Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — The launching of the “Women Empowerment Program” confirms the importance of women’s role as an effective partner in achieving comprehensive development in the Kingdom, Director of the Women Empowerment Administration in the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, Wadha Bin Zar’a, said here on Sunday.

The program was launched on the sidelines of the second edition of the “Forum for Empowering Women in the Communications and Information Technology Sector” by Minister of Communications and Information Technology Abdullah Bin Amer Al-Swaha, Saudi Press Agency (SPA) said.

Bin Zar’a further said that the launch highlights the accomplishments and gains Saudi women have made in the communications and information technology sector.

She lauded the big support being provided by the ministry officials to develop digital capabilities, skills and know-how among Saudi young men and women, on an equal footing. “This will contribute to empowering the national cadres in the sector so that it achieves the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 that aims to build a digital society that contributes effectively to achieving comprehensive development and building a better future for the Kingdom,” she said.

Also in attendance at the program’s launch were Deputy Minister of Communications and Information Technology Haytham Al-Ohali; Deputy Minister of Human Resources and Social Development Dr. Abdullah Abu Thinain and President of Princess Nora Bint Abdulrahman University Dr. Inas Al-Isa.

The launch of the program is in line with the goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 to increase women’s participation in the labor market and achieve the strategy of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology that stresses enhancing women’s role in the sector, as a top priority.

The program aims to build a digital system that attracts and develops brains and skills to support digital transformation, and increase quality job opportunities for women. It will raise national productivity and the growth of technological local content. It will also contribute to building an internationally competitive technology sector that will achieve economic sustainability.

The program works on enhancing women’s role through raising awareness level, digital skills, innovation and entrepreneurship, empowerment in the sector’s leading posts, and increasing women’s employment in the sector by activating the employment programs and initiatives.

Over 20 female technology experts participated in the forum that aimed to enhance women’s participation in the sector, guide and tap women’s capabilities by creating quality programs contributing to overcoming the difficulties facing them, raising digital awareness among women, providing them with the necessary digital skills, enhancing the culture of innovation and entrepreneurship, empowering them to rise to leading posts in the sector and increasing their number in such leading posts.