AI is clear, with the Saudi Data and AI Authority estimating that it may add $135 billion to the Kingdom’s GDP by 2030. This commitment is supported by significant investments, including $14.9 billion announced at LEAP 2025 to advance digital infrastructure, talent, and next-generation technologies, as well as historic projects like the $2.7 billion Hexagon Data Center in Riyadh. Together, these efforts are laying the foundation for a secure, resilient, and future-ready digital ecosystem that can support AI adoption, data-driven governance, and smart city development at scale.

What the hub offers

ITC Infotech’s Riyadh hub is designed to fuel this momentum by focusing on three core areas:

  • AI-powered platforms: Delivering predictive analytics, intelligent automation, and data-driven insights to help businesses transition from reactive operations to proactive strategies.
  • Digital engineering solutions: Leveraging Industry 4.0-driven smart manufacturing capabilities, integrating AI-led modeling, connected systems, and advanced analytics to optimize production performance, improve asset utilization, and proactively reduce operational and quality risks across the engineering lifecycle.
  • Cloud-native architectures: Building agile, secure, and resilient ecosystems that enable faster innovation and seamless integration across enterprise systems.

These capabilities are designed to enable organizations to innovate, scale, and compete in a rapidly evolving digital economy. Beyond technology, the hub is fundamentally anchored in building a team of the region, from the region, for the region and for global impact. Through structured skill-building programs, deep partnerships with academia, systematic knowledge transfer, and immersive, hands-on delivery models, the hub is creating a future-ready Saudi workforce fully aligned with Vision 2030 and capable of serving both national and international priorities.

Driving enterprise transformation 

The ITC Infotech hub aims to enable transformation rather than simply deploy technology. By driving AI adoption, accelerating digital engineering, and building cloud-native ecosystems, ITC Infotech seeks to help businesses:

  • develop new business models to meet evolving market needs.
  • improve operational efficiency through predictive insights and automation.
  • support sustainability goals by optimizing resources and reducing risks.
  • build a skilled local workforce capable of leading future innovations.

These outcomes support enterprises as they transition to more resilient, data-driven, and digitally mature operating models.

The road ahead

ITC Infotech is a wholly owned subsidiary of ITC Limited, one of India’s largest conglomerates, with over 25 years of experience as a trusted technology services partner to enterprises globally. The company focuses on next-generation enterprise transformation, delivering services across infrastructure and application modernization, cloud, cybersecurity, digital engineering, and AI-led innovation.

As Saudi Arabia continues its digital journey, ITC Infotech’s combination of global expertise, strong local presence, and collaborative delivery model positions it as a long-term partner in advancing Vision 2030. ITC Infotech’s hub in Riyadh reflects this commitment, bringing advanced capabilities closer to customers, investing in local talent, and enabling enterprises to adopt AI at scale as they compete in an increasingly digital world.