RIYADH — The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Monday with KPMG Al Fozan & Partners, a leading provider of audit, tax, and advisory services in Saudi Arabia, in the presence of Eng. Haitham Al-Ohali, Vice Minister of Communications and Information Technology.

The MoU aims to set up an Insights Center that will focus on building capabilities and digital solutions in the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and advanced data analytics.

The agreement was signed by Dr. Ahmed Al-Theneyan, Deputy Minister of Technology Industry and Digital Capacities, and Abdullah Al-Fozan, Chairman of KPMG MESA and KPMG Saudi Arabia.

The MoU affirms KPMG’s contribution to the establishment of an Innovation and Insights Center in the field of data analysis and AI in the Kingdom. This center represents the key component of KPMG’s global innovation strategy for data and analytics, which combines the principles of collaborative and stimulating learning environments and cutting-edge technology, to deliver creative solutions for challenging business needs. The center will act as the gateway for the delivery of digital transformation solutions and services in the Kingdom. KPMG, in turn, will provide job and training opportunities in data analytics and AI, and digital transformation solutions in the Kingdom, for enhancing the efforts of building digital cadres and supporting the development process in Saudi Arabia.

Following the signing of the agreement, Eng. Haitham Al-Ohali praised KPMG's contribution to national capacity-building and the enhancement of digitalization, while indicating that the Ministry is keen on collaborating with the private sector to create a digital environment that embraces, fosters and attracts talents and skills in digital transformation and augments quality job opportunities. This will eventually promote and boost national productivity, develop the domestic technical content, and contribute to the establishment of a competitive, top-notch technological sector that is up-to-date with global advancements and achieves economic sustainability, pioneering entrepreneurship and innovation at both regional and global levels.

The Ministry's work plans for the year 2020 include focusing on the development of human capital and the augmentation of job opportunities in the ICT sector, with the help of training programs and creating jobs in this sector in various fields, including emerging technologies such as AI, IoT, and robotics

Abdullah Al-Fozan, Chairman of KPMG Middle East and South Asia and KPMG Saudi Arabia, said this agreement is a strategic fit for the digital transformation plans that are deemed essential components of the Kingdom Vision 2030 and the National Transformation Program. The company’s investment in the new Insights Center will help build a thriving economy, develop domestic talents and provide more jobs for Saudi citizens in new areas such as AI, information security and data analytics, while boosting competitiveness and entrepreneurship in the ICT sector. — SG