Saudi Arabia ranks among top 10 countries in digital skills

Saudi Arabia made progress in the Global Competitiveness Report (GCR) for 2020, issued by the World Economic Forum (WEF), as it ranked among the top 10 countries in digital skills, Saudi Press Agency reported.

The report attributed this progress to four factors represented in the Kingdom's adoption of information and communication technology, and its flexible work arrangements, in addition to its national digital skills, and the digital legal framework it possess.

Saudi Arabia also won an award by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) for its Women Empowerment Program in Technology, the news agency said.

The report also noted the launch of four academies to enhance digital skills – namely, Saudi Digital Academy, Misk Academy, Tuwaiq Academy, and National Information Technology Academy – contributed to this, in addition to spreading knowledge and digital literacy through the Digital Giving and ThinkTech initiatives.

The initiatives have helped reach more than 15 million beneficiaries from across the world, with more than 70,000 young people benefiting from initiatives to enhance their digital skills, along with more than 31,000 trainees and trainees in the Future Skills initiative.

The progress confirms the Kingdom's ability to adopt and explore various digital technologies that enhance its digital transformation process. It also affirms the role of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology and its partners from public, private and non-profit sectors in reaching the advanced ranks through strategic decisions aimed at shaping the Kingdom's future and achieving the Vision 2030 goals.