Cisco Connect 2018 to Highlight Growing Opportunities Presented by Saudi Arabia’s Digital Acceleration

Themed ‘Your Time is Now’, Cisco’s flagship technology forum returns to Saudi Arabia to address how digital transformation is fundamentally changing the business landscape. Held at the Hilton Hotel, Jeddah, from 27-28 March, Cisco Connect will bring together regional technology and business decision makers to drive the Kingdom’s digitization agenda and discuss the opportunities and challenges presented by the digital era.

Cisco Connect’s agenda reflects the leadership, partnerships and insights that Cisco has built over two decades of operating within the Kingdom. The event will highlight how Cisco’s Country Digitization Acceleration (CDA) program, launched nearly two years ago, is contributing towards the progress of the Kingdom in line with the Kingdom’s National Transformation Program and Saudi Vision 2030.

“As we celebrate our twentieth anniversary in Saudi Arabia, we want to bring a fresh perspective on digitization to our customers and partners, as well as the broader business and technology community” said Haytham Al Ohali, Managing Director of Cisco Saudi Arabia. “Cisco Connect Saudi Arabia 2018 will showcase breakthrough IT technologies, trends and innovations and highlight how digital transformation is driving change across Saudi industries and society by redefining business models and service provision. The event will also tackle the business challenges that will be created through step changes taking place in the Kingdom’s digitization.”

Cisco Connect Saudi Arabia 2018 will showcase how digital technologies are transforming everyday lives and changing the way we live, work, play and learn. It will feature the latest technology trends and solutions across the Cisco portfolio, including Cisco’s pioneering innovation, The Network. Intuitive, the new intent-based network that constantly learns, adapts and protects. The event will also provide leaders from across Saudi Arabia’s government, public and private sector, and ICT and business communities the opportunity to engage and share knowledge with Cisco experts and attend thought-provoking keynote and breakout sessions and panel discussions.

“At a time when change is the only constant, the key to socioeconomic development lies in continual innovation and staying ahead of the disruption curve,” said David Meads, Vice President for Cisco Middle East and Africa. “With a progressive vision and excellent fundamentals, Saudi Arabia stands to benefit greatly from the digital era. The Kingdom is well positioned to leapfrog established economies and prosper immensely from the rapid pace of digital transformation. Cisco is proud to play an active role in supporting Saudi Arabia’s efforts to diversify its economy, improve citizen services and strengthen its competitiveness.”

Cisco Connect Saudi Arabia will highlight the digital acceleration initiatives that have rolled out as part of the company’s country-wide Country Digital Acceleration program (CDA) and how Cisco has been working closely with the government to strategically map Saudi Arabia’s digitization journey. The technology leader will also provide updates on the implementation and achievements made across some of the key pillars of the program in the areas of education, healthcare and smart city initiatives within the Kingdom.

“Digital transformation is a main pillar of Saudi’s Vision 2030 and a key enabler across many of its initiatives,” added Haytham. “Cisco’s Country Digital Acceleration program and our partnership with the government across a wide range of initiatives reflect our strong commitment to Saudi Arabia’s digital development and future. Cisco Connect will showcase the incredible progress we’ve made across multiple domains, from developing the technology infrastructure and innovation ecosystem to driving competitiveness, productivity and preparing the workforce of the future.”

Cisco has been working with the Saudi government to enable technology-enabled learning with the roll out of virtual school and smart classrooms platforms. To drive better healthcare provision, telemedicine solutions (diagnosis and treatment through telecommunications technology) have already been piloted across four hospitals in the Kingdom.

Launched in June 2016, Cisco’s CDA program in Saudi Arabia aims to support the Kingdom’s efforts to drive GDP growth, foster innovation, create new jobs and strengthen global competitiveness. The program also aims to stimulate social and entrepreneurial opportunities for the Kingdom’s growing youthful population, with an overarching goal of strengthening Saudi Arabia’s global competitiveness through the creation of a vibrant digital economy.

While STC Solutions remains the main sponsor of the event, Baud Telecom Company (BTC Networks) and Saudi Business Machines Ltd. (SBM) are the Diamond sponsors. The event’s Platinum sponsors are Alfanar IT, BT Al Saudia, Crystal Networks, Ebttikar Technology, Al Moammar Information Systems (MIS) and MMR.

The event also features the ‘World of Solutions’ interactive exhibition where Cisco, along with its partners, will feature the latest solutions along with demonstrations of Cisco’s innovations spanning the areas such as collaboration, data center, cybersecurity, service provider and enterprise networks.