Education, commerce ministers open new Saudi Business Center branch

RIYADH: Saudi Education Minister Yousef Al-Benyan and Commerce Minister Majid bin Abdullah Al-Qasabi on Monday inaugurated the Saudi Business Center branch at the Ministry of Education in Riyadh.

Head of the Saudi Authority for Data and Artificial Intelligence, Abdullah Al-Ghamdi, also took part in the ceremony attended by leaders of government agencies, and investors in the private education sector.

The opening witnessed the signing of several agreements between government agencies to empower and boost investment in the private education sector.

The launch of the new branch was part of a number of initiatives aimed at achieving Vision 2030 targets. These include strengthening partnerships with private-sector investors and giving them the opportunity to take part in developing the education system to meet the needs of the labor market.

Al-Benyan noted that the business community was an active partner in providing educational services and products in line with sector goals.

He pointed out that the opening of the branch at the ministry’s headquarters was part of its efforts to support education and carry out development plans, along with promoting educational investments.

He said the ministry hoped to encourage increased investment in the sector by improving efficiency levels and the quality of government service provision.

The center, he added, would link with relevant authorities to provide more than 750 government services, making it easier for investors from inside and outside the Kingdom to set up operations, and key to the process was the streamlining of procedures and requirements for licensing educational economic activities.

Al-Benyan pointed out that the public-private partnership had been successful in the construction, operation, and maintenance of numerous educational facilities in Saudi Arabia, including the opening of 120 schools in Makkah and Madinah accommodating more than 102,000 students.