https://arab.news/yk397
- Saudi Arabia records record female participation in tech, surpassing EU and G20 averages, says communication minister
RIYADH: Saudi Minister of Communications and Information Technology Abdullah Al-Swaha, speaking in New York at the UN Summit of the Future, said that the support and empowerment of youth and women by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has led to one of the country’s greatest success stories of inclusion and empowerment.
Al-Swaha said that the crown prince’s vision is a source of inspiration for the Saudi people and creates global momentum for diversifying the economy by empowering women and youth, as well as harnessing technology and innovation, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.
In his speech at the “Hope of Digital” session, the minister said that Saudi Arabia recorded the highest percentage of women participating in the tech sector, reaching 35 percent in just six years, surpassing the EU and G20 averages.
He highlighted inspiring stories of women’s empowerment and inclusion in technology in the Kingdom, including the largest women and youth participation in programming, led by the Misk Foundation.
This initiative resulted in the training of one million women and youth through the “Saudi Codes” program and in sending the first Muslim Arab female astronaut, Rayyanah Barnawi, to the International Space Station.
Al-Swaha said that these successes have contributed to Saudi Arabia ranking high in several global indices, such as the UN E-Government Development Index 2024, in which the Kingdom ranked fourth in the world and second among the G20 countries in the digital services index.