United Nations Names Its Largest Hall in Switzerland “Saudi Arabia” and Signs Agreement with the Kingdom to Encourage Innovative Approaches

The United Nations specialized agency for telecommunications and information technology, the International Telecommunication Union, announced the naming of its largest hall in Geneva, Switzerland, “Saudi Arabia,” in recognition of the Kingdom's great efforts in supporting the Union since it became a member in 1949, and its membership on the Union's Council since 1965.

This came during a ceremony held in Riyadh today, under the patronage of His Excellency the Minister of Communications and Information Technology and Chairman of the Commission's Board of Directors, Eng. Abdullah bin Amer Alswaha, with the attendance of His Royal Highness Prince Dr. Turki bin Saud bin Mohammed, President of King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, His Excellency the Governor of the Communications and Information Technology Commission, Dr. Abdulaziz bin Salem Al-Ruwais, His Excellency the President of the Riyadh Development Authority, Eng. Tariq Al-Faris, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for Public Diplomacy Affairs, Ambassador Dr. Saud Kateb, His Excellency the Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union, Houlin Zhao, and their Excellencies, members of the Shura Council's Transport, Communications and Information Technology Committee.

His Excellency the Governor of the Communications and Information Technology Commission affirmed, in his speech during the ceremony, that the Kingdom appreciates the United Nations specialized agency for telecommunications and information technology, the International Telecommunication Union, for naming its largest hall “Saudi Arabia,” expressing his thanks to His Excellency the Secretary-General of the Union.

For his part, His Excellency the Governor of the Communications and Information Technology Commission explained that the naming of the hall, and the signing of the agreement to encourage innovative approaches among telecommunications and information technology sector regulators, comes to strengthen the Kingdom's international and regional leadership position within the International Telecommunication Union, and its supportive efforts since it became a member of the Union and a member of its Council, and its leadership in the telecommunications and information technology sector, and in recognition of its efforts and expertise in this field, affirming the Kingdom's continued work with the international community to develop the telecommunications and information technology sector in line with Saudi Vision 2030.

For his part, the Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union, Houlin Zhao, noted that naming the largest hall at the United Nations “Saudi Arabia” comes to commemorate its international efforts in the field of telecommunications and information technology, and to affirm the leading role the Kingdom plays at the United Nations, praising its role in advancing the missions of the International Telecommunication Union.

In turn, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for Public Diplomacy Affairs, Ambassador Dr. Saud Kateb, noted that naming the largest hall at the United Nations in Geneva “Saudi Arabia” comes in recognition of the pivotal and effective role the Kingdom plays at the international level in general and in the field of telecommunications and information technology in particular, and in appreciation of its great efforts in supporting the International Telecommunication Union, and to strengthen its standing and leading role in the Union, as the Kingdom is among the most mature and advanced countries in the world in this field, and also comes in line with the keenness of the wise government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to provide support and assistance to all international organizations in a manner that contributes to achieving human welfare and the development process.

Following that, His Excellency the Governor of the Communications and Information Technology Commission, Dr. Abdulaziz bin Salem Al-Ruwais, and the Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union, Houlin Zhao, signed an “Agreement to Encourage Innovative Approaches among Telecommunications and Information Technology Sector Regulators,” resulting from the classification of the regulation of the telecommunications and information technology sector in the Kingdom among the most mature countries in the world, for the efficiency and integration of the sector's regulatory frameworks and their positive impact on both the economic and social aspects.

His Royal Highness Prince Dr. Turki bin Saud bin Mohammed, President of King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, His Excellency the Governor of the Communications and Information Technology Commission, and His Excellency the Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union, signed an agreement to stimulate technology incubators in the Arab region between the Badir Program for Technology Incubators and the International Telecommunication Union.

His Excellency the Governor of the Communications and Information Technology Commission, His Excellency the President of the Riyadh Development Authority, Eng. Tariq Al-Faris, and His Excellency the Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union, signed an agreement for Riyadh's participation in implementing smart city indicators with the International Telecommunication Union.

It should be noted that among the most notable factors that led to the Kingdom's prominence in the International Telecommunication Union is that it holds many leadership positions in the Union, leads many Arab and regional files, and is a key party in examining all core topics related to the Union's work and the nominations made within it, in addition to the Kingdom's nomination to chair some of the Union's meetings, conferences and committees, and being a key contributor on modern technology topics such as artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, and augmented reality, as well as the Kingdom's tangible influence on shaping decisions within the Union.