IDC Saudi Arabia CIO Summit set in Riyadh

IDC Saudi Arabia CIO Summit 2014 will take place on Sept. 9-10 at the Four Seasons Riyadh, with the support of the Ministry of ICT.
This represents the fourth consecutive tie-up between the Ministry and International Data Corporation’s (IDC) event, and features in-depth insights from IDC's global leadership team and senior representatives of the world's foremost technology vendors.
"It is a tremendous privilege for all of us at IDC to once again receive the backing of the Ministry of ICT," says Abdulaziz Al-Helayyil, regional director for IDC Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Bahrain.
"The Saudi government is a firm believer in the crucial role that ICT can play in furthering not only the business interests of organizations across the Kingdom, but also the future prospects of individual citizens."
Great efforts are being done to improve eGovernment maturity in the Kingdom. This is clear as Saudi Arabia’s ranking in electronic transactions jumped from the 105th position in 2003 to the 36th in 2014, according to the United Nation’s eGovernment Development Index for 2014. The public sector ICT spending is expected to reach $1.63 billion in 2014 (9.3 percent over 2013), with a forecast of 11.4 percent over 5 years CAGR.
Saudi oil and gas companies will witness a significant growth in ICT spending in the next few years, from $ 623.76 million in 2014 to $ 870.39 million in 2018 (8.69 percent CAGR).
"The last five years have seen the emergence of a new era in computing," said Al-Helayyil. "This new era is called the 3rd Platform. And by harnessing the power of key technology pillars such as Big Data, mobile, cloud, and social media, this unstoppable force is driving an evolution in the role of the CIO, transforming entire industries and empowering customers in new ways.”